CANin

Canin is an adjective and noun used to refer to things related to canines, i.e., dogs, or to the dog family Canidae. In English, the standard term is canine; canin appears mainly in languages other than English or in specialized terms.

In biological contexts, canin relates to the Canidae family, which includes domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), wolves, foxes, coyotes, and jackals. The domestic dog is a subspecies of the gray wolf and shows wide genetic and morphological diversity.

Anatomy and terminology: The term "canine" also refers to the canine teeth, the long pointed teeth used for grasping and tearing. In some texts, "canin" is used as a stem in compounds such as caniniform or caninology in non-English languages; English uses "canine" instead.

Etymology: Canin derives from Latin caninus, meaning of or pertaining to a dog, from canis "dog." The root appears in related terms such as canine, canid, caniform, and canology. The use of "canin" as a standalone English word is uncommon.

See also: canine, canid, caniformia.