Canis mesomelas

Abstract

Canis Linnaeus, 1758:38. Type species Canis familiaris (= Canis lupus Linnaeus). Thos Oken, 1816:1037. Type species Thos vulgaris (= Canis aureus Linnaeus). Not available according to Opinion 417, International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (Hemming 1956). Vulpicanis Blainville, 1837:279. Type species Canis aureus Linnaeus. Simenia Gray, 1868:494, 506. Type species Canis simensis Ruppell. Lupulella Hilzheimer, 1906:363. Type species Canis mesomelas Schreber. Schaeffia Hilzheimer, 1906:364. Type species Canis adustus Sundevall. CONTEXT AND CONTENT. Order Carnivora, family Canidae. Seven species of the genus Canis are currently recognized: C. adustus, C. aureus, C. latrans, C. lupus, C. mesomelas, C. rufus, and C. simensis (Wozencraft 1993), although the validity of C. rufus is questioned (Clutton-Brock et al. 1976; Ewer 1973; Wayne 1993). Recent analysis of microsatellite DNA indicates C. lupus lycaon may warrant specific status as C. lycaon (Wilson et al. 2000). Also, analysis of mitochondrial DNA suggests that Canis is a paraphyletic group that should include Cuon alpinus (Vila et al. 1999; Wayne et al. 1997). A key to species (Banfield 1974; Clutton-Brock et aI. 1976; Hall and Kelson 1959; Smithers 1971) follows: enz