What living species of the canid or dog family has the oldest archaeological evidence proving its antiquity?
In Olduvai Gorge in eastern Africa, skeletal remains of silverbacked jackals dating back 1.7 million years gives us the earliest fossil record for a species of Canis still alive today. In fact, silverbacked jackals are found today in the brush woodland in the region near the gorge. The jackal species include the black-backed jackal which is the same as the silverbacked jackal, the golden jackal, the side-striped jackal and the Ethiopian or Simien wolf or jackal. Follow these links for pictures of: Golden jackal Black-backed jackal Side-striped jackal Simien wolf Follow this link for pictures of wild members of the dog family and follow this link for details on all members of the Canidae or dog family. Q: What is the oldest breed of dog? A: This is a complicated question, but there are helpful clues. It appears that two semi-domestic dogs — the Dingo of Australia and the New Guinea Singing Dog — are considered the last existing representatives of early dogs developed in southern Asia.
