What Did The Earliest Dogs Look Like? Uncovering Canine Ancestry

Around 30 to 40 million years ago, the first dog, Cynodictis, emerged from its ancestor, Miacis, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of canines. Cynodictis was a medium-sized creature characterized by its elongated body, a tail of considerable length, and a fairly dense, brushy coat. As the eons passed, Cynodictis split into two distinct branches—one inhabiting Africa and the other found in Eurasia. These evolutionary developments laid the foundation for the diverse range of dog breeds we know today, as these early ancestors continued to adapt and thrive in their respective regions.

What did a prehistoric dog look like? When examining Hesperocyon, a distant ancestor of modern dogs, it becomes apparent that it bore little resemblance to contemporary dog breeds. Instead, it had a striking resemblance to a giant mongoose or weasel in terms of its appearance. Despite this, Hesperocyon did exhibit some early characteristics that hinted at its evolutionary path towards becoming more dog-like. It featured the beginnings of specialized meat-shearing teeth, similar to those seen in modern dogs, and notably dog-like ears. This combination of traits provides insight into the fascinating evolution of dogs from their prehistoric ancestors. (Published on April 28, 2019)