What Phylum Are Dogs In? Canine Taxonomy Explained
Domestic dogs belong to the phylum Chordata. Chordates are animals that, at some point in development, possess features such as a dorsal nerve cord and a notochord. Dogs also belong to the vertebrate branch of chordates because they have a backbone.
Dog classification at a glance
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| Rank | Dog classification |
|---|---|
| Domain | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Canidae |
| Genus | Canis |
| Species | Canis lupus |
| Domestic form | Canis lupus familiaris |
Why dogs are chordates
Chordata includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and several less familiar groups. Dogs fit within this phylum because of their embryonic and anatomical characteristics, then narrow further into Mammalia because they are warm-blooded vertebrates with hair and mammary glands.
Why are dogs in Carnivora if they eat more than meat?
Taxonomic orders describe evolutionary relationships, not a strict menu. Dogs belong to Carnivora because of ancestry and anatomy. Domestic dogs can digest a range of animal- and plant-derived ingredients when those are formulated into a nutritionally complete diet.
Dog, wolf and species naming
Modern taxonomies generally place domestic dogs within the gray wolf species, which is why Canis lupus familiaris is commonly used. Older sources may treat the domestic dog as Canis familiaris; readers can encounter both names.
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