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![biomedicalephemera:
The Falkland Islands Wolf - Dusicyon culpaeus [now Dusicyon australis]
The Falkand Islands wolf was also known as the “warrah”, from the Guarani word for “fox”. It was the closest living relative to the maned wolf, an unusual-looking long-legged canid endemic to South America.
The Falkland Islands are geographically Argentinian, but were colonized by the British in the late 18th century. The military conflicts regarding the islands aside, British settlers introduced sheep very early on in the colonization, and have kept sheep on the islands ever since.
The colonists on the Falklands feared the wolves would eat their sheep, and poisoned or slaughtered large numbers of them every year. The fearless nature of this top carnivore was a major factor in its ultimate extinction. Even in the last days of their existence, they had no fear of man, and could be baited with nothing more than a chunk of meat held in an outstretched hand. The species was declared extinct in 1876.
Interesting side-note: The Latin name for the species means “foolish wolf of the south”.
The Zoology of the Voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle: Mammalia, part 2. Charles Darwin, 1838.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4ndmsfm0Y1qk931ho1_500.jpg)
The Falkland Islands Wolf - Dusicyon culpaeus [now Dusicyon australis]
The Falkand Islands wolf was also known as the “warrah”, from the Guarani word for “fox”. It was the closest living relative to the maned wolf, an unusual-looking long-legged canid endemic to South America.
The Falkland Islands are geographically Argentinian, but were colonized by the British in the late 18th century. The military conflicts regarding the islands aside, British settlers introduced sheep very early on in the colonization, and have kept sheep on the islands ever since.
The colonists on the Falklands feared the wolves would eat their sheep, and poisoned or slaughtered large numbers of them every year. The fearless nature of this top carnivore was a major factor in its ultimate extinction. Even in the last days of their existence, they had no fear of man, and could be baited with nothing more than a chunk of meat held in an outstretched hand. The species was declared extinct in 1876.
Interesting side-note: The Latin name for the species means “foolish wolf of the south”.
The Zoology of the Voyage of the H.M.S. Beagle: Mammalia, part 2. Charles Darwin, 1838.
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Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) as Canis jubatus
Does anyone know where this illustration comes from? the only clue is that the book it came from is written in German - a bit vague but I would be very grateful if anyone can track the source.
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n77_w1150 by BioDivLibrary on Flickr.
The African wild dog - Lycaon pictus as Canis pictus
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The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
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Maned Aguara - The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)
The natural history of dogs, including also the genera hyaena and proteles by Charles Hamilton Smith
Posted on March 5, 2012 with 28 notes
Source: books.google.co.uk
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The anatomy of the bush dog (Speothos venaticus)
Posted on March 3, 2012 with 40 notes
Source: biodiversitylibrary.org
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Posted on March 3, 2012 with 226 notes
Source: www3.vet-lyon.fr
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Posted on March 2, 2012 with 21 notes
Source: darnis.inbio.ac.cr
