The late Miocene was a period of great radiation for the subfamily Caninae in North America. During this time, the early taxa of the two tribes of this subfamily, Vulpini and Canini, arose. Among them, Eucyon is one of the most important elements of the latest Miocene-Pliocene Canidae guild of both North America and Eurasia as they rapidly spread worldwide. The earliest member of the genus Canis, Canis ferox, was also reported from deposits related to this time frame. Recent research has pointed out the disputed nature of several Miocene-Pliocene Caninae, including some species of Eucyon and Eucyon-like taxa. Furthermore, dietary habits of fossil Caninae, such as Eucyon and Eucyon-like taxa, have never been tested before. This current revision of the type and paratype specimens of C. ferox shows numerous cranial and dentognathic features that do not fit with the diagnostic characteristics of the genus Canis and are more consistent with those of Eucyon. Although reopening the question of the origin of Canis, the reassessment of E. ferox points out a previously underestimated ecomorphological variability of Eucyon. The development of some dentognathic features in E. ferox seems to suggest a hypercarnivorous diet. Thanks to selected morphometric ratios, the present study show that Eucyon species apparently had mesocarnivorous diets, with the exception of the large-sized E. ferox. Although it remains difficult to assess if it preyed on small animals or on larger prey, the analyses clearly confirm a highly carnivorous diet for this species.
"Canis" ferox revisited: Diet Ecomorphology of some long gone (Late Miocene and Pliocene) fossil dogs / Bartolini Lucenti S.; Rook L.. - In: JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION. - ISSN 1064-7554. - STAMPA. - 28:(2021), pp. 285-306. [10.1007/s10914-020-09500-1]
"Canis" ferox revisited: Diet Ecomorphology of some long gone (Late Miocene and Pliocene) fossil dogs
Bartolini Lucenti S.
;Rook L.Supervision
2021
Abstract
The late Miocene was a period of great radiation for the subfamily Caninae in North America. During this time, the early taxa of the two tribes of this subfamily, Vulpini and Canini, arose. Among them, Eucyon is one of the most important elements of the latest Miocene-Pliocene Canidae guild of both North America and Eurasia as they rapidly spread worldwide. The earliest member of the genus Canis, Canis ferox, was also reported from deposits related to this time frame. Recent research has pointed out the disputed nature of several Miocene-Pliocene Caninae, including some species of Eucyon and Eucyon-like taxa. Furthermore, dietary habits of fossil Caninae, such as Eucyon and Eucyon-like taxa, have never been tested before. This current revision of the type and paratype specimens of C. ferox shows numerous cranial and dentognathic features that do not fit with the diagnostic characteristics of the genus Canis and are more consistent with those of Eucyon. Although reopening the question of the origin of Canis, the reassessment of E. ferox points out a previously underestimated ecomorphological variability of Eucyon. The development of some dentognathic features in E. ferox seems to suggest a hypercarnivorous diet. Thanks to selected morphometric ratios, the present study show that Eucyon species apparently had mesocarnivorous diets, with the exception of the large-sized E. ferox. Although it remains difficult to assess if it preyed on small animals or on larger prey, the analyses clearly confirm a highly carnivorous diet for this species.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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