Nyctereutes

Nyctereutes (Greek: nyx, nykt- "night" + ereutēs "wanderer") is a genus of canid which includes only two extant species, both known as raccoon dogs: the common raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and the Japanese raccoon dog (Nyctereutes viverrinus).<ref name=Wozencraft2005/> Nyctereutes first entered the fossil record 5.5 million years ago (Mya) in northern China. It was one of the earliest canines to arrive in the Old World. All but two species became extinct before the end of the Pleistocene. A study suggests that the evolution of Nyctereutes was influenced by environmental and climatic changes, such as the expansion and contraction of forests and the fluctuations of temperature and precipitation.<ref name=Farjandetal2021/>

Characteristics

They are typically recognized by their short snouts, round crania and the shaping of their molars, specifically the ratio between M1 and M2. Nyctereutes is considered mainly an opportunistic carnivore, feeding on small mammals, fish, birds, and insects, alongside occasional plants, specifically roots. Their diet is mostly influenced by environmental factors.<ref name=Farjandetal2021/> Japanese raccoon dogs are considered distinct from the mainland species because of the larger skull size found in Russian and Hokkaido raccoon dogs.<ref name=Kim2015/>

Species

Fossil species

File:Nyctereutes megamastoides.JPG

Nyctereutes megamastoides fossil skull

• †Nyctereutes abdeslami 3.6—1.8 Mya (Morocco)<ref>Paleobiology Database: ''Nyctereutes abdeslami basic info.</ref>
• †Nyctereutes donnezani 9.0—3.4 Mya (Eastern Europe, Spain)
• †Nyctereutes lockwoodi 3.42—3.2 Mya (Ethiopia)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
• †Nyctereutes megamastoides (Europe)<ref name=Farjandetal2021 />
• †Nyctereutes sinensis 3.6 Mya—781,000 years ago (Eastern Asia)<ref>Paleobiology Database: ''Nyctereutes sinensis basic info.</ref>
• †Nyctereutes tingi<ref name=Farjandetal2021 />
• †Nyctereutes vinetorumTemplate:Citation needed

Further reading

• Template:Cite journal

Template:Canid-stub