Canis

n. animal from the dog family

Canis is a genus that includes several of the modern wolf and jackal species, including the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) which is the ancestor of the Domestic Dog (Canis lupus familiaris), and the Black-Backed Jackal, which according to the fossil record, is the oldest member of the genus.. There are between 7 and 10 species, depending on the source that is used. The jackals used to be placed in their own genus: Thor, but that classification is now unused. Molecular evidence indicate that the dhole, or Asiatic wild dog, is also part of Canis. Other closely related genera are Lycaon (African wild dog) and, more distantly, Pseudalopex and other South American Foxes. There are a great many extinct species of the genus Canis. It is an old genus (but very advanced), dating back to the Miocene.
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Noun
1. type genus of the Canidae: domestic and wild dogs; wolves; jackals
(synonym) genus Canis
(hypernym) mammal genus
(member-holonym) Canidae, family Canidae
(member-meronym) dog, domestic dog, Canis familiaris

n. fox earth, kennel, doghouse

(n.)
A genus of carnivorous mammals, of the family Canidae, including the dogs and wolves.