Abstract
<em>Canis</em> <em>lupaster</em> is a canid that lives in North Africa. In the past, this species was considered a subspecies of golden jackal (<em>Canis aureus</em>), a subspecies of wolf (<em>Canis</em> <em>lupus</em>), or a separated species. Since 2011 genetic data have demonstrated that <em>C. lupaster</em> is not a golden jackal and that it is more closely related to wolf lineage. The recent interest on <em>C.</em> <em>lupaster</em> lead to the publication of some papers on this topic, but the vast majority concerned genetic data. In this paper a morphological approach is presented. Twelve specimens, collected in Libya between 1926 and 1931 and now stored in the Natural History Museum of Genoa, are described here.<em> C. lupaster</em> is compared with the African golden jackal and with the wolf. MANOVA, PCA and discriminant analysis were performed. <em>C. lupaster</em> show many differences and is well separated both from wolf and from African golden jackal. Measures and ratios, that allow to rapidly recognise among these species, were identified. These ratios could be a useful tool for field researchers to quickly identify the correct species.
Subject
Paleontology,Geology,Plant Science,Animal Science and Zoology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Cited by
8 articles.
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