canídeo

Canídeo refers to any animal belonging to the family Canidae. This family is part of the order Carnivora and includes a wide range of mammals, most notably dogs, wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals, and dingoes. Canids are characterized by their relatively long legs, non-retractile claws (with the exception of the CME), and typically a bushy tail. They are found on every continent except Antarctica, inhabiting diverse environments from deserts and forests to tundras and grasslands.

The Canidae family is divided into two subfamilies: Caninae, which includes true dogs, wolves, coyotes, and jackals, and Cerdocyoninae, which includes South American foxes and crab-eating foxes. Members of Canidae are generally social animals, often living and hunting in packs, though some species are solitary. Their diet is primarily carnivorous, but many species are omnivorous, supplementing their diet with fruits, insects, and other small prey. Reproduction typically involves a gestation period of around two months, with litters varying in size depending on the species. Canids play important ecological roles as predators and scavengers. The domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, is a subspecies of the gray wolf and is the most widespread and varied member of the family.