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ScienceQuiet 10d · day 13

Genetic study finds chihuahuas are part coyote

New research reveals coyote ancestry in the small Mexican dog breed, possibly explaining their bold personality.

newest coverage 9d agosummary written 12d ago5 pieces NewswiresGoogle NewsMastodon

What to know

  • Genetic research shows chihuahuas carry approximately 4% coyote ancestry, with genes likely introduced either accidentally or through deliberate crossbreeding generations ago.
  • The coyote heritage may partly explain chihuahuas' reputation as 'small but mighty'—bold and independent despite their tiny size.
  • The exact timing of when coyote genes entered the chihuahua lineage remains unknown, though analysis suggests European and pre-Columbian dog mixing occurred around 1700.
  • Early selective breeding for small body size via a mutation in the IGF1 gene occurred separately from and later than the coyote ancestry introduction.

“It turns out that one of the smallest dog breeds, the chihuahua, is part wild coyote, according to recently published genetic research.”

Phys.org / The Conversation · Phys.org, The Conversation · Sep 10

Genetic researchers (unnamed) Study authors

Genetic study finds chihuahuas are part coyote
theconversation.com

How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 1 piece in 3h at Sep 11, 7 AM; 5 pieces over 13 days (3 articles · 2 posts) Sep 11, 7 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 11, 10 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 11, 1 PM — quietSep 11, 4 PM — quietSep 11, 7 PM — quietSep 11, 10 PM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 12, 1 AM — 1 piece · 1 post — Mastodon 1Sep 12, 4 AM — quietSep 12, 7 AM — quietSep 12, 10 AM — quietSep 12, 1 PM — quietSep 12, 4 PM — quietSep 12, 7 PM — quietSep 12, 10 PM — quietSep 13, 1 AM — quietSep 13, 4 AM — quietSep 13, 7 AM — quietSep 13, 10 AM — quietSep 13, 1 PM — quietSep 13, 4 PM — quietSep 13, 7 PM — quietSep 13, 10 PM — quietSep 14, 1 AM — quietSep 14, 4 AM — quietSep 14, 7 AM — quietSep 14, 10 AM — quietSep 14, 1 PM — quietSep 14, 4 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Google News 1Sep 14, 7 PM — quietSep 14, 10 PM — quietSep 15, 1 AM — quietSep 15, 4 AM — quietSep 15, 7 AM — quietSep 15, 10 AM — quietSep 15, 1 PM — quietSep 15, 4 PM — quietSep 15, 7 PM — quietSep 15, 10 PM — quietSep 16, 1 AM — quietSep 16, 4 AM — quietSep 16, 7 AM — quietSep 16, 10 AM — quietSep 16, 1 PM — quietSep 16, 4 PM — quietSep 16, 7 PM — quietSep 16, 10 PM — quietSep 17, 1 AM — quietSep 17, 4 AM — quietSep 17, 7 AM — quietSep 17, 10 AM — quietSep 17, 1 PM — quietSep 17, 4 PM — quietSep 17, 7 PM — quietSep 17, 10 PM — quietSep 18, 1 AM — quietSep 18, 4 AM — quietSep 18, 7 AM — quietSep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 1 PM — quietSep 18, 4 PM — quietSep 18, 7 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 1 AM — quietSep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 7 AM — quietSep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 1 PM — quietSep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 1 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quiet 1–2
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  1. 2

    Selective breeding for small size occurred early in dog domestication

    Researchers found that almost all small dog breeds share a mutation in the insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene affecting body size. Selection for small dogs with this mutation appears to have occurred very early in dog domestication, separate from and later than coyote ancestry introduction.

    “Chihuahuas are the archetypal "small but mighty" dogs: bold, independent, agile, but also capable of obedience.”
    — Genetic researchers · source
    • junesim63@mstdn.social

      "Chihuahuas are the archetypal “small but mighty” dogs: bold, independent, agile, but also capable of obedience. Small, sedentary lapdogs they are not. These findings might partly explain why" # Chihuahua # Coyote # Genetics # Dogs Chihuahua dogs are part coyote – this might help explain their ‘small but mighty’ reputation https://…

      junesim63@mstdn.socialMastodon12d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    1 more of the top 2 · 2 posts in this stretch
    • pawsplay@dice.camp

      So, good news. https:// theconversation.com/chihuahua- dogs-are-part-coyote-this-might-help-explain-their-small-but-mighty-reputation-291209

      pawsplay@dice.campMastodon12d agoview on Mastodon ↗
    all of them →
  2. 1

    Timing of coyote gene introduction remains unclear

    Genetic analysis of the xoloitzcuintli suggests European and pre-Columbian dogs were mixing around 1700, but the precise timing of when coyote genes entered the chihuahua lineage is unknown. Detailed documentary evidence for breed histories is often lacking.

  3. background

    Researchers propose coyote genes may explain chihuahua personality — The study suggests coyote ancestry might account for chihuahuas' 'small but mighty' reputation—their bold, independent, and agile nature despite small body size. Coyotes are territorial and untamed animals, contrasting with the stereotype of small lap dogs.

  4. background

    Study details show 4% coyote ancestry in chihuahuas — Genetic analysis reveals chihuahuas preserve approximately 4% ancestry from pre-contact dogs that lived in the Americas before European arrival, with coyote genes among that ancient heritage. A related Mexican breed, the xoloitzcuintli, carries 3% pre-Columbian dog ancestry.

  5. background

    Genetic study identifies coyote ancestry in chihuahuas — Researchers publishing genetic analysis found that chihuahuas, originating in Mexico and now popular worldwide, carry coyote genes. The study explored ancient genetic signatures in dog and human genomes to validate new genetic techniques.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 2 outlets Chihuahua dogs are part coyote—this might help explain their 'small but mighty' reputation

    first by Phys.org, 9d ago · also The Conversation

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