What is Canis or Dog?
Classification:
Class: Mammalia
Orde: Carnivora
Genus: Canis.
Habitat: It is mostly found around human dwelling. These days domestic cats, dogs are very commen. Its name is dog or kutta.The dog is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog’s nearest living relative. The dog was the first species to be domesticated, by hunter-gatherers over 15,000 years ago, before the development of agriculture.
Habits:
(i) It shows nocturnal as well as diurnal activity.
(ii) It is cursorial and digitigrade.
(ii) It is omnivorous but prefers animal food.
(iv) Sexes are dioecious and sexual dimorphism. Male has a copulatory organ, penis whereas female has many pair of nipples. Fertilization is internal. Female is viviparous. Development is direct.
External characters:
(1) Body is divisible into head, neck, trunk and tail.
(ii) Fore limbs and hind limbs are of equal sizes. (ii) Head bears nostrils, mouth, eyes and ears.
(iv) Mouth is wide and shows a protruding tongue. Respiration is fast. Colour of the body may be
brown, white, black, grey or spotted.
Economic importance :
(1) Dogs are carrier of disease called rabies. (ii) Dogs are used by man in tracing criminal because of its strong smelling power.
(ii) In U.S.A. dogs are trends to diagnose exact place of tumour.
