Key Takeaways:
- 1. The concept of distinct dog breeds is relatively recent and not applicable to the archaeological record.
- 2. Genetic models suggest that dogs have been a separate species from wolves for over 23,000 years, but early dog skulls closely resembled those of wolves.
- 3. Skull shape provides insight into function and evolutionary history, but it is just one aspect of an animal’s appearance, highlighting gaps in understanding early dog evolution.
Research indicates that the concept of dog breeds did not exist in ancient times, and early dog skulls were similar to those of wolves. Genetic models suggest that dogs evolved from wolves over 23,000 years ago, but distinguishing early dogs from wolves based solely on skull shape is challenging. The archaeological record offers only a partial view of the biological and cultural evolution of dogs, underscoring the complexity of early dog domestication.
Insight: The study emphasizes that while skull shape provides valuable information about function and evolution, it does not fully represent an animal's appearance. The selection of friendly animals during domestication may have led to unique evolutionary traits, such as spots and floppy ears, that are not visible in skulls, highlighting the limitations of using bones to understand the complete story of early dog evolution.
This article was curated by memoment.jp from the feed source: Ars Technica.
Read the original article here: https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/11/dogs-came-in-a-wide-range-of-sizes-and-shapes-long-before-modern-breeds/
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