Sardinian Dhole
Encyclopedia
The Sardinian Dhole Cynotherium sardous was an endemic insular
canid
, 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.
When this canid became confined to the island, it faced a menu consisting of small and fast prey only. It adapted into a small sized canid.
It appears that Xenocyon is the ancestor of Cynotherium. Sometimes it is also considered a derivation from a population of late Canis arnensis (or Canis mosbachensis).
Insularity
Insularity reflects a wide range of physical and emotional meanings in accordance with a person or place:* For a place, it relates to an island or any physically isolated place distant and inaccessible without sufficient means of transport...
canid
Canidae
Canidae is the biological family of carnivorous and omnivorous mammals that includes wolves, foxes, jackals, coyotes, and domestic dogs. A member of this family is called a canid . The Canidae family is divided into two tribes: Canini and Vulpini...
, that occurred on the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
island of Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
and the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
island of Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
(the two were joined for much of the Pleistocene). It became extinct when humans began to settle on the island.
When this canid became confined to the island, it faced a menu consisting of small and fast prey only. It adapted into a small sized canid.
It appears that Xenocyon is the ancestor of Cynotherium. Sometimes it is also considered a derivation from a population of late Canis arnensis (or Canis mosbachensis).
External links
- ISPRA Photo of Cynotherium sardous