Hongbo Liang¹ , Qibin Xu²

1 Institute of Life Science, Jiyang College of Zhejiang A&F University, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
2 Animal Science Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Animal Molecular Breeding, 2025, Vol. 15, No. 1   doi: 10.5376/amb.2025.15.0005
Received: 01 Jan., 2025    Accepted: 10 Feb., 2025    Published: 28 Feb., 2025

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Liang H.B., and Xu Q.B., 2025, Behavioral genetics in canids: a comparative study of wolves, coyotes, and dogs, Animal Molecular Breeding, 15(1): 39-48 (doi: 10.5376/amb.2025.15.0005)

This study presents comparative descriptions of wolves', coyotes', and dogs' behavioral genetics, evolutionary correlates, genetic mechanisms of behavior, and adaptive behavior. The research identifies the key genetic markers, including those for trainability, boldness, and social bonding, and investigates gene-environment interaction for behavioral traits. It looks into the impact of hybridization on genetic diversity and behavioral adaptation in particular pertaining to hybrid canids such as the eastern coyote. The study also establishes the application of behavioral genetics to conservation practice and breeding schemes within domestication, and offers insights into human-canid coevolution and evolutionary trade-offs. The study underscores the need to interlink genetic and environmental information in order to improve knowledge of canid behavior and to enable improved management of the species.

Behavioral genetics; Wolves; Coyotes; Domestic dogs; Hybridization; Gene-environment interactions; Conservation; Evolutionary trade-offs