Armbruster's Wolf Fossil range: Early Pleistocene–Late Pleistocene PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Conservation status
Fossil
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Carnivora
Family:	Canidae
Genus:	Canis
Species:	†C. armbrusteri
Binomial name
†Canis armbrusteri J. W. Gidley, 1913
Range of Armbrustr's Wolf based on fossil distribution

Timeline of canids with Canis armbrusteri in red. (Tedford & Wang)

Armbruster's Wolf (Canis armbrusteri) is an extinct species of canid which was endemic to North America and lived during the Irvingtonian stage of the Pleistocene epoch 1.8 Mya—300,000 years ago, existing for approximately 1.5 million years.^[1].

[edit] Origin

Canis armbrusteri is the oldest member of lupus^[specify] and may have evolved from C. chihliensis in Asia (Tedford, Wang, 182). C. armbrusteri first appears in the Early Pleistocene (Irvingtonian) in the southwestern United States. Remains are often found within the rock strata containing Mammoth. It was displaced in the middle section of the continent by the Dire Wolf (C. dirus) with C. armbrusti pushed eastward until the Late Pleistocene (Rancholabrean stage) in Florida. ^[2]

Canis armbrusteri did give rise to C. dirus (Dire Wolf) which is evidenced by a merging of the two morphologies during the Early Pleistocene. This changing of morphologies shows a move to a more hypercarnivorous animal.

[edit] Taxonomy

Canis armbrusteri was named by J. W. Gidley in 1913. The first fossils were uncovered at Cumberland Cave, Maryland which in an Irvingtonian terrestrial horizon. Fossil distribution is widespread throughout the U.S.^[3].

[edit] Morphology

Armbruster's Wolf was generally larger and heavier than its older and longer living cousin, Canis lupus. Fossil records and current data show it was as much as 15 kg (33 lb) heavier.^[4]

[edit] Body mass

A specimen was estimated by Legendre and Roth to weigh 63.1 kg (140 lb) and another specimen was estimated to weigh 54.4 kg (120 lb).^[5]

[edit] Sister species

Armbruster's Wolf' is considered a sister species of the Dire Wolf, one of the most recent evolutionary ancestors of the modern wolf, differing from the Gray Wolf and Dire Wolf by a narrower skull. It is considered to be the closest relative to Canis falconeri.

[edit] References