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About This Quiz
Can you tell whether that canine hanging out in your backyard is safe to pet? Sure it might be a neighbor's dog -- but it could also be a coyote, wolf or some other critter that you definitely don't want to tangle with. Take our quiz to see if you can tell one member of this animal family from another!
The Canidae family includes more than 30 different species, known as canids. They include domestic dogs, like retrievers and poodles, as well as slightly more feral critters, including wolves, coyotes, jackals, foxes and even wild dogs, like dingos. They're found on every continent except for Antarctica and live everywhere from the mountains or desert, to icy tundra to your very own living room.Â
Canids all share the same basic features -- so if you see one in the wild, you'd probably know it was related to the dog -- but there's also a surprising level of variation between species. Some have wiry hair and raccoon-like faces, while others have layered coats that allow them to survive in some of the coldest spots on Earth. They range in length from less than a foot to nearly 7 feet and can weigh less than a typical housecat or more than an average-sized man.
Think you can name the various members of the canine family from just a single photo? Take our quiz to find out!
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What is the name of this canine?
culpeo
domestic dog -- Shiba Inu
domestic dog -- beagle
African golden wolf
For more than 150 years, this critter was called the African golden jackal. It wasn't until the 21st century that scientists did some DNA testing and discovered it was a canine, not a jackal. You can find this wolf in northern and eastern Africa.
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What is the name of this canine?
domestic dog -- German shepherd
coyote
cape fox
Native to southern Africa and found in arid climates, the cape fox is also known as the cama or sliver-backed fox. It has a small frame, but over-sized ears and a majestic tail -- which is always black on the tip.
domestic dog -- boxer
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What is the name of this canine?
culpeo
The culpe​o or Andean fox is found only in South America. Males measure more than 4 feet long, weigh an average of 25 pounds and have a large bushy tail.
Pampas fox
domestic dog -- Shiba Inu
maned wolf
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What is the name of this canine?
domestic dog -- beagle
golden jackal
Found in Europe and Asia, the golden jackal is similar to the gray wolf, but is usually slightly smaller. It has shorter legs and a pointier muzzle than the gray, and is known as a very social creature.
domestic dog -- German shepherd
culpeo
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What is the name of this canine?
red wolf
golden jackal
dhole
The dhole or Asian wild dog is also known as the whistling dog. It has an appearance that is a mix between the gray wolf and the red fox, and is known for being social among members of its species -- living in packs with organized hierarchies.
African golden wolf
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What is the name of this canine?
short-eared dog
dingo
The Australian wild dog, or dingo is sandy yellow to red in color and howls or barks like a domestic dog. And yes, it turns out a dingo probably did eat that baby, unfortunately.
Arctic fox
swift fox
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What is the name of this canine?
dingo
domestic dog -- German shepherd
Bengal fox
Native to Pakistan and southern India, the Bengal fox can be recognized by its massive tail, which can be as long as 60 percent of its entire body length. This canine has pointy ears and a long muzzle, and generally weighs less than 10 pounds.
raccoon dog
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What is the name of this canine?
dingo
coyote
golden jackal
dire wolf
Extinct since the last of the species died off around 10,000 years ago, the dire wolf was native to North and South America. It was likely a fierce pack hunter, weighing as much as 150 pounds.
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What is the name of this canine?
culpeo
South American gray fox
hoary fox
Native to Brazil, the hoary fox feasts on insects and rodents. With an average weight between 6 and 8 pounds, this small fox is very agile and a fast runner.
domestic dog -- beagle
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What is the name of this canine?
gray wolf
Bengal fox
domestic dog -- German shepherd
coyote
Native to North America, the coyote is often referred to as the American jackal because of its resemblance to the jackals of Europe and Asia. They weigh as much as 50 pounds, and live in packs with both family and non-family members.
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What is the name of this canine?
dingo
fennec fox
Native to the Sahara and Arabian deserts, the fennec fox weighs less than 3 pounds, making it the smallest of the canines. This fox has extremely large ears, which give it a strong sense of hearing, but are also used to regulate the animal's body temperature.
dhole
red wolf
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What is the name of this canine?
maned wolf
African golden wolf
domestic dog -- Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is a domestic dog that was originally bred for hunting. Males weigh just over 20 pounds on average. This species nearly went extinct after WWII, but careful breeding has brought its numbers back up since that time.
coyote
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What is the name of this canine?
African wild dog
Native to Sub-Saharan Africa, the African wild dog is one of the easiest canines to identify. Also known as the painted dog, it has a mottled or speckled coat and big round ears. In addition, it only has four toes per foot, instead of the standard five.
Pampas fox
domestic dog
dingo
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What is the name of this canine?
bush dog
Blanford's fox
side-striped jackal
The side-striped jackal lives in eastern and southern Africa. Ranging from 14 to 30 pounds on average, this creature usually lives alone. It can be buff or grey in color, but usually has a darker grey back that makes it easier to identify.
racoon dog
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What is the name of this canine?
culpeo
domestic dog -- rottweiler
bush dog
The bush dog or vinegar dog weighs in between 11 and 18 pounds. Native to Central and South America, it has a short snout, short legs and a very bushy tail.
raccoon dog
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James Van Brocklin
What is the name of this canine?
Tibetan sand fox
You've probably seen the Tibetan sand fox around. Thanks to its super square face and narrow squinted eyes, it's become a popular meme. It calls the Tibetan plateau of China, Nepal and Bhutan home.
Pampas fox
domestic dog -- beagle
Darwin's fox
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What is the name of this canine?
crab-eating fox
Also known as the forest fox or wood fox, the crab-eating fox lives in the central part of South America. It feasts on crabs and lizards, and has wide rounded ears that are more cat-like than dog-like.
African golden wolf
Arctic fox
domestic dog -- German shepherd
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What is the name of this canine?
Darwin's fox
maned wolf
Ethiopia wolf
The Ethiopia or Abyssinian wolf resembles the coyote but has a narrower head and reddish to white fur. Due to habitat destruction and attacks by wild dogs, this wolf is considered endangered.
dire wolf
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What is the name of this canine?
dhole
dingo
crab-eating fox
domestic dog -- akita
Native to northern Japan, the akita was bred to hunt large animals, like bears. Male members of this very independent domestic dog species generally range from 100 to 130 pounds.
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What is the name of this canine?
Darwin's fox
Blanford's fox
red wolf
Found throughout the eastern United States, the red wolf is seriously endangered due to habitat destruction. It looks like a cross between a coyote and a gray wolf and weighs between 50 and 85 pounds.
African golden wolf
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What is the name of this canine?
domestic dog -- Alaskan malamute
The Alaskan malamute is a domestic dog bred for hauling freight and pulling sleds. It has almond-shaped eyes, weighs around 80 pounds, and ranges from gray to black with white on its underside and face.
Pampas fox
raccoon dog
dingo
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What is the name of this canine?
maned wolf
domestic dog -- Alaskan malamute
domestic dog -- rottweiler
bat-eared fox
It's easy to see where the bat-eared fox gets its name; this creature has huge bat-like ears, that are used to regulate body temperature and listen for prey. It creature calls the African savanna home.
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What is the name of this canine?
coyote
domestic dog -- chow chow
Native to northern China, the chow-chow is a domestic dog whose name roughly translates to "puffy lion." It has a dense coat with a mane or ruff around its neck, a curly tail, and a unique blue-black tongue.
Arctic fox
African wild dog
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What is the name of this canine?
red wolf
coyote
Darwin's fox
Darwin's fox can only be found in Chile, and is considered endangered, primarily due to attacks from feral dogs. More of a wolf than a true fox, it has rounded, cat-like ears.
Blanford's fox
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What is the name of this canine?
domestic dog
From tiny Yorkies to giant mastiffs, all domestic dogs are members of the same species. Somewhere around 10,000 years ago, they formed a mutually-beneficial bond with humans, and they've been sleeping on our couches ever since.
red wolf
culpeo
dhole
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What is the name of this canine?
South American gray fox
domestic dog -- German shepherd
The German shepherd was originally bred to herd sheep. Males range from 60 to 90 pounds. This dog can be identified by its erect ears and b​lack nose.
Pampas fox
dingo
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What is the name of this canine?
African golden wolf
hoary fox
bat-eared fox
grey fox
Native to North and Central America, the grey fox is one of only two canine species capable of climbing trees. It weighs less than 16 pounds, and is unusual in that it has oval pupils, versus the slit pupils of many other foxes.
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What is the name of this canine?
maned wolf
coyote
domestic dog -- rottweiler
black-backed jackal
Found in eastern and southern Africa, the black-backed jackal is easy to spot because its dark back fur looks like a black saddle. It weighs as much as 30 pounds, and lives in monogamous family units with its mate and offspring.
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What is the name of this canine?
dhole
Pampas fox
corsac fox
Native to the deserts of Central Asia, the corsac fox is also called the steppe fox or sand fox. It is threatened due to fur hunters, who kill the animal for its thick silky coat. Weighing between 3 and 7 pounds on average, this canine barks similar to domestic dogs.
domestic dog -- Alaskan malamute
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What is the name of this canine?
gray wolf
The gray wolf or timber wolf lives in remote areas of Europe, Asia and North America. Males weigh 100 pounds on average. These animals are known for forming packs consisting of a mated pair and their offspring.
African golden wolf
Arctic fox
South American gray fox
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Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Ali Taher Khalaf
What is the name of this canine?
dingo
domestic dog -- beagle
Ruppell's fox
Also known as the sand fox, Ruppell's fox lives in northern Africa, the Middle East and southwestern Asia. It measures less than 3 feet long, including its tail, which can make up a full half of its body length. The fur on its pads allows it to travel with ease on hot sand.
Blanford's fox
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What is the name of this canine?
cape fox
bat-eared fox
domestic dog -- boxer
swift fox
The size of a domestic cat, the swift fox lives in the western part of North American. It weighs between 5 and 7 pounds on average, and was endangered in the 1930s before its numbers were revived through conservation efforts.
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What is the name of this canine?
Cozumel fox
domestic dog -- Shiba Inu
maned wolf
Known as the skunk wolf for its strong odor, the maned wolf is the tallest and biggest canine species in South America. It prefers to live alone and weighs around 50 pounds.
South American gray fox
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What is the name of this canine?
bat-eared fox
raccoon dog
One of only two canine species capable of climbing trees, the raccoon dog gets its name from the fact that it looks like a raccoon with rimmed eyes. It is one of the few canines that hibernates, and generally lives as a pair with its mate.
red wolf
dingo
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What is the name of this canine?
domestic dog -- golden retriever
The golden retriever is a domestic dog that was originally bred to retrieve ducks and other birds shot by hunters. This friendly, easy to train dog is popular with pet owners, and also common for those who need ​service dogs. Despite its name, it can range from cream to golden in color.
Blanford's fox
culpeo
coyote
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What is the name of this canine?
domestic dog -- beagle
domestic dog -- Alaskan malamute
African golden wolf
kit fox
The kit fox is the smallest fox species, but has some of the biggest ears of all its relatives. Native to the southwest U.S. and Mexico, it uses its ears not only to hear but also to regulate its body temperature.
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What is the name of this canine?
maned wolf
domestic dog -- beagle
The beagle is a domestic dog with short hair in shades of black, brown tan and white. It is a relatively small hound, weighing 20 to 25 pounds, but has an extremely powerful nose.
African wild dog
Darwin's fox
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What is the name of this canine?
South American gray fox
domestic dog -- Shiba Inu
short-eared dog
Short-eared dogs live exclusively within the Amazon basin. They have short, round ears, short legs -- and partially webbed toes for swimming.
dingo
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What is the name of this canine?
pale fox
The pale box lives in Africa between Senegal and Sudan. It has a sandy coat, which helps it to blend in to its surroundings, and weighs just 5 pounds.
domestic dog -- rottweiler
African wild dog
Tibetan sand fox
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Abe The Conservationist
What is the name of this canine?
African golden wolf
Falkland Islands wolf
The Falkland Islands wolf is the only land-based mammal native to the Islands. It likely went extinct in the 1870s.
Pampas fox
Tibetan sand fox
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What is the name of this canine?
coyote
Arctic fox
red fox
Found throughout much of the northern hemisphere, the red fox is the largest fox species. They live in pairs or small families and have dense fur that ranges from red to chestnut brown.
domestic dog -- Alaskan malamute
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What is the name of this canine?
domestic dog -- rottweiler
The rottweiler is a domestic dog originally bred to herd cattle and haul carts of meat to market. Males weigh between 110 and 132 pounds, and both sexes have a characteristic black and mahogany coloring.
maned wolf
red wolf
kit fox
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BioS
What is the name of this canine?
South American gray fox
Blanford's fox
dingo
Sechura fox
Also known as the Peruvian desert fox, the Sechura fox lives in the Sechura Desert in Ecuador and Peru. It weighs just 5 to 10 pounds and can subsist entirely on a vegetarian diet if necessary.
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What is the name of this canine?
dhole
Arctic fox
Also known as the white or snow fox, the Arctic fox has thick fur that ranges from white to silvery blue. Males weigh around 7 pounds and measure 18 to 27 inches.
culpeo
coyote
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What is the name of this canine?
dingo
domestic dog -- boxer
The boxer is a domestic working dog that weighs between 55 and 70 pounds. It typically has either a fawn or brindle coat, but a small number are almost entirely white.
kit fox
red wolf
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What is the name of this canine?
Pampas fox
The Pampas fox is also known as Azara's fox, and lives in southern and central South America. It weighs between 5 and 18 pounds and has gray fur with a black line running down its back.
African golden wolf
domestic dog -- rottweiler
dhole
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What is the name of this canine?
domestic dog
culpeo
South American gray fox
Native to Argentina and Chile, the South American gray fox is also known as the Patagonian fox or chilla. It weighs 5 to 12 pounds and always has a dark gray or black spot on its chin.
coyote
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What is the name of this canine?
maned wolf
red wolf
Arctic fox
island fox
Native to California's Channel Islands, the island fox is the smallest fox in North America. It actually consists of five slightly different subspecies, all which evolved independently from a common ancestor. Each species is unique to just one of the islands.
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