Topic
Dusicyon avus
About: Dusicyon avus is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 9 publications have been published within this topic receiving 206 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: The origins of the extinct Falkland Islands wolf have remained a mystery since it was first recorded by Europeans in the seventeenth century, and ancient DNA from subfossils of an extinct mainland relative is retrieved and reveals the FIW lineage became isolated only 16 ka (8-31 ka), during the last glacial phase.
Abstract: The origins of the extinct Falkland Islands wolf (FIW), Dusicyon australis, have remained a mystery since it was first recorded by Europeans in the seventeenth century. It is the only terrestrial mammal on the Falkland Islands (also known as the Malvinas Islands), which lie ~460 km from Argentina, leading to suggestions of either human-mediated transport or overwater dispersal. Previous studies used ancient DNA from museum specimens to suggest that the FIW diverged from its closest living relative, the South American maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) around 7 Ma, and colonized the islands ~330 ka by unknown means. Here we retrieve ancient DNA from subfossils of an extinct mainland relative, Dusicyon avus, and reveal the FIW lineage became isolated only 16 ka (8-31 ka), during the last glacial phase. Submarine terraces, formed on the Argentine coastal shelf by low sea-stands during this period, suggest that the FIW colonized via a narrow, shallow marine strait, potentially while it was frozen over.
57 citations
TL;DR: Using the Gaussian-Resampled Inverse-Weighted McInerny method, new radiocarbon evidence is presented indicating that the disappearance of D. avus occurred in very recent times, and no evidence is found to support a role for hybridization with domestic dogs in causing the extirpation of this fox.
Abstract: Almost all large carnivorans (Carnivora; > 20 kg) that inhabited South America became extinct around the Late Pleistocene–Early Holocene transition. Two exceptions were species of coyote-sized Dusicyon, one insular (D. australis) and one continental (D. avus). The extinction of the former is a resolved matter, but that of D. avus, found in the Patagonian and Pampean regions, is still poorly understood. Using the Gaussian-Resampled Inverse-Weighted McInerny method we present new radiocarbon evidence indicating that its disappearance occurred in very recent times (about 324–496 years cal bp). We found no evidence to support a role for hybridization with domestic dogs in causing the extirpation of this fox. Climatic change may have reduced its distributional range, as has happened with other mammals, although not to the extent of explaining its extinction. Climatic change, however, coupled with increased anthropogenic impacts such as hunting, domestic dogs, and/or other aspects relating to the impact of European colonization in South America's southern cone, were the probable main drivers of the recent extinction of D. avus.
53 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented several new records from the Pampean and Patagonia regions, and several taxon dates indicating that Dusicyon avus survived in the late Holocene at least until ≈ 3000 BP in the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego (Patagonia) and the continent.
42 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe new records belonging to large canids from the Sopas Fm. (Late Pleistocene) of Uruguay and discuss their biogeographic and paleoecologic relevance.
Abstract: The fossil record of Canidae in South America begins in the Late Pliocene. During the Pleistocene large hypercarnivore canids (Theriodictis, Protocyon, Canis dirus) and also large species of Neotropical foxes (Dusicyon avus) evolved. Most fossil canids were found in Chile, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina and are scarce or absent in other countries. From Uruguay only fossils referred to Dusicyon gymnocercus, ‘Pseudalopex’ and ‘Canis’ are currently known. We describe new records that belong to large canids from the Sopas Fm. (Late Pleistocene) of Uruguay and discuss their biogeographic and paleoecologic relevance. These specimens are referred to Protocyon troglodytes and D. avus by means of descriptive and multivariate analysis and constitute the first records of these taxa for Uruguay, expanding and completing their distribution in the Late Pleistocene of South America. Both species could have been occupied ‘niches’ not represented by the carnivores previously registered in the Sopas Fm. ...
35 citations
TL;DR: The discovery of a grave of the late second millennium BC containing an extinct South American fox, Dusicyon avus, at Loma de los Muertos raises intriguing questions about the relationship between wild canids and humans.
Abstract: The discovery of a grave of the late second millennium BC containing an extinct South American fox, Dusicyon avus, at Loma de los Muertos raises intriguing questions about the relationship between wild canids and humans. This sub-adult individual appears to have been buried in a human mortuary context in a comparable manner to adjacent human burials. It may have been kept as a pet and been considered part of the human social group. The ability of pets, especially canids, to leave the animal world and enter into a special relationship with people may be related to the cosmology of South American hunter-gatherers.
19 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |