First some words to think about:
• Hypercarnivore – mostly eat meat. They are obligate carnivores because they cannot digest vegetable material and eat at least 70% meat. Many prehistoric predatory animals fall into this crowd.
• Mesocarnivore – 50% meat, raccoons, foxes and coyotes.
• Omnivores – Hypocarnivore meat is less than 30% of their diet. Can be considered omnivores like modern brown and black bears.
• Apex Predator – top dog. Apex predators are at the top of the food chain. Lions, polar bears, crocs and orcas.
Canidae Lower Classifications
Canids are those special creatures we fear, hate and love. These are wolves, foxes and our domesticated canines. There is a lot of critters in this group that have interacted with mankind for thousands of years. You only need to watch a few video sequences of wolves bringing down a bison or watch the hunting precision of the African wild dog pack. The group coordination and patience in the hunt is fascinating. Foxes have a high eye appeal and there are the numerous Native American stories of the arch trickster, the coyote. And everyone must appreciate the persistence of Willy E. Coyote, Super Genius.
Dog; Canine Species
Growing up most of us have had the companionship of our canine friends. Dogs have proven to be one of man’s most useful companions. Everything from aiding the blind, to tracking fugitives to joining us on the battlefield. As far as the animal kingdom is concerned the canines have probably served a multitude of positive interactive opportunities for humans. Working companion, protective and just plain friends much pleasure is found in interaction with our furry friends.
Largest Canids
In days gone by the largest canid was Epicyon Haydeni, included in a group called “the bone crushing dogs”. Big strong and resembling a large cat more than a canid, it weighed more than 340 pounds, stood on all four feet as high as a man’s chest with a powerful well-muscled body. Of course, they disappeared some 5 million years ago, after ruling North America for some 10 million years. Nearly lion size these critters evolved to hunt only large prey. What happened? Those pesky felines appeared and out hunted them. Being so specialized for hunting large prey, they had the smorgasbord to themselves until the large feline appeared and hunted the same critters. Those canids that survived where like the Dire wolf. Agile enough to catch a mouse, but when hunting in a pack good enough to take larger game, an evolutionary sweat spot, but alas dire wolves are another extinct big canid. The “bear dogs” were even bigger, conservative estimate 440 lbs, but some subspecies may have reached 1300 pounds. Not true bears or true dogs they combine the large body of the bear and long snout and slim long legs of the dog. Dogs are toe-walkers while bears are flat-footed with all the foot bones lying along the ground. Today it is the grey wolf that rules much of the northern hemisphere, where as the hyena is a large dominant species in Africa. Our ancestors where probably fortunate that they were spared the opportunity to go toe to toe with Haydeni, after all they had their hands full dodging Smilodon the saber-toothed cat, dire wolves and giant cave bears. Being on the menu is no fun, so few less hungry critters would have been appreciated. Times where tough then. Scary but cool.
Dog, Eagle & Other Chainsaw Carvings & More in Las Vegas, Nevada, Helena, Montana & Nampa, Idaho
Carve Me A Bear! Chainsaw Carvings specializes in carving animals from reclaimed wood trees using a chainsaw. Perhaps supply a picture or your favorite extinct canid, or near canid who can share your domicile, or choose from our inventory. Contact us today to learn more!