Sardinian Dhole

Sardinian Dhole
Conservation status
Prehistoric
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Canidae
Subfamily:	Caninae
Genus:	Cynotherium
Species:	C. sardous
Binomial name
Cynotherium sardous Studiati, 1857
Former range (in red)

The Sardinian Dhole Cynotherium sardous was an endemic insular canid,^[1] that occurred on the Italian island of Sardinia and the French island of Corsica (the two were joined for much of the Pleistocene). It became extinct when humans began to settle on the island.^[2]

When this canid became confined to the island, it faced a menu consisting of small and fast prey only.^[3] It adapted into a small sized canid.^[1]

It appears that Xenocyon is the ancestor of Cynotherium.^[1] Sometimes it is also considered a derivation from a population of late Canis arnensis (or Canis mosbachensis).^[4]

See also

• List of extinct animals of Europe
• Insular dwarfism
• Corsican red deer

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Lyras G.A., Van der Geer A.E., Dermitzakis M., De Vos J. (2006). "Cynotherium sardous, an insular canid (Mammalia: Carnivora) from the Pleistocene of Sardinia (Italy), and its origin". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26 (3): 735–745. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2006)26[735:CSAICM]2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0272-4634. 
2. ^ Gippoliti, Spartaco & Amori, Giovanni (2006). "Ancient introductions of mammals in the Mediterranean Basin and their implications for conservation". Mammal Review 36 (1): 37–48. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2006.00081.x. 
3. ^ Lyras G., Van der Geer A. (2006). "Adaptations of the Pleistocene island canid Cynotherium sardous (Sardinia, Italy) for hunting small prey". Cranium 23 (1): 51–60. 
4. ^ Abbazzi L., M. Arca, C. Tuveri & L. Rook (2005). "The endemic canid Cynotherium (Mammalia, Carnivora) from the Pleistocene deposits of Monte Tuttavista (Nuoro, Eastern Sardinia)". Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia 111 (3): 497. 

External links

• ISPRA Photo of Cynotherium sardous