Family CANIDAE (DOGS)

• Small to quite large mammals with triangular heads, long, pointed muzzles, well-developed jaws, and prominent, roughly triangular pointed ears; muscular, deepchested body, long and slender limbs, and bushytail.

• 45.8-182 cm.

• Cosmopolitan, all regions except Antarctica and many oceanic islands.

• Occur in all major habitats, spanning tropical forests, woodland, savannah, deserts, alpine heathlands, and the Arctic; found at all altitudes from sea level to over 5000 m.

• 13 genera, 35 species,at least 172 extant taxa.

• 3 species Critically Endangered, 3 species Endangered; 1 species and 5 subspecies Extinct since 1600.