Speothos
Encyclopedia
Speothos is a genus of canid found in Central
and South America
. The genus includes the living Bush Dog
, Speothos venaticus, as well as an extinct Pleistocene
species, Speothos pacivorus
. Surprisingly, the fossil species was identified and named prior to the discovery of the extant species, with the result that the type species
of Speothos is S. pacivorus.
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. The genus includes the living Bush Dog
Bush Dog
The bush dog is a canid found in Central and South America, including Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru , Ecuador, the Guianas, Paraguay, northeast Argentina and Brazil...
, Speothos venaticus, as well as an extinct Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
species, Speothos pacivorus
Speothos pacivorus
Speothos pacivorus is an extinct relative of the Bush Dog whose fossils date from the late Pleistocene. When compared to the Bush Dog, S. pacivorus had an overall larger body size and a double-rooted second lower molar....
. Surprisingly, the fossil species was identified and named prior to the discovery of the extant species, with the result that the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of Speothos is S. pacivorus.