In The Beginning...
Where did wolves come from because dogs originated from wolves?
Biologists believe the wolf evolved from primitive carnivores known as
"Miacids." These prehistoric creatures ranged in size from something equivalent
to a gopher to a large dog. 52 million years ago is a long way back to start
the history of the wolf recognized today.
The Miacids evolved to the first canids relatively late in their
evolutionary cycle. Some biologists believe the canids originated in North America
then spread to Asia and South America. Others believe the canids originated in Asia and
spread to the other two land masses. The evidence is not clear enough to determine where
the canids originated, but they did exist primarily in these areas from their early beginnings.
(Above)Source: Robert Wayne (a researcher from the University of California)
Biologists believe the wolf evolved from primitive carnivores known as
"Miacids." These prehistoric creatures ranged in size from something equivalent
to a gopher to a large dog. 52 million years ago is a long way back to start
the history of the wolf recognized today.
The Miacids evolved to the first canids relatively late in their
evolutionary cycle. Some biologists believe the canids originated in North America
then spread to Asia and South America. Others believe the canids originated in Asia and
spread to the other two land masses. The evidence is not clear enough to determine where
the canids originated, but they did exist primarily in these areas from their early beginnings.
(Above)Source: Robert Wayne (a researcher from the University of California)
The stages of evolution from the Miacid (Miacidae) to the modern-day dog (Canis familiaris).