Canis etruscus (lead follows)
History edit
Believed to be descended from the earlier Canis chihliensis, which initially developed in Northern China,[1] C. etruscus first appeared in Europe about 2.2-2.1Ma[2]/2Ma[3]/1.8Ma[1]. Its appearance, part of the so-called "Wolf Event" of the Olivola and Tasso Faunal Units,[3][1] was a significant ecological event in the Villafranchian period. It was the first "true" representative of the genus Canis in Europe, and it wasn't until the arrival of C. arnensis and Lycaon falconeri in the beginning of the Tasso FU that the species saw competition from other canids.[4]
Description edit
It is believed that the species had a hypercarnivorous, meat-heavy diet, and it was probably able to eat bone to a moderate extent.[1][5] The skull is proportionally quite similar to that of the modern American coyote, leading Agusti & Anton to suggest that the animal may have more closely resembled the modern coyote than the modern wolf.[6]
Relationship to other canidae edit
It is widely believed that C. etruscus developped into C. mosbachensis, with the latter eventually developing into the extant wolf, C. lupus.[7]
References edit
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