Canine Skull Identification

[SeasonOfExpansion]

Hello!

I found this skull near my home in North Carolina. No fur, flesh, or other skeletal remains were found. I wanted to see if anyone would be able to tell me what type of canine it is- I'm between wolf and domestic dog. If domestic, would it be possible to narrow down a breed or size of the animal?

The skull is about 8.5 inches by 4.25 inches. The hard palate, 4 inches. Canine length above alveolar crest, 1 inch. The snout (tip of nose to the orbitals) makes up about 3.5 inches of the total length of the skull.

Just out of curiosity. Thanks in advance!!

[George Ford]

Kind of looks like a Chupacabra skull with those fangs!

I think its actually a Coyote skull.

http://lockstock.dev...de-View-3392119

-edit-

Although the part that would hold the brain looks too bulbous.

Here is an identification chart for some types of dog skulls, try and match it up.

http://creationrevolution.com/dogs-big-problem-for-fossil-record/

Edited July 11, 2014 by George Ford

[Insanity]

Determining a coyote skull from a domestic dog skull can be difficult. One method I've seen is measuring the distance from behind the canines to the last molar along the center of the skull and call it A. Then measure the distance between the two first pre-molars, which are the teeth behind the canines and call it B. Divide A by B to get a ratio (r = A/B). If the ratio is 2.7 or less, it is from a domestic dog. A coyote should be around a ratio of 3. As it is a ratio, it doesn't matter if you use centimeters, inches, or pixels. Measuring these distances on this skull in pixels, I got a ratio of 2.0, suggesting it belongs to a domestic dog.

The cephalic index from the measurements you provided is 50 (W*100/L) which means it is a 'long-headed' breed. A rough collie has the about the same shoulder height as coyotes, might be a good candidate.

[Insanity]

Here is the skull of an Airedale Terrier, which also has very close to the same shoulder height as a coyote and is a 'long-headed' breed as well. Looks like a good match initially.

[+Hammerclaw]

http://lockstock.deviantart.com/art/Coyote-Skull-Side-View-3392119 Edited July 12, 2014 by John Wesley Boyd

[Sir Smoke aLot]

Kind of looks like a Chupacabra skull with those fangs!

I think its actually a Coyote skull.

http://lockstock.dev...de-View-3392119

-edit-

Although the part that would hold the brain looks too bulbous.

Here is an identification chart for some types of dog skulls, try and match it up.

http://creationrevol...-fossil-record/

Yeah, the skull from picture #1in OP looks same as coyote skull, only difference is that the one from OP died at older age i think, when compared to this coyote skull below :

Edited July 12, 2014 by Sir Smoke aLot