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Sardinian Dhole
Conservation status
	Prehistoric
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia;
Phylum:	Chordata;
Class:	Mammalia;
Order:	Carnivora;
Family:	Canidae;
Subfamily:	Caninae;
Genus:	Cynotherium;
Species:	C. sardous;
Binomial name
	Cynotherium sardous; Studiati, 1857
	Former range (in red)

The Sardinian Dhole Cynotherium sardous was an endemic insular canid,^[1] that occurred on the Italian island of Sardinia and the French island of Corsica (the two were joined for much of the Pleistocene). It became extinct when humans began to settle on the island.^[2]

When this canid became confined to the island, it faced a menu consisting of small and fast prey only.^[3] It adapted into a small sized canid.^[1]

It appears that Xenocyon is the ancestor of Cynotherium.^[1] Sometimes it is also considered a derivation from a population of late Canis arnensis (or Canis mosbachensis).^[4]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c Lyras G.A., Van der Geer A.E., Dermitzakis M., De Vos J. (2006). "Cynotherium sardous, an insular canid (Mammalia: Carnivora) from the Pleistocene of Sardinia (Italy), and its origin". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26 (3): 735–745. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2006)26[735:CSAICM]2.0.CO;2.
^ Gippoliti, Spartaco & Amori, Giovanni (2006). "Ancient introductions of mammals in the Mediterranean Basin and their implications for conservation". Mammal Review 36 (1): 37–48. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2006.00081.x.
^ Lyras G., Van der Geer A. (2006). "Adaptations of the Pleistocene island canid Cynotherium sardous (Sardinia, Italy) for hunting small prey". Cranium 23 (1): 51–60.
^ Abbazzi L., M. Arca, C. Tuveri & L. Rook (2005). "The endemic canid Cynotherium (Mammalia, Carnivora) from the Pleistocene deposits of Monte Tuttavista (Nuoro, Eastern Sardinia)". Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia 111 (3): 497.

[Lyras-0] Lyras G.A., Van der Geer A.E., Dermitzakis M., De Vos J. (2006). "Cynotherium sardous, an insular canid (Mammalia: Carnivora) from the Pleistocene of Sardinia (Italy), and its origin". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26 (3): 735–745. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2006)26[735:CSAICM]2.0.CO;2.

[Gippoliti-1] Gippoliti, Spartaco & Amori, Giovanni (2006). "Ancient introductions of mammals in the Mediterranean Basin and their implications for conservation". Mammal Review 36 (1): 37–48. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2006.00081.x.

[Cranium-2] Lyras G., Van der Geer A. (2006). "Adaptations of the Pleistocene island canid Cynotherium sardous (Sardinia, Italy) for hunting small prey". Cranium 23 (1): 51–60.

[Abbazzi-3] Abbazzi L., M. Arca, C. Tuveri & L. Rook (2005). "The endemic canid Cynotherium (Mammalia, Carnivora) from the Pleistocene deposits of Monte Tuttavista (Nuoro, Eastern Sardinia)". Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia 111 (3): 497.

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