Dogs Were Diverse in Size and Shape Long Before Modern Breeds
▼ Summary
– Dogs have shown significant size and shape diversity since shortly after the last Ice Age, with ancient dogs already half as varied as modern breeds.
– A study analyzed 643 dog and wolf skulls from the last 50,000 years, comparing skeletal landmarks to quantify differences in skull size and shape.
– Mesolithic and Neolithic dogs had skulls twice as diverse as Pleistocene canines and over half as diverse as modern dogs, indicating early variation.
– Some ancient dog skull shapes don’t match any living breeds, suggesting early regional adaptations or functions that no longer exist.
– Modern dog breeds were largely shaped by Victorian-era breeders, while ancient dogs lacked extreme features but showed unexpected diversity.
The remarkable diversity we see in dogs today, from the towering Great Dane to the diminutive Chihuahua, has roots stretching deep into history. New research reveals that ancient dogs displayed a surprising range of sizes and shapes long before modern breeding practices began. A comprehensive study analyzing canine and wolf skulls from the past 50,000 years indicates that dogs living shortly after the last Ice Age already possessed about half the physical variation found in contemporary breeds.
Biologist and archaeologist Allowen Evin, along with her team at CNRS, conducted a detailed comparison of 643 skulls. Their sample included 158 from modern dogs, 86 from modern wolves, and 391 archaeological specimens gathered from sites across the globe. By examining specific skeletal landmarks, such as the bony ridges where muscles attach, the researchers developed a method to quantify differences in skull morphology. This approach provided clear insights into the evolutionary trajectory of canine head shapes over millennia.
The findings point to a particularly diverse canine population during the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods. Dogs from these eras, which predate the widespread adoption of metalworking, exhibited a level of variation in skull size and form that surprised the scientific team. Using statistical analysis to measure this diversity, Evin’s group discovered that Mesolithic and Neolithic dogs had skulls roughly twice as varied as their Pleistocene ancestors. These ancient canines already demonstrated over half the morphological diversity seen in modern dogs.
Evin noted in correspondence that some ancient dog skulls displayed shapes not found in any living breed studied. She suggested these unique forms might represent early regional adaptations or specialized functions that have since disappeared. While these early dogs lacked the extreme features characteristic of many modern breeds, such as the flattened face of a pug, their physical variation far exceeded initial expectations. The several hundred distinct dog breeds recognized today are largely the product of meticulous selection by breeders, a practice that intensified during the Victorian era.
(Source: Ars Technica)