Emily Chan
Domestic dogs may have also developed specialized facial muscles in just the same way — to improve communication with their owners.
According to the 2019 study, the facial muscles of gray wolves were not as strong as those of African wild dogs or domestic dogs.
This is likely because they rely less on visual communication and more on vocalizations and scent signals.
In the future, scientists hope to examine the facial anatomy of other wild canid species, such as Asian wolves and foxes, because it will provide better insight into how evolutionary pressures highlight certain traits and minimize others.
