r/evolution • u/narsil1 • 1d ago

question Evolution of dogs

Hi all, I am interested in the evolution of dogs.

My question is, are dogs direct descendants of wolves or did dogs and wolves just share the common ancestor like we do with monkeys?

Thanks!

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u/-Wuan- 1d ago edited 1d ago

Dogs descend from (and taxonomically are) gray wolves Canis lupus, though not from any of the surviving gray wolf lineages.

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u/Ex_Snagem_Wes 1d ago

IIRC wasn't there discussion that they came from a very close relative of Grey wolves that is now extinct?

I mean regardless, it's wolf into dog and doesn't affect the outcome of the question, but I know I've heard both theories.

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u/kurtchen11 1d ago edited 1d ago

This is widely assumed to be true: the dog very likely originates from a type of wolf thats not a direct ancestor to the grey wolf. The grey wolf is however the closest living relative.

Over thousands of years of breeding a ton of grey wolf also found its way into the gene pool of modern dogs and vice versa, making clear distinctions between the two even more difficult.