The wolf started out about 60 million years ago during the Paleocene period. These animals walked on 5 toes and had partially retractable claws. Almost like a cat, but not quite. Some people think they looked like long legged weasels.
About 20 million years ago, in the Miocene period, the two groups of animals that would make up the dogs and the cats were quite different from each other. It’s fascinating to note that the wolf, the dog and the cat all came from the same original family around 60 million years ago.
As time went by, the legs of the wolf grew longer and the brain became larger and the teeth became sharper. About 1 million years ago, during the Pleistocene period, the wolf looked pretty much like it looks today.
Today, the wolf's closest relatives are the dogs. As a matter of fact, the dog belongs to the species, Canis Lupus Familiaris.
It may surprise you to know that the family dog is actually a pure wolf. |
