AVIAN BALANCED DIETS:

Birds need the same 4 food groups that people require for a balance diet.

1. GRAINS are complex carbohydrates that primarily function to provide energy. Seeds are simple carbohydrates and less beneficial to the bird.

2. FRUITS & VEGETABLES supply vitamins missing in the grains. Vitamins A, D3, B12, E and K are especially important. Birds get almost no nutrition from celery, iceberg lettuce, corn, apple or banana. Fruits and vegetables should not exceed 15% of the bird's total diet.

3. PROTEIN sources are meats (chicken, beef and fish), eggs, nuts, beans and peas. These foods provide many of the essential fatty acids not found in grains. However, animal protein should be kept to a minimum to avoid causing kidney disease (do not exceed 10% of the total diet).

4. DAIRY PRODUCTS are important sources of calcium but birds cannot digest milk well, so it should be avoided. Yogurt is a good alternative. Leafy, green vegetables also are a good source of calcium, as are oyster shells, egg shells, bone and mineral blocks.

Vitamin D3 is also very important to the health and well being of birds. Fish oils and sunlight are the primary sources here. Sunlight filtered through normal window glass is not the answer, nor is exposure to direct sunshine. The best approach is to allow two 15-minute exposures to sun with the pet under a covered patio.

Minimize the feeding of thick-hull seeds (like sunflower seeds and peanuts) since birds can become "hooked" on them and refuse other, more nutritional food items. Keep this in mind as you select a commercial bird food that may be mostly fatty sunflower seeds.

5. SAFE TOYS

6. UNSAFE TOYS, Cardboard found in toilet paper and paper towel rolls, Toys containing rope or string.

7. TOXINS, Avocado, Teflon, Scented Candles, Room Deoderants, Pesticides, Insecticides, Aerosols, Alcohol, Coffee, Incense, Please see toxic plant list.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PARROTS CLICK HERE

Serving Mission Viejo, Orange County and surrounding communities. Call us today! (949) 770-9015

"We provide exceptional care for...Dogs"

Good Veterinary care is an essential aspect of your dog's health

As a dog owner, you will be aware of the responsibilities that come with dog owning and caring for your dog. However, you will also benefit from the incredibly rewarding and pleasurable experience dog ownership brings. In time, with the correct dog training and care, your puppy or dog will hopefully become a well-adjusted adult who is a pleasure to have as part of your family.

Taking your dog to the vet once a year for a check-up is the best way of making sure he’s in the best possible health. Even if you keep a close eye on your dog's health, an annual visit to the vet for a thorough check-up ensures extra peace of mind.

* Tips for visiting us *

A trip to the vet can be a stressful experience for your dog. There will be lots of strange sights, smells, sounds, people and animals. There are however a number of things you can do to make sure both you and your dog have a comfortable and stress-free visit to the vet’s office.

Make sure to take him out for a good walk before leaving. This will give your dog an opportunity to urinate; which makes an accident at the vet’s less likely. If your dog has already had a period of exercise he’ll also be calmer and more docile.

Your "Best Friend" is our friend too!

"We Understand the particular needs of ...Pocket Pets"
GUINEA PIGS, RABBITS, GERBILS, FANCY MICE, FANCY RATS and Others

Good Veterinary care is an essential aspect of your Pocket Pets health.

Pocket pet is a term used to refer to any small mammal commonly kept as a household pet. The six general criteria which qualify an animal to be considered a pocket pet are:

1) its commonality as a domestic housepet,
2) no potential danger to humans or other animals,
3) non-exotic,
4) overall ease of care & feeding,
5)amicable disposition making it suitable as a "companion" pet, and
6) relatively small stature.

The most common pocket pets include rodents such as: hamsters, gerbils, fancy mice, fancy rats, and guinea pigs. According to a recent 2007 study conducted by the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA), it is estimated that American families own 6.2 million rabbits, 1.2 million hamsters, and just over one million Guinea Pigs.

Your "Littlest Friend" is our friend too!

Serving Mission Viejo, Orange County and surrounding communities. Call us today! (949) 770-9015

"Dog Gooming, Cat Gooming, Pet Grooming" We proudly serve Mission Viejo, Orange County and surrounding communities. Call us today for your grooming needs! (949) 770-9015

Our experienced dog and cat groomer can keep your pets hair cut the way you like it while maintaining healthy skin and preventing unwanted matting. Please see below the various services we offer:

Full Service Grooming
From extensive show quality scissor cuts for the most demanding client, to the once every 4 months large dog shave down. We can offer every type of clip and or cut you desire. Anything from the breed standard to a customer request, we can do it for you. While your pet may come in for a haircut, they will also receive the full “Salon” treatment. Bath and brush, nails clipped and hair removed from around the pads on their paws, anals expressed, ears cleaned and hair pulled out of ears if necessary.

Cat Grooming and Shaving
Many cats do not or are not able to groom themselves as they once did. We offer cat grooming for those cats that might be lightly matted and very hairy. We comb out the matting and de-shed excess hair and undercoat keeping the hair and coat in its natural length. Some owners prefer the coat clipped short "shaved" almost like a velvet like length, leaving the lower legs, head and tail. This all but removes excess hair from the house, and hairball problem the animal may be having.

Bath and Brush
Many pets don’t need any hair cut, so we offer our bath, brush and comb-out. With this service your pet receives a pre-bath comb-out and de-matting if necessary he has his nails trimmed and ears cleaned, then it is on to the bath tub where he will get a humane bath and his anals expressed. Our Salon uses only the highest quality all natural shampoo’s and conditions. Most of our shampoos are aloe or tea tree oil based, giving high quality skin conditioning with rich lather that leaves coats silky smooth. More importantly our shampoos are all natural and free from harmful chemicals, pesticides and preservatives. Our shampoos and conditioners are professional grade, biodegradable and pH-balanced giving quality skin and coat conditioning, leaving that “fresh and spring clean” to your pet every time. After the bath, we use several types of dryers. First we use a high speed blow dryer, to blow dry any heavy moisture and remove left over undercoat that was loosened during the initial com-out. After that your pet is either fluff dried or put back in his “lodge” with a low speed high volume unheated dryer to circulate air around you beloved pet and dry any left over damp spots.

Flea and Tick Baths
We also offer flea and tick baths for those instances when your pet needs to be rid of those irritants. Unlike many places, we use a shampoo that is very strong and kills fleas and ticks on contact and protects for up to 14 days, yet we also rinse it off after 5 minutes. Most dips the animal must drip dry for several hours in a damp chemically soaked coat, an option we don’t recommend very often usually only in extreme cases. We also offer 30 day protection against fleas and ticks and mosquitoes (carry the west Nile virus) and their larva, through a small amount of liquid placed on the neck by the shoulder blades and above the tail on the backbone.

Nail Trimming
If you just want your pets nails trimmed, stop by any workday in the afternoon, between 2pm till close and we will accommodate you without an appointment usually less than 10 minutes total.

Shed Control
Among our most popular services is our “Shed Control” service. Depending on the breed of your animal, we offer monthly bath & brush with a high speed blow dry. The high speed blow dry removes heavy undercoat from your pet whether it is a Persian cat Dalmatian or a Husky. Then depending on coat density we use a variety of de-shedding tools which remove all available loose hair from your pet. When scheduled on a monthly basis for this service, most owners find the hair problem at home has been greatly reduced after the 3rd visit. Some owners have seen up to an 80% decrease of hair on furniture and flooring. And since the animal is not carrying around so much hair, the cost of the monthly treatment usually goes down by between 15-25%, and great savings for a great service. So whether you have a short hair pet like a Pug, Dalmatian, cat or a long hair double coated dog like the Malamute, Husky or Persian cat we have the service for you. We can lessen your hair problem around the house, and keep it looking clean and sharp were it belongs on your pet.

We proudly serve Mission Viejo, Orange County and surrounding communities. Call us today! (949) 770-9015

More information about Dog Grooming:

Dog grooming refers to both the hygienic care and cleaning of a dog, as well as a process by which a dog's physical appearance is enhanced for showing or other types of competition. A "dog groomer" (or simply "groomer") is a person who earns their living grooming dogs.

Reasons for grooming
Grooming is an important part of dog care. Depending on the breed, age, and health of the dog, grooming may be a daily activity. Many breeds require significantly less grooming than this, but regular grooming helps to ensure the dog is healthy and comfortable. It is important to note that while many dogs shed, others (such as the Poodle), do not shed (see Moult). Instead, their coat grows much like human hair and therefore requires trimming. The main reasons for daily grooming include:

* improved health of the skin and coat
* decreased chance of various health problems, such as thrush, scratches, and other skin problems
* general cleanliness of the dog
* monitoring of the dog's health by checking for cuts, heat, swelling, lameness, or changes in temperament (such as depression) , all of which could be indicative of illness
* forging of a closer relationship between dog and owner

Tools of grooming
Various types of currycombs Curry or Currycomb: A tool made of rubber or plastic with short "teeth." The tool is rubbed (or "curried") in a circular motion to loosen dirt, hair, and other detritus, and stimulate the skin into producing natural oils. Metal currycombs should not be used, as they are designed for use on show cattle. A shedding blade Shedding blade: A metal shedding blade with short, dull teeth is used to remove dead hair from certain types of harsh coats. The shedding blade is not used to cut the hair. Scissors and Clippers: Cutting tools used to remove hair on certain types of coats or in sensitive areas.

Bathing
Dogs can be bathed by being sprayed with a garden hose or a hand-held shower head, or doused with water from a bucket. Often, one bath will not make a dog truly clean. A second bath if excellent to ensure the entire body has been cleaned. Many types of shampoos and conditioners formulated for dogs are available; however, using a shampoo without mixing it with water may be a bit strong for a dog that's just getting a touch-up bath. If the dog isn't filthy, water is mixed with shampoo in a 1:1 ratio to make it easier on the dog and to make sure it rinses entirely. If any shampoo remains on the dog after the bath, it may become irritating to the skin. Most dogs do not require frequent bathing; shampooing a coat too often can strip the fur of its natural oils, causing it to dry out.

Hair removal
The coats of many breeds require trimming, cutting, or other attention. Styles vary by breed and discipline. While some hair removal has its origins in practical purposes, much is based on the taste of the owner, whether or not the dog will be shown, and what work the dog does.

Stripping
The body of this adult Border Terrier has been stripped. Stripping or hand-stripping is the process of pulling the dead hair out of the coat of a non-shedding dog, either by using a stripping knife or the fingers. A hard, wiry coat has a cycle where it starts growing and then sheds as it reaches maximum length. Hand-stripping coordinates the shedding and makes room for a new coat to grow.

Nail trimming
Nail trimming is essential for maintaining good health. If a dog's nails are allowed to grow, they will curl over into a spiral shape; walking will become increasingly painful to the dog as they grow out. Uncut nails may curl so far that they pierce the paw pad, leading to infection and debilitating pain. If one does not trim a dog's nails on a monthly basis the quick will grow along with the nail, making it nearly impossible to cut properly. Owners may choose to trim nails themselves or may opt to take their pet to a groomer or veterinarian.

Other services
Additional options that some groomers provide include services such as colouring dogs' fur and painting dogs' nails. They may also sell products for dogs' fur and other products such as dog clothing.

Grooming your pets doesn't mean that they have to be made-up and untouchable; it simply means that you're taking good care of their health by keeping a watchful eye on their hygiene. Pets, like humans, are more likely to remain healthy when they are clean and well groomed. Contrary to popular belief, dogs and cats are not wild animals; they require regular grooming attention to keep them healthy in their domestic environments. One of the major benefits of a regular grooming regimen is that you will become familiar with your pet's body. This allows you to quickly recognize problems with his health, so you can bring them to your veterinarian's attention sooner.

ALL ABOUT VETERINARIANS

"Pet Parasite Control"

Pets provide many benefits to humans. They comfort us and they give us companionship. However, some animals can also pass diseases to people. These diseases are called zoonoses. Although animals can carry germs, it is important to know that you are more likely to get some of these germs from contaminated food or water than from your pet or another animal you encounter.

It is fairly common for a dog or cat to become infected with an internal or external parasite at some point in its lifetime. Parasites can affect your pet in a variety of ways, ranging from simple irritation to causing life-threatening conditions if left untreated. Some parasites can even infect and transmit diseases to you and your family.

Your veterinarian can help prevent, accurately diagnose and safely treat parasites and other health problems that not only affect your dog or cat, but also the safety of you and your family.

General Tips to Protect Your Family
1. Wash your hands well after contact with an animal.
2. Do not allow children to put dirt in their mouths.
3. Pick up dog and cat waste from your yard daily, especially in areas where both children and animals play.
4. Cover home sandboxes to protect them from fecal contamination.
5. Have your pet tested regularly (at least once a year) for parasites by a veterinarian and administer year-round preventive medications to control zoonotic parasites.

Call us today! (949) 770-9015

Do fleas and ticks on my pet present a health risk to my family? Yes. Fleas and ticks can carry and either directly or indirectly transmit several potential illnesses of humans. For example, rickettsiosis (infection with Rickettsia) can be transmitted directly by ticks. Bartonellosis (infection with Bartonella) is transmitted between cats by f leas and then may spread to people. Also, f leas serve as an intermediate host for tapeworms, which can infect both your pet and humans.

What kind of internal parasites or worms can infect my cat or dog? There are a number of intestinal worms that can infect dogs and cats, and they vary according to the species. In general, these include roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms, and they are very prolific. In fact, one worm can produce more than 100,000 eggs per day, which are then passed in the pet’s feces and spread throughout the area the pet roams. Once in the environment, some of these eggs can remain infective and present a health risk for your pet and humans for years.

Are heartworms a parasite I should be concerned about for my pet? Yes. Heartworms can be a very serious problem for both dogs and cats, especially those in mosquito-infested areas, as mosquitoes are a vector and intermediate host for the pest. Heartworms can kill or seriously debilitate pets that are infected with them. That’s because heartworms live in the bloodstream, lungs and heart of infected pets. Your veterinarian can do a blood test to determine if your pet has heartworm disease. A year-round preventive program is most effective to keep pets free of heartworms.

If my dog or cat has intestinal worms, how can these parasites infect humans? Roundworms are the most common intestinal parasite of pets and the most likely to be transmitted to humans. Humans can accidentally ingest infective worm eggs that have been passed through the pet’s feces and left in the environment. The eggs can then hatch in the human’s intestinal tract, and the immature worms can travel to various tissues in the body, including the eyes and brain, potentially causing serious infections.

Parasites can infect your pet any time of year. External parasites, such as fl eas and ticks, may be less prevalent outside during certain times of the year; however, they often survive in the house during the winter months, creating an uninterrupted life cycle. Other internal parasites, such as worms, may affect your pet all year long. That’s why it’s important to consult with your veterinarian to implement a year-round parasite control program.

Call us today! (949) 770-9015

GIARDIA
Your pet can be infected with Giardia simply by drinking contaminated water or by licking its paws after walking in an infected area. Once ingested, Giardia lives in the intestines of the pet, and is returned to the environment through the pet's feces.

Symptoms of giardiasis in humans and pets include diarrhea, weight loss, and poor weight gain despite normal appetite. Many pets contract the disease and do not show signs of it. However, they can pass parasite to other animals. Humans with giardiasis can suffer from intense abdominal pain and cramping.

Dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens. Puppies and kittens are considered at a higher risk due to their immature immune systems which leave them unable to protect themselves from this disease.

- Outdoor dogs/cats - Multi-pet households

- Pets in urban neighborhoods - Kenneled dogs/cats

- Adopted dogs/cats - Farm dogs/cats

- Hunting dogs

- Dog shows - Parks

- Campgrounds - Beaches

- Boarding and daycare facilities - Animal shelters

- Pools - Playgrounds

Once your pet is diagnosed with giardia, medication for your pet will be prescribed in either tablet, powder, or liquid form. Keeping your pets bedding, food bowls, and outside areas clean is essential. Please make sure to wash your hands after handling or playing with your pets.

Call us today! (949) 770-9015

ADDISON'S DISEASE

The symptoms tend to be non-specific and may include lethargy, weakness, and gastrointestinal upset. It is common for the signs to come and go over a long period of time before a diagnosis is made. Some dogs with Addison's disease are not diagnosed until they are critically III in an Addisonian crisis. This is a life-threatening stage of the disease that results in collapse and shock. It must be treated as an emergency.

There is no cure for Addison's disease, but it can usually be treated withreplacement hormones, giving the dog a normal life span and quality of life. It is diagnosed (and monitored, once treatment has begun) with blood tests. The drugs most commonly used to treat Addison's disease are called prednisone, Florinef, and DOCP-a dog may require only one or a combination of these medications. Here at Muirlands Animal & Avian Hospital, we are fully equipped to treat and manage Addisonian patients.

Call us today! (949) 770-9015

"The Importance of Your Pet's Nutrition"

Along with regular exercise and veterinary care, careful feeding is perhaps the best way you can contribute to your Pet's prolonged good health. These are the basic nutrients every Pet needs: Water is the most essential nutrient in any diet. Your Pet's body is made up of approximately 70 percent water and will quickly perish without it. Make sure you allow your Pet access to fresh, clean water at all times.

Carbohydrates supply energy and come from sugars, starch, and fiber from plant sources. Carbohydrates help energize the brain and muscles, making your Pet bright and active. Fats also supply energy and in the right amounts help build strong cells and promote nutrient absorption. But too much fat can lead to such obesity-related health problems as diabetes, heart disease, and canine osteoarthritis.

Proteins are required for a healthy coat, skin, and nails. Your Pet's body uses the amino acids in proteins to make enzymes and hormones in the blood stream and to maintain a healthy immune system. Proteins can come from plant and meat sources, but cats and dogs need a high-quality animal protein. Vitamins and minerals help regulate many body systems. For example, your Pet needs the minerals calcium and phosphorous for strong bones.

Weight Management
Just like people dogs and cats have an ideal weight. Achieving and maintaining pets' ideal weight reduces the risk of health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, skin complaints, breathing difficulties and arthritis. Current studies suggest that half of all pets are considered overweight to obese. This information is provided by your veterinarian to help you care for your overweight or obese pet, with tips on helping your pet lose weight for a lifetime of good health.

Miurlands Animal Hospital has a program designed to create an individual weight loss and management program specifically geared towards your pet's needs and lifestyle. We will start off with an initial consultation which includes a physical exam, compilation of diet and exercise history, body condition score, bloodwork, and chest and abdomen measurements. Our doctors will then determine the ideal weight for your pet, devise a new diet plan, and set achievable goals for his/her progress over the next six months. Call us today! (949) 770-9015

Causes of Weight Gain
* Overeating - Pets who are fed too much food or high-calorie treats tend to gain weight.
* Disease - Weigh gain can be the result of a medical disorder.
* Neutering/Spaying - Pets that have been neutered or spayed have a higher risk of weight gain.
* Decreased Activity - Pets that don't get enough exercise may need fewer calories.
* Age - Older pets are often less active, requiring fewer calories.
* Breed - Some breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, Cairn Terriers, Cocker and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are prone to weight gain.

Signs of a Weight Problem
You may have noticed the following signs of excess weight in your own pet :
* Ribs can't easily be felt
* Loss of an obvious waist
* Difficulty walking
* Shortness of breath
* Excessive sleeping
* Slow to move
* Bad temper

Home Care
* Make a total commitment to help your pet lose weight.
* Follow your veterinarian's feeding recommendations.
* Feed a low-calorie, high-fiber food specifically formulated for weight management.
* Avoid feeding your pet table scraps.
* Divide the total amount to be fed each day into 3 or 4 smaller meals.
* Use a measuring cup to make sure you are feeding the proper amount of food.
* Exercise your pet regularly if recommended by your veterinarian.
* Monitor your pet's weight regularly.

Feeding Recommendations
Proper nutrition will help your pet achieve a healthy weight. Your veterinarian will recommend a well-balanced food with lower fat levels, reduced calories and increased fiber to help your pet feel full. A food with high levels of L-Carnitine helps pets lose fat while maintaining lean muscle mass.

Serving Mission Viejo and surrounding communities.
Call us today! (949) 770-9015

"Vaccinating Your Pet"

Spay and Nuetering Your Pet

ALL ABOUT PARROTS

Blue-and-yellow Macaw eating a walnut held by a foot

Characteristic features of parrots include a strong curved bill, an upright stance, strong legs, and clawed zygodactyl feet. Most parrots are predominantly green, with other bright colors, and some species are multi-colored. Cockatoo species range from mostly white to mostly black, and have a mobile crest of feathers on the top of their heads. Most parrots are monomorphic or minimally sexually dimorphic. Extant species range in size from the Buff-faced Pygmy-parrot, at under 10 g (0.35 oz.) in weight and 8 cm (3.2 inches) in length, to the Hyacinth Macaw, at 1.0 meter (3.3 feet) in length, and the Kakapo, at 4.0 kg (8.8 lbs) in weight. They are the most variably sized bird order in terms of length.

The most important components of most parrots' diets are seeds, nuts, fruit, buds and other plant material, and a few species also eat insects and small animals, and the lories and lorikeets are specialised to feed on nectar from flowers, and soft fruits. Almost all parrots nest in tree holes (or nestboxes in captivity), and lay white eggs from which emerge altricial (helpless) young.

Parrots, along with ravens, crows, jays and magpies, are some of the most intelligent birds, and the ability of some parrot species to imitate human voices enhances their popularity as pets. Trapping of wild parrots for the pet trade, as well as other hunting, habitat loss and competition from invasive species, have diminished wild populations, and parrots have been subjected to more exploitation than any other group of birds. Recent conservation measures to conserve the habitats of some of the high-profile charismatic parrot species has also protected many of the less charismatic species living in the ecosystem.

Evolution and systematics

Origins and evolution

The diversity of Psittaciformes in South America and Australasia suggests that the order has a Gondwanan origin, while the center of origins appears to be Australasian. The parrot family's fossil record, however, is sparse and their origin can so far only be deduced.

A single 15 mm fragment from a lower bill (UCMP 143274), found in Lance Creek Formation deposits of Niobrara County, Wyoming, has been suggested as the first parrot fossil. Of Late Cretaceous age, it is about 70 million years old. But subsequent reviews have established that this fossil is almost certainly not from a bird, but from a caenagnathid theropod—a non-avian dinosaur with a birdlike beak.

It is now generally assumed that the Psittaciformes or their common ancestors with a number of related bird orders were present somewhere in the world around the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event, some 65 mya (million years ago). If so, they probably had not evolved their morphological autapomorphies yet, but were generalized arboreal birds, roughly similar (though not necessarily closely related) to today's potoos or frogmouths (see also Palaeopsittacus below).

Europe is the origin of the first generally accepted parrot fossils. The first is a wingbone of Mopsitta tanta, uncovered in Denmark and dated to 54 mya (million years ago). The climate at this time was tropical, consistent with the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum.

Later fossils date from the Eocene, starting around 50 mya. Several fairly complete skeletons of parrot-like birds have been found in England and Germany. Some uncertainty remains, but on the whole it seems more likely that these are not direct ancestors of the modern parrots, but related lineages which evolved in the Northern Hemisphere but have since died out. These are probably not "missing links" between ancestral and modern parrots, but rather psittaciform lineages that evolved parallel to true parrots and cockatoos and had their own peculiar autapomorphies:

• Psittacopes (Early/Middle Eocene of Geiseltal, Germany) – basal?
• Serudaptus – pseudasturid or psittacid?
• Pseudasturidae (Halcyornithidae may be correct name)
  • Pseudasturides – formerly Pseudastur
• Quercypsittidae
  • Quercypsitta (Late Eocene)

The feathers of a Yellow-headed Parrot. The blue component of the green coloration is due to light scattering while the yellow is due to pigment.

The earliest records of modern parrots date to about 23–20 mya and are also from Europe. Subsequently, the fossil record—again, mainly from Europe—consists of bones clearly recognizable as belonging to parrots of modern type. The Southern Hemisphere does not have nearly as rich a fossil record for the period of interest as the Northern, and contains no known parrot-like remains earlier than the early to middle Miocene, around 20 mya. At this point, however, is found the first unambiguous parrot fossil (as opposed to a parrot-like one), an upper jaw which is indistinguishable from that of modern cockatoos. A few modern genera are tentatively dated to a Miocene origin, but their unequivocal record stretches back only some 5 million years.

The named fossil genera of parrots are probably all in the Psittacidae or close to its ancestry:

• Archaeopsittacus (Late Oligocene/Early Miocene)
• Xenopsitta (Early Miocene of Czechia)
• Psittacidae gen. et spp. indet. (Bathans Early/Middle Miocene of Otago, New Zealand) - several species
• Bavaripsitta (Middle Miocene of Steinberg, Germany)
• Psittacidae gen. et sp. indet. (Middle Miocene of France) - erroneously placed in Pararallus dispar, includes "Psittacus" lartetianus

Some Paleogene fossils are not unequivocally accepted to be of psittaciforms:

• Palaeopsittacus (Early — Middle Eocene of NW Europe) - caprimulgiform (podargid?) or quercypsittid?
• "Precursor" (Early Eocene) - part of this apparent chimera seems to be of a pseudasturid or psittacid
• Pulchrapollia (Early Eocene) — includes "Primobucco" olsoni - psittaciform (pseudasturid or psittacid)?

Phylogeny

The phylogeny of the parrots is still under investigation. The classifications as presented reflects the current status, which is disputed and therefore subject to change when new studies resolve some of the open questions. For that reason, this classification should be treated as preliminary.

The Psittaciformes consist of three main lineages: Nestoridae, Psittacidae (true parrots) and Cacatuidae (cockatoos). In the past, the Nestoridae were considered part of the Psittacidae, but recent studies place this group of New Zealand species at the basis of the parrot tree next to the remaining members of the Psittacidae as well as all members of the Cacatuidae.

Lorikeets were previously regarded as a third family, Loriidae, but studies using large amounts of DNA data place the group in the middle of the Psittacidae family, with as closest relatives the fig parrots (two of the three genera of the tribe Cyclopsittacini, subfamily Psittacinae) and the Budgerigar (tribe Melopsittacini, subfamily Platycercinae).

Systematics

The following classification is a version in which several subfamilies are recognized. Molecular data (see above) suggests that several subfamilies might indeed be valid and perhaps even be elevated to family rank, but the arrangement of tribes in these is not well resolved at present.

Skeleton of a parrot

Family Nestoridae: The New Zealand parrots.

• Tribe Nestorini: 1 genus with only 2 living species, the Kea and Ka-ka- of the New Zealand region.
• Tribe Strigopini: The flightless, critically endangered Kakapo of New Zealand.

Family Cacatuidae: Cockatoos

• Subfamily Microglossinae
• Subfamily Calyptorhynchinae: dark cockatoos
• Subfamily Cacatuinae: white cockatoos

Family Psittacidae: true parrots

• Subfamily Arinae: Neotropical parrots, about 160 species in some 30 genera. Probably 2 distinct lineages:
• Subfamily Loriinae: Around a dozen genera with some 50 species of lorikeets and lories, centered in New Guinea, spreading to Australia, Indonesia, and the islands of the south Pacific.
• Subfamily Micropsittinae: 6 species of pygmy parrot, all in a single genus.
• Subfamily Psittacinae
  • Tribe Cyclopsittacini: fig parrots, 3 genera, all from New Guinea or nearby.
  • Tribe Polytelini: three genera from Australia and the Wallacea that were in the past grouped with the broad-tailed parrots.
  • Tribe Psittrichadini: A single species, Pesquet's Parrot.
  • Tribe Psittacini: Afrotropical parrots, about a dozen species in 3 genera.
  • Tribe Psittaculini: Paleotropic psittaculine parrots, nearly 70 living species in 12 genera, distributed from India to Australasia.
• Subfamily Platycercinae: Broad-tailed parrots; nearly 30 species in roughly one dozen genera.
  • Tribe Melopsittacini: one genus with one species, the Budgerigar.
  • Tribe Neophemini: two small genera of parrots.
  • Tribe Pezoporini: one genus of parrots with two quite distinct species.
  • Tribe Platycercini: Rosellas and relatives; around 20 species in 8 genera.

LIST OF PARROTS

This is a species list of parrots sortable alphabetically by common or binomial name. For further details, see the main article.

Parrots are found on all tropical and subtropical continents including Australia and the islands of the Pacific Ocean, South Asia, southeast Asia, southern regions of North America, South America and Africa. Some Caribbean and Pacific islands are home to endemic species. By far the greatest number of parrot species come from Australasia and South America. The lories and lorikeets range from Sulawesi and the Philippines in the north to Australia and across the Pacific as far as French Polynesia, with the greatest diversity being found in and around New Guinea. The subfamily Arinae encompasses all the Neotropical parrots, including the Amazons, macaws and conures, and range from northern Mexico and the Bahamas to Tierra del Fuego in the southern tip of South America. The pygmy parrots, subfamily Micropsittinae, are a small genus restricted to New Guinea. The subfamily Nestorinae are three species of aberrant parrots from New Zealand. The broad-tailed parrots, subfamily Platycercinae, are restricted to Australia, New Zealand and Pacific islands as far as Fiji. The final true parrot subfamily, Psittacinae, includes a range of species from Australia and New Guinea to the species found in South Asia and Africa. The centre of cockatoo biodiversity is Australia and New Guinea, although some species reach the Solomon Islands (and one species formerly occurred in New Caledonia), Indonesia and the Philippines.

While a few parrot species are wholly sedentary or fully migratory, the majority fall somewhere between the two, making poorly understood regional movements, some species adopting an entirely nomadic lifestyle.

Morphology

Glossy Black Cockatoo showing the parrot's strong bill, clawed feet, and sideways positioned eyes

The most obvious physical characteristic that characterises parrots is their strong, curved, broad bill. The upper mandible is prominent, curves downward, and comes to a point. It is not fused to the skull, which allows it to move independently, and contributes to the tremendous biting pressure these birds are able to exert. The lower mandible is shorter, with a sharp, upward facing cutting edge, which moves against the flat portion of the upper mandible in an anvil-like fashion. Seed eating parrots have a strong tongue which helps to manipulate seeds or position nuts in the bill so that the mandibles can apply an appropriate cracking force. The head is large, with eyes positioned sideways, which limits binocular vision, but greatly enhances peripheral vision.

Cockatoo species have a mobile crest of feathers on the top of their heads which can be raised for display, and retracted.Parrots, along with crows, jays and magpies, are some of the most intelligent birds, and the ability of some parrot species to imitate human voices enhances their popularity as pets. Trapping of wild parrots for the pet trade, as well as other hunting, habitat loss and competition from invasive species, have diminished wild populations, and parrots have been subjected to more exploitation than any other group of birds.[6] Recent conservation measures to conserve the habitats of some of the high-profile charismatic parrot species has also protected many of the less charismatic species living in the ecosystem.[7]

Behaviour

There are numerous difficulties in studying wild parrots, as they are difficult to catch and once caught they are difficult to mark. Most wild bird studies rely on rings (or bands) or some form of wing tag, but parrots will chew them off. The parrots also tend to range widely and as a consequence there are many gaps in science's knowledge of their behavior.

Parrots have a strong, direct flight. Most species spend most of their time perched or climbing in tree canopies. They often use their bills for climbing by gripping or hooking on branches and other supports. On the ground parrots often walk with a rolling gait.

Diet

The diet of parrots consists of seeds, fruit, nectar, pollen, buds, and sometimes insects and to a lesser degree animal prey. Without question the most important of these to most true parrots and cockatoos are seeds. The evolution of the large and powerful bill can be explained primarily as an adaptation to opening and consuming seeds. All true parrots except the Pesquet's Parrot employ the same method to obtain the seed from the husk; the seed is held between the mandibles and the lower mandible crushes the husk, whereupon the seed is rotated in the bill and the remaining husk is removed. A foot is sometimes used in order to help holding large seeds in place. Parrots are seed predators rather than seed dispersers; and in many cases where species are recorded as consuming fruit they are only eating the fruit in order to get at the seed. As seeds often have poisons to protect them, parrots are careful to remove seed coats and other fruit parts which are chemically well defended, prior to ingestion. Many species in the Americas, Africa, and Papua New Guinea consume clay which both releases minerals and absorbs toxic compounds from the gut.

Parrots at a clay lick in Ecuador. Consuming clay neutralises toxins in the diet.

The lories and lorikeets, Swift Parrot and Philippine Hanging Parrot are primarily nectar and pollen consumers, and have tongues with brush tips to collect this source of food, as well as some specialized gut adaptations to accommodate this diet. Many other species also consume nectar as well when it becomes available.

In addition to feeding on seeds and flowers, some parrot species will prey on animals. Golden-winged Parakeets prey on water snails, and famously the Keas of New Zealand will scavenge on sheep carcases and even kill juvenile petrels. Another New Zealand parrot, the Antipodes Island Parakeet, enters the burrows of nesting Grey-backed Storm-petrels and kills the incubating adults. Some cockatoos and the Ka-ka- will also excavate branches and wood in order to obtain grubs.

Breeding

Although there are a few exceptions, parrots are monogamous breeders which nest in cavities and hold no territories other than their nesting sites. The pair bonds of the parrots and cockatoos are strong and the pair will remain close even during the non-breeding season, even if they join larger flocks. As with many birds pair bond formation is preceded by courtship displays; these are relatively simple in the case of cockatoos. Allopreening is used by the pair to help maintain the bond.

The vast majority of parrots are, like this Blue-winged Parrotlet, cavity nesters

Only the Monk Parakeet and five species of Agapornis lovebird build nests in trees, and three Australian and New Zealand ground parrots nest on the ground. All other parrots and cockatoos nest in cavities, either tree hollows or cavities dug into cliffs, banks or the ground. The use of holes in cliffs is more common in the Americas. many species will use termite nests, possibly as it reduces the conspicuousness of the nesting site or because it creates favourable microclimates. In most cases both species will participate in the nest excavation. The length of the burrow varies with species, but is usually between 0.5-2 m in length. The nests of cockatoos are often lined with sticks, wood chips and other plant material. In the larger species of parrot and cockatoo the availability of nesting holes can be limited and this can lead to intense competition for them. Some species are colonial, with the Burrowing Parrot nesting in colonies up to 70,000 strong.

The eggs of parrots are white. In most species the female undertakes all the incubation, although incubation is shared for in cockatoos, the Blue Lorikeet, and the Vernal Hanging Parrot. The female remains in the nest for almost all of the incubation period and is fed both by the male and during short breaks. Incubation varies from 17 to 35 days, with the larger species have the longer incubation periods. The newly-born young are altricial, either lacking feathers or with sparse white down. The young spend anything from three weeks to four months in the nest, depending on species, and may receive parental care for up to further months thereafter.

As typical of K-selected species, the macaws and other larger parrot species have low reproductive rates. They require several years to reach maturity, produce one or very few young per year, and sometimes do not breed every year at all.

Intelligence and learning

Studies with captive birds have given us insight into which birds are the most intelligent. While parrots have the distinction of being able to mimic human speech, studies with the African Grey Parrot have shown that some are able to associate words with their meanings and form simple sentences (see Alex and N'kisi). Along with crows, ravens, and jays (family Corvidae), parrots are considered the most intelligent of birds. The brain-to body size ratio of psittacines and corvines is actually comparable to that of higher primates. One argument against the supposed intelligent capabilities of bird species is that birds have a relatively small cerebral cortex, which is the part of the brain considered to be the main area of intelligence in other animals. However, it seems that birds use a different part of their brain, the medio-rostral neostriatum/hyperstriatum ventrale, as the seat of their intelligence. Not surprisingly, research has shown that these species tend to have the largest hyperstriata, and Dr. Harvey J. Karten, a neuroscientist at UCSD who has studied the physiology of birds, discovered that the lower part of avian brains are functionally similar to humans. Not only have parrots demonstrated intelligence through scientific testing of their language using ability, but some species of parrot such as the Kea are also highly skilled at using tools and solving puzzles.

Learning in early life is apparently important to all parrots, and much of that learning is social learning. Social interactions are often practised with siblings, and in several species creches are formed with several broods, and these as well are important for learning social skills. Foraging behaviour is generally learnt from parents, and can be a very protracted affair. Supra-generalists and specialists are generally independent of their parents much quicker than partly specialised species which may have to learn skills over a long period of time as various resources become seasonally available. Play forms a large part of learning in parrots, it can be solitary, and related to motor skills, or social. Species may engage in play fights or wild flights to practice predator evasion. An absence of stimuli can retard the development of young birds, as demonstrated by a group of Vasa Parrots kept in tiny cages with domesticated chickens from the age of 3 months; at 9 months these birds still behaved in the same way as 3 month olds, but had adopted some chicken behaviour. In a similar fashion captive birds in zoo collections or pets can, if deprived of stimuli, develop stereotyped behaviours and harmful behaviours like self plucking. Aviculturists working with parrots have identified the need for environmental enrichment to keep parrots stimulated.

Sound imitation and speech

Many species can imitate human speech or other sounds, and the results of a study by Irene Pepperberg suggested a high learning ability in an African Grey Parrot named Alex. Alex was trained to use words to identify objects, describe them, count them, and even answer complex questions such as "How many red squares?" with over 80% accuracy. A second example is that of N'kisi, another African grey, which has been shown to have a vocabulary of approximately a thousand words and has displayed an ability to invent as well as use words in context and in the correct tense.

Parrots do not have vocal cords, so sound is accomplished by expelling air across the mouth of the bifurcated trachea. Different sounds are produced by changing the depth and shape of trachea. African Grey Parrots of all subspecies are known for their superior ability to imitate sounds and human speech. This ability has made them prized as pets from ancient time to now. In the Masnavi, a writing by Rumi of Persia, AD 1250, the author talks about an ancient method for training parrots to speak.

Although most parrot species are able to imitate, some of the Amazon parrots are generally regarded as the next-best imitators and speakers of the parrot world.

The question of why birds imitate remains open, but those that do often score very high on tests designed to measure problem solving ability. Wild African Grey Parrots have been observed imitating other birds. Most other wild parrots have not been observed imitating other species.

Relationship with humans

Humans and parrots have a complicated relationship. Economically they can be beneficial to communities as sources of income from the pet trade and are highly marketable tourism draws and symbols. But some species are also economically important pests, particularly some cockatoo species in Australia. Some parrots have also benefited from human changes to the environment in some instances, and have expanded their ranges where agricultural practices, and many parrots have declined as well.

It is possible to devote careers to parrots. Zoos and aquariums employ keepers to care for and shape the behavior of parrots. Some veterinarians who specialize in avian medicine will treat parrots exclusively. Biologists study parrot populations in the wild and help to conserve wild populations. Aviculturalists breed and sell parrots for the pet trade.

As tens of millions parrots have been removed from the wild, and parrots have been traded in greater numbers and for far longer than any other group of wild animals. Many parrot species are still threatened by this trade as well as habitat loss, predation by introduced species, and hunting for food or feathers. Some parrot species are agricultural pests, eating fruits, grains, and other crops, but parrots can also benefit economies through birdwatching based ecotourism.

Pets

Parrots are popular as pets due to their sociable and affectionate nature, intelligence, bright colours, and ability to imitate human voices. The domesticated Budgerigar, a small parrot, is the most popular of all pet bird species. In 1992 the newspaper USA Today published that there were 11 million pet birds in the United States alone, many of them parrots. Europeans kept birds matching the description of the Rose-ringed Parakeet (or called the ring-necked parrot), such as in this first century account by Pliny the Elder. As they have been prized for thousands of years for their beauty and ability to talk, they have also often been misunderstood. For example, author Wolfgang de Grahl discusses in his 1987 book "The Grey Parrot," that some importers allowed parrots to drink only coffee while they were being shipped by boat considering pure water to be detrimental and believing that their actions would increase survival rates during shipping. (These days it is commonly accepted that the caffeine in coffee is toxic to birds.)

Pet parrots may be kept in a cage or aviary; though generally, tame parrots should be allowed out regularly on a stand or gym. Depending on locality, parrots may be either wild caught or be captive bred, though in most areas without native parrots, pet parrots are captive bred.

Parrots species that are commonly kept as pets include conures, macaws, Amazons, cockatoos, African Greys, lovebirds, cockatiels, budgerigars, eclectus, Caiques, parakeets, Pionus and Poicephalus. Species vary in their temperament, noise level, talking ability, cuddliness with people, and care needs, although how a parrot has been raised usually greatly affects its personality.

The popularity, longevity, and intelligence of many of the larger pet parrots has led to many of these birds being rehomed during the course of their long lifespans. A common problem is that large parrot species which are cuddly and gentle as juveniles will mature into intelligent, complex, often demanding adults that can outlive their owners. Due to these problems, and the fact that homeless parrots are not euthanised like dogs and cats, parrot adoption centers and sanctuaries are becoming more common.

Zoos

Parrot species are found in most zoos, and a few zoos participate in breeding and conservation programs. Some zoos have organised displays of trained parrots and other birds doing tricks.

Trade

The popularity of parrots as pets has led to a thriving — and often illegal — trade in the birds, and some species are now threatened with extinction. A combination of trapping of wild birds and damage to parrot habitats makes survival difficult or even impossible for some species of parrot. Importation of wild caught parrots into the US and Europe is illegal.

The trade continues unabated in some countries. A report published in January 2007 presents a clear picture of the wild-caught parrot trade in Mexico, stating: "The majority of parrots captured in Mexico stay in the country for the domestic trade. A small percentage of this capture, 4% to 14%, is smuggled into the USA." In the early 1980s an American college student who worked his way through school smuggling parrots across the Rio Grande put his contraband Mexican birds in a cage on an inflatable raft and floated with them across the international river to the U.S. side where a partner would be waiting.

The scale of the problem can be seen in the Tony Silva case of 1996, in which a parrot expert and former director at Tenerife's Loro Parque (Europe's largest parrot park) was jailed in the United States for 82 months and fined $100,000 for smuggling Hyacinth Macaws. (Such birds command a very high price.) The case led to calls for greater protection and control over trade in the birds. Different nations have different methods of handling internal and international trade. Australia has banned the export of its native birds since 1960. The United States protects its only native parrot through its Endangered Species Act, and protects other nations' birds through its Wild Bird Conservation Act. Following years of campaigning by hundreds of NGOs and outbreaks of avian flu, in July 2007, the European Union halted the importation of all wild birds with a permanent ban on their import. Prior to an earlier temporary ban started in late October 2005, the EU was importing approximately two million live birds a year, about 90% of the international market: hundreds of thousands of these were parrots. There are no national laws protecting feral parrot populations in the USA. Mexico has a licensing system for capturing and selling native birds (though the laws are not well enforced).

Threats and conservation

A large number of parrot species are in decline, and several species are now extinct. Of the 350 or so living species of parrot 130 species are listed as near threatened or worse by the IUCN. There are numerous reasons for the decline of so many species, the principal threats being habitat loss and degradation, hunting, and for certain species, wild-bird trade. Parrots are persecuted for a number of reasons; in some areas they may (or have been) hunted for food, for feathers, and as agricultural pests. For a time, Argentina offered a bounty on Monk Parakeets (an agricultural pest), resulting in hundred of thousands of birds being killed, though apparently this did not greatly affect the overall population. Capture for the pet trade is a threat to many of the rarer or slower to breed species. Habitat loss or degradation, most often for agriculture, is a threat to numerous parrot species. Parrots, being cavity nesters, are vulnerable to the loss of nesting sites and to competition with introduced species for those sites. The loss of old trees is particularly a problem in some areas, particularly in Australia where suitable nesting trees may be many hundreds of years old. Many parrot species occur only on islands and are vulnerable to introduced species such as rats and cats, as they lack the appropriate anti-predator behaviours needed to deal with mammalian predators. Controlling such predators can help in maintaining or increasing the numbers of endangered species. Insular species, which have small populations in restricted habitat, are also vulnerable to physical threats such as hurricanes and volcanic eruptions.

There are many active conservation groups whose goal is the conservation of wild parrot populations. One of the largest includes the World Parrot Trust, an international organization. The group gives assistance to worthwhile projects as well as producing a magazine and raising funds through donations and memberships, often from pet parrot owners. They state they have helped conservation work in 22 countries. On a smaller scale local parrot clubs will raise money to donate to a cause of conservation. Zoo and wildlife centers usually provide public education, to change habits that cause damage to wild populations. Recent conservation measures to conserve the habitats of some of the high-profile charismatic parrot species has also protected many of the less charismatic species living in the ecosystem. A popular attraction that many zoos now employ is a feeding station for lories and lorikeets, where visitors feed small parrots with cups of liquid food. This is usually done in association with educational signs and lecture.

At present the IUCN recognises 19 species of parrot as extinct since 1600 (the date used to denote modern extinctions). This does not include species like the New Caledonian Lorikeet which has not been officially seen for 100 years yet is still listed as critically endangered.

Trade, export and import of all wild-caught parrots is regulated and only permitted under special licensed circumstances in countries party to CITES, the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, that came into force in 1975 to regulate the international trade of all endangered wild caught animal and plant species. In 1975, 24 parrot species were included on Appendix I of CITES, thus prohibiting commercial international trade in these birds. Since that initial listing, continued threats from international trade have lead CITES to add an additional 32 parrot varieties to Appendix I, including nine in the last four years. All the other parrot species are protected on Appendix II of CITES. In addition, individual countries may have laws to regulate trade in certain species.

ALL ABOUT DOGS

Canidae is the biological family of the dogs; a member of this family is called a canid. They include wolves, foxes, coyotes, and jackals. The Canidae family is divided into the "true dogs" of the tribe Canini and the "foxes" of the tribe Vulpini. The two species of the basal Caninae are more primitive and do not fit into either tribe.

Classification and relationship

The subdivision of Canidae into "foxes" and "true dogs" may not be in accordance with the actual relations; also the taxonomic classification of several canines is disputed. Recent DNA analysis shows that Canini (dogs) and Vulpini (foxes) are valid clades. (See phylogeny below). Molecular data implies a North American origin of living Canidae and an African origin of wolf-like canines (Canis, Cuon, and Lycaon).

Currently, the domestic dog is listed as a subspecies of Canis lupus, C. l. familiaris, and the Dingo (also considered a domestic dog) as C. l. dingo, provisionally a separate subspecies from C. l. familiaris; the Red Wolf, Eastern Canadian Wolf, and Indian Wolf are recognized as subspecies. Many sources list the domestic dog as Canis familiaris, but others, including the Smithsonian Institution and the American Society of Mammalogists, more precisely list it as a subspecies of C. l. familiaris; the Red Wolf, Eastern Canadian Wolf, and Indian Wolf may or may not be separate species; the Dingo has been in the past variously classified as Canis dingo, Canis familiaris dingo and Canis lupus familiaris dingo.

Evolution

Eocene epoch

Carnivorans evolved from miacoids about 55 million years ago during the late Paleocene. Then, about 50 million years ago, the carnivorans split into two main divisions: caniforms (dog-like) and feliforms (cat-like). By 40 million years ago the first clearly identifiable member of the dog family Canidae had arisen. It was called Prohesperocyon wilsoni and was found in what is now southwestern Texas. This fossil species bears a combination of features that definitively mark it as a canid: teeth that include the loss of the upper third molar (a general trend toward a more shearing bite), and the characteristically enlarged bony bulla (the rounded covering over the middle ear). Based on what we know about its descendants, Prohesperocyon likely had slightly more elongated limbs than its predecessors, along with toes that were parallel and closely touching, rather than splayed, as in bears.

The Canidae family soon subdivided into three subfamilies, each of which diverged during the Eocene: Hesperocyoninae (~39.74-15 Mya), Borophaginae (~36-2 Mya), and the Caninae lineage that led to present-day canids (wolves, foxes, coyotes, jackals, and domestic dogs). Each of these groups showed an increase in body mass with time, and sometimes exhibited a specialised hypercarnivorous diet that made them prone to extinction.^{:Fig. 1} Only the Caninae lineage, commonly referred to as "canines," survived to the present day.

Oligocene epoch

The earliest branch of the Canidae was the Hesperocyoninae lineage, which included the coyote-sized Mesocyon of the Oligocene (38-24 Mya). These early canids probably evolved for fast pursuit of prey in a grassland habitat, and resembled modern civets in appearance. Hesperocyonines became extinct except for the Nothocyon and Leptocyon branches. These branches led to the borophagine and canine radiations.

Miocene epoch

Around 9-10 Mya during the Late Miocene, Canis, Urocyon, and Vulpes genera expanded from southwestern North America. This was the point where the canine radiation began. The success of the these canines was related to the development of lower carnassials that were capable of both mastication and shearing. Around 8 Mya, Beringia offered the canines a way to enter Eurasia.

Pliocene epoch

Early Pliocene

During the Pliocene around (4-5 Mya) Canis lepophagus appeared in North America. This was small and sometimes coyote-like. Others were wolf-like in characteristics. It is theorized that Canis latrans (the coyote) descended from Canis lepophagus. Around 1.5 to 1.8 Mya, a variety of wolves were present in Europe. Also, the North American wolf line appeared with Canis edwardii, clearly identifiable as a wolf. Canis rufus appeared, possibly a direct descendent of Canis edwardii.

Middle Pliocene

Around 0.8 Mya Canis ambrusteri, emerged in North America. A large wolf, it was found all over the continent. It is thought that this species migrated to South America where it became the ancestor of Canis dirus, the dire wolf.

Late Pliocene

At 0.3 Mya Canis lupus (the gray wolf) was fully developed and had spread throughout Europe and northern Asia. Berengia offered a way to North America. At around 100,000 years ago, the dire wolf, one of the largest members of the dog family, had spread from South America to southern Canada and from coast to coast. The dire wolf shared its habitat with the gray wolf. Around 8000 years ago the dire wolf became extinct.

Characteristics

Wild canids are found on every continent except Antarctica, and inhabit a wide range of different habitats, including deserts, mountains, forests, and grassland. They vary in size from the Fennec Fox at 24 cm in length, to the Gray Wolf, which may be up to 2 m long, and can weigh up to 80 kg.

With the sole living exception of the Bush Dog, canids have relatively long legs and lithe bodies, adapted for chasing prey. All canids are digitigrade, meaning that they walk on their toes. They possess bushy tails, non-retractile claws, and a dewclaw on the front feet. They possess a baculum, which together with a cavernous body helps to create a copulatory tie during mating, locking the animals together for up to an hour. Young canids are born blind, with their eyes opening a few weeks after birth.

Social behavior

Gray wolf pack hunting an American bison in Yellowstone National Park.

Almost all canids are social animals and live together in groups. In most foxes and in many of the true dogs, a male and female pair work together to hunt and to raise their young. Gray wolves and some of the other larger canids live in larger groups called packs. African wild dogs have the largest packs, which can number as many as 90 animals. Some species form packs or live in small family groups depending on the circumstances, including the type of available food. In most species, there are also some individuals who live on their own. Within a canid pack, there is a system of dominance so that the strongest, most experienced animals lead the pack. In most cases, the dominant male and female are the only pack members to breed.

Canids communicate with each other by scent signals, by visual clues and gestures, and by vocalizations such as growls, barks, and howls. In most cases, groups have a home territory from which they drive out others. The territory is marked by leaving urine scent marks, which warn trespassing individuals.

Most canids bear young once a year, from 1 to 16 or more (in the case of the African wild dog) at a time. The young are born small and helpless and require a long period of care. They are kept in a den, most often dug into the ground, for warmth and protection. When they begin eating solid food, both parents, and often other pack members, bring food back for them from the hunt. This is most often vomited up from the adult's stomach. Young canids may take a year to mature and learn the skills they need to survive.

Dentition

Most canids have 42 teeth, with a dental formula of:

As in other members of Carnivora, the upper fourth premolar and lower first molar are adapted as carnassial teeth for slicing flesh. The molar teeth are strong in most species, allowing the animals to crack open bone to reach the marrow. The deciduous or baby teeth formula in canids is 3 1 3; molars are completely absent.

Canids and humans

Traditional English fox hunt

One canid, the domestic dog, long ago entered into a partnership with humans and today remains one of the most widely kept domestic animals in the world and serves humanity in a great many important ways. Most experts believe the domestic dog is descended from an Asian subspecies of the Gray Wolf.

Among canids, only the gray wolf has been known to prey on humans. There is at least one record of a coyote killing a toddler, and two of golden jackals killing children. Some canid species have also been trapped and hunted for their fur and, especially the Gray Wolf and the Red Fox, for sport. Some canids are now endangered in the wild due to hunting, habitat loss, and the introduction of diseases from domestic dogs.

LIST OF DOG BREEDS:
Dogs have been selectively bred for thousands of years, sometimes by inbreeding dogs from the same ancestral lines, sometimes by mixing dogs from very different lines. The process continues today, resulting in a wide variety of breeds, hybrids and types of dogs. Dogs are the only animal with such a wide variation in appearance, "from the Chihuahua to the Great Dane". The following list uses a wide interpretation of "breed". Breeds listed here may be traditional breeds with long histories as registered breeds, rare breeds with their own registries, or new breeds that may still be under development. Please see individual articles for more information. For breeds categorized by national origin, refer to the list of dog breeds by country. This list only includes each dog once, using the most commonly used name.

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Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

A

• Affenpinscher
• Afghan Hound
• Africanis
• Aidi
• Airedale Terrier
• Akbash Dog
• Akita Inu
• Alangu Mastiff
• Alano Español
• Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldog
• Alaskan Husky
• Alaskan Klee Kai
• Alaskan Malamute
• Alaunt
• Alopekis
• Alpine Dachsbracke
• American Akita
• American Bulldog
• American Cocker Spaniel
• American Eskimo Dog
• American Foxhound
• American Hairless Terrier
• American Leopard Hound
• American Mastiff
• American Pit Bull Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• American Water Spaniel

• Anatolian Shepherd Dog
• Anglo-Français de Petite Vénerie
• Appenzeller Sennenhund
• Argentine Dogo
• Ariege Pointer
• Ariegeois
• Armant
• Artois Hound
• Askal
• Australian Bulldog
• Australian Cattle Dog
• Australian Kelpie
• Australian Shepherd
• Australian Silky Terrier
• Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
• Australian Terrier
• Austrian Black and Tan Hound
• Austrian Pinscher
• Azawakh

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

B

• Bakharwal Dog
• Bandog
• Barbet
• Basenji
• Basque Shepherd Dog
• Basset Artésien Normand
• Basset Bleu de Gascogne
• Basset Fauve de Bretagne
• Basset Griffon Vendéen (Grand)
• Basset Griffon Vendéen (Petit)
• Basset Hound
• Batard
• Bavarian Mountain Hound
• Beagle
• Beagle-Harrier
• Bearded Collie
• Beauceron
• Bedlington Terrier
• Belgian Shepherd Dog
  • Groenendael
  • Laekenois
  • Malinois
  • Tervueren
• Bergamasco
• Berger Blanc Suisse
• Berger Picard
• Bernese Mountain Dog

• Bloodhound
• Biewer Terrier
• Billy
• Bisben
• Black and Tan Coonhound
• Black and Tan Virginia Foxhound
• Black Forest Hound
• Black Norwegian Elkhound
• Black Russian Terrier
• Blackmouth Cur
• Bleu de Gascogne (Grand)
• Bleu de Gascogne (Petit)
• Bloodhound
• Blue Lacy
• Blue Paul Terrier
• Bluetick Coonhound
  Border Collie
• Boerboel
• Bohemian Shepherd
• Bolognese
• Border Collie
• Border Terrier
• Borzoi
• Bosnian Coarse-Haired Hound
• Boston Terrier
• Bouvier des Ardennes
• Bouvier des Flandres
• Boxer
• Boykin Spaniel

• Bullmastiff
• Braque d'Auvergne
• Braque du Bourbonnais
• Braque du Puy
• Braque Francais
• Braque Saint-Germain
• Brazilian Terrier
• Briard
• Briquet Griffon Vendéen
• Brittany
• Broholmer
• Bruno Jura Hound
• Bucovina Shepherd Dog
• Bull and Terrier
• Bull Terrier
• Bull Terrier (Miniature)
• Bullmastiff
• Bully Kutta
• Bucovina Shepherd Dog

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

C

• Cairn Terrier
• Canaan Dog
• Canadian Eskimo Dog
• Canadian Pointer
• Cane Corso
• Cão da Serra de Aires
• Cão da Serra da Estrela
• Cão de Castro Laboreiro
• Cão Fila de São Miguel
• Carolina Dog
• Carpathian Shepherd Dog
• Catahoula Bulldog
• Catahoula Cur
• Catalan Sheepdog
• Caucasian Shepherd Dog
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Central Asian Shepherd Dog
• Cesky Fousek
• Cesky Terrier

• Chart Polski
• Chesapeake Bay Retriever
• Chien Français Blanc et Noir
• Chien Français Blanc et Orange
• Chien Français Tricolore
• Chihuahua
• Chilean Fox Terrier
• Chinese Chongqing Dog
• Chinese Crested Dog
• Chinese Imperial Dog
• Chinook
• Chippiparai
• Chow Chow
• Cimarrón Uruguayo
• Cirneco dell'Etna
• Clumber Spaniel
• Cocker Spaniel
• Collie
  • Collie (Rough)
  • Collie (Smooth)
• Combai
• Cordoba Fighting Dog
• Coton de Tulear
• Cretan Hound
• Croatian Sheepdog
• Curly Coated Retriever
• Czechoslovakian Wolfdog

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

D

• Dachshund
• Dalmatian
• Dandie Dinmont Terrier
• Danish Swedish Farmdog
• Dingo
• Doberman Pinscher
• Dogo Cubano
• Dogo Guatemalteco
• Dogo Sardesco
• Dogue de Bordeaux
• Drentse Patrijshond
• Drever
• Dunker
• Dutch Shepherd Dog
• Dutch Smoushond

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

E

• East-European Shepherd
• East Siberian Laika
• Elo
• English Cocker Spaniel
• English Coonhound
• English Foxhound
• English Mastiff
• English Pointer
• English Setter
• English Shepherd
• English Springer Spaniel
• English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan)
• English White Terrier
• Entlebucher Mountain Dog
• Épagneul Bleu de Picardie
• Estonian Hound
• Estrela Mountain Dog
• Eurasier
• Eurohound

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

F

• Field Spaniel
• Fila Brasileiro
• Finnish Hound
• Finnish Lapphund
• Finnish Spitz
• Flat-Coated Retriever
• Formosan Mountain Dog
• Fox Terrier
  • Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  • Fox Terrier (Wire)
• Franzuskaya Bolonka
• French Brittany
• French Bulldog
• French Spaniel

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

G

• Galgo Español
• Gascon Saintongeois (Grand)
• Gascon Saintongeois (Petit)
• German Coolie
• German Longhaired Pointer
• German Pinscher
• German Shepherd Dog
• German Shorthaired Pointer
• German Spaniel
• German Spitz
  • German Spitz (Klein)
  • German Spitz (Mittel)
• German Wirehaired Pointer
• Giant Schnauzer
• Glen of Imaal Terrier
• Golden Retriever
• Gordon Setter
• Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Noir
• Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Orange
• Grand Anglo-Français Tricolore
• Grand Griffon Vendéen
• Gran Mastín de Borínquen
• Great Dane
• Great Pyrenees
• Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
• Greenland Dog
• Greyhound
• Griffon Bleu de Gascogne
• Griffon Bruxellois
• Griffon Fauve de Bretagne
• Griffon Nivernais
• Guejae Gae
• Gull Dong
• Gull Terr

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

H

• Hare Indian dog
• Hamiltonstövare
• Hanover Hound
• Harrier
• Havanese
• Hawaiian Poi Dog
• Himalayan Sheepdog
• Hokkaido
• Hortaya Borzaya
• Hovawart
• Hungarian Hound
• Huntaway
• Hygenhund

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

I

• Ibizan Hound

• Icelandic Sheepdog
• Indian Spitz
• Irish Bull Terrier
• Irish Red and White Setter
• Irish Setter
• Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Irish Terrier
• Irish Water Spaniel
• Irish Wolfhound
• Istarski Kratkodlaki Gonic(
• Istarski Oštrodlaki Gonic(
• Italian Greyhound

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

J

• Jack Russell Terrier
• Jagdterrier
• Jämthund
• Japanese Chin
• Japanese Spitz
• Japanese Terrier
• Jonangi

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

K

• Kaikadi
• Kai Ken
• Kangal Dog
• Kangaroo Dog
• Kanni
• Karakachan Dog
• Karelian Bear Dog
• Keeshond
• Kerry Beagle
• Kerry Blue Terrier
• King Charles Spaniel
• King Shepherd
• Kintamani
• Kishu
• Khalag Tazi
• Komondor
• Kooikerhondje
• Koolie
• Korean Jindo Dog
• Korean Mastiff
• Kraški Ovc(ar
• Kromfohrlander
• Kunming Wolf-dog
• Kuvasz
• Kyi-Leo

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

L

• Labrador Husky
• Labrador Retriever
• Lagotto Romagnolo
• Lakeland Terrier
• Lancashire Heeler
• Landseer
• Lapponian Herder
• Leonberger
• Lhasa Apso
• Lithuanian Hound
• Longhaired Whippet
• Lottatore Brindisino
• Löwchen

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

M

• Magyar Agár
• Majestic Tree Hound
• Maltese
• Manchester Terrier
• Maremma Sheepdog
• McNab
• Mexican Hairless Dog
• Miniature Australian Shepherd
• Miniature Fox Terrier
• Miniature Pinscher
• Miniature Schnauzer
• Miniature Siberian Husky
• Mioritic
• Montenegrin Mountain Hound
• Moscow Watchdog
• Mountain Cur
• Mountain View Cur
• Mucuchies
• Mudi
• Mudhol Hound
• Münsterländer
  • Münsterländer (Large)
  • Münsterländer (Small)
• Murray River Curly Coated Retriever

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

N

• Native American Indian Dog
• Neapolitan Mastiff
• Newfoundland
• New Guinea Singing Dog
• Norfolk Terrier
• Norrbottenspets
• Northern Inuit Dog
• Norwegian Buhund
• Norwegian Elkhound
• Norwegian Lundehund
• Norwich Terrier
• Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

O

• Old Danish Pointer
• Old English Sheepdog
• Old English Bulldog
• Old English Terrier
• Old German Shepherd Dog
• Olde English Bulldogge
• Otterhound

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

P

• Pachon Navarro
• Papillon
• Parson Russell Terrier
• Patterdale Terrier
• Pekingese
• Perro de Presa Canario
• Perro de Presa Mallorquin
• Peruvian Hairless Dog
• Phalène
• Pharaoh Hound
• Picardy Spaniel
• Plott Hound

• Podenco Canario
• Pointer
• Poitevin
• Polish Hound
• Polish Hunting Dog
• Polish Lowland Sheepdog
• Polish Tatra Sheepdog
• Pomeranian
• Pont-Audemer Spaniel
• Poodle
• Porcelaine
• Portuguese Podengo
• Portuguese Pointer
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Prague Ratter
• Pudelpointer
• Pug
• Pugnaces Britanniae
• Puli
• Pumi
• Pungsan Dog
• Pyrenean Mastiff
• Pyrenean Shepherd

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

R

• Rafeiro do Alentejo
• Rajapalayam
• Rampur Greyhound
• Ratonero Bodeguero Andaluz
• Rat Terrier
• Redbone Coonhound
• Rhodesian Ridgeback
• Rottweiler
• Russian Spaniel
• Russkiy Toy
• Russo-European Laika
• Russell Terrier

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

S

• Saarlooswolfhond
• Sabueso Español
• Sage Koochee
• Sakhalin Husky
• Saluki
• Samoyed
• Sapsali
• Šarplaninac
• Schapendoes
• Schillerstövare
• Schipperke
• Schnauzer
  • Schnauzer (Giant)
  • Schnauzer (Miniature)
  • Schnauzer (Standard)
• Schweizer Laufhund
• Schweizer Niederlaufhund
• Scotch Collie
• Scottish Deerhound
• Scottish Terrier
• Sealyham Terrier
• Segugio Italiano
• Seppala Siberian Sleddog
• Serbian Hound
• Serbian Tricolour Hound

• Shar Pei
• Shetland Sheepdog
• Shiba Inu
• Shih Tzu
• Shikoku
• Shiloh Shepherd Dog
• Siberian Husky
• Silken Windhound
• Sinhala Hound
• Skye Terrier
• Sloughi
• Slovak Cuvac
• Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer
• Slovenský Kopov
• Smålandsstövare
• Small Greek Domestic Dog
• Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
• South Russian Ovcharka
• Southern Hound

• Spanish Mastiff
• Spanish Water Dog
• Spinone Italiano
• Sporting Lucas Terrier
• Springer Spaniel
• St. Bernard
• St. John's Water Dog
• Stabyhoun
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Standard Schnauzer
• Stephens Cur
• Styrian Coarse Haired Hound
• Sulimov Dog
• Sussex Spaniel
• Swedish Lapphund
• Swedish Vallhund
• Swedish Beagle
• Swiss Shorthaired Pinscher

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

T

• Tahltan Bear Dog
• Taigan
• Tamaskan Dog
• Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
• Telomian
• Tenterfield Terrier
• Thai Bangkaew Dog
• Thai Ridgeback
• Tibetan Mastiff
• Tibetan Spaniel
• Tibetan Terrier
• Tornjak
• Tosa
• Toy Bulldog
• Toy Fox Terrier
• Toy Manchester Terrier
• Treeing Cur
• Treeing Walker Coonhound
• Tyrolean Hound

Contents: Top - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

U

• Utonagan

Contents: Top - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

V

• Valley Bulldog
• Vizsla
• Volpino Italiano

Contents: Top - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

W

• Weimaraner
• Welsh Corgi
  • Cardigan
  • Pembroke
• Welsh Sheepdog
• Welsh Springer Spaniel
• Welsh Terrier
• West Highland White Terrier
• West Siberian Laika
• Westphalian Dachsbracke
• Wetterhoun
• Whippet
• White English Bulldog
• White Shepherd Dog
• Wire-haired Vizsla
• Wirehaired Pointing Griffon

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y

Y

• Yorkshire Terrier

Contents: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Y