Nyctereutes
Nyctereutes is a genus of Asian canid with two extant species, the raccoon dogs: the common raccoon dog and the Japanese raccoon dog. Nyctereutes entered the fossil record 5.5 million years ago in northern China. It was one of the earliest canines 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.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. Japanese raccoon dogs are considered distinct from the mainland species because of the larger skull size found in Russian and Hokkaido raccoon dogs.Species
Extant species
Fossil species
- †Nyctereutes abdeslami 3.6—1.8 Mya
- †Nyctereutes donnezani 9.0—3.4 Mya
- †Nyctereutes lockwoodi 3.42—3.2 Mya
- †Nyctereutes megamastoides
- †Nyctereutes sinensis 3.6 Mya—781,000 years ago
- †Nyctereutes tingi
- †''Nyctereutes vinetorum''