The skull shape of Canis lupus. A study of wolf and dog cranial morphology

Abstract

The aim of this research is to analyse craniomandibular features in contemporary wolves and dogs in order to study evolutionary changes that are assumed to be related to domestication. We compared these modern canids with four fossils from different Upper Pleistocene (Grotta Romanelli, Terrasses de la Riera dels Canyars) and Holocene (Portalón) sites of the Mediterranean region. The specimens were analysed using both traditional and geometric (2D) morphometric techniques. Our results characterise wolves’ greater mandible size (dental series), greater cranial width and length, and less elongated snout.