A possible new species of jackal from Ethiopia

Chlidonias

Chlidonias

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This is an interesting paper from this year, which I saw mentioned on Mammalwatching. It concerns a small reddish jackal from the Afar Triangle which the authors suggest is a genuine distinct species. They have used the name Canis mengesi, from a previous description from 1897.

The paper includes a couple of recent (2018) colour photos of a live animal, a black and white photo of an animal at Berlin Zoo in the 1890s, and a photo of a mounted specimen originally kept at Stuttgart Zoo in the 1890s.

After reviewing the few available data and the photographic evidence here presented, it seems reasonable to conclude that
1. A small-sized member of the genus Canis is found in the interior of Ethiopian Danakil.
2. Its reddish color, size and pattern generally agree with that of a forgotten taxon, Canis mengesi, so far his-torically known only from the interior of Somaliland.
3. Photographic evidence offered by Tiwari & Sille-ro-Zubiri (2004) seems to confirm that Canis mengesi is a distinct taxon from the one occupying the coastal plain zone of Eritrea (i.e., Canis anthus riparius).
4. This new record may indicate that C. mengesi is a specialist of arid rocky habitats.

https://www.zoologicalbulletin.de/B...nti8tH8OylskXefcEONatYDmCOP_l4xgu18GdAQq_-93g


In particular, this paper might interest @TeaLovingDave and @lintworm
 
Chlidonias said:
This is an interesting paper from this year, which I saw mentioned on Mammalwatching. It concerns a small reddish jackal from the Afar Triangle which the authors suggest is a genuine distinct species. They have used the name Canis mengesi, from a previous description from 1897.

The paper includes a couple of recent (2018) colour photos of a live animal, a black and white photo of an animal at Berlin Zoo in the 1890s, and a photo of a mounted specimen originally kept at Stuttgart Zoo in the 1890s.

After reviewing the few available data and the photographic evidence here presented, it seems reasonable to conclude that
1. A small-sized member of the genus Canis is found in the interior of Ethiopian Danakil.
2. Its reddish color, size and pattern generally agree with that of a forgotten taxon, Canis mengesi, so far his-torically known only from the interior of Somaliland.
3. Photographic evidence offered by Tiwari & Sille-ro-Zubiri (2004) seems to confirm that Canis mengesi is a distinct taxon from the one occupying the coastal plain zone of Eritrea (i.e., Canis anthus riparius).
4. This new record may indicate that C. mengesi is a specialist of arid rocky habitats.

https://www.zoologicalbulletin.de/B...nti8tH8OylskXefcEONatYDmCOP_l4xgu18GdAQq_-93g


In particular, this paper might interest @TeaLovingDave and @lintworm
Click to expand...

What a load of bullsh*t, but given the authors I am not surprised. This is exactly why so many people dislike taxonomists. There is 0 genetic evidence, hardly any data and almost 0 evolutionary theory to justify a split, apart from "habitat specialist". Just a bit of extreme PSC splitting imo based on what we know now and I would be very surprised if genetic research indicates strong divergence....
 
Chlidonias said:
This is an interesting paper from this year, which I saw mentioned on Mammalwatching. It concerns a small reddish jackal from the Afar Triangle which the authors suggest is a genuine distinct species. They have used the name Canis mengesi, from a previous description from 1897.

The paper includes a couple of recent (2018) colour photos of a live animal, a black and white photo of an animal at Berlin Zoo in the 1890s, and a photo of a mounted specimen originally kept at Stuttgart Zoo in the 1890s.

After reviewing the few available data and the photographic evidence here presented, it seems reasonable to conclude that
1. A small-sized member of the genus Canis is found in the interior of Ethiopian Danakil.
2. Its reddish color, size and pattern generally agree with that of a forgotten taxon, Canis mengesi, so far his-torically known only from the interior of Somaliland.
3. Photographic evidence offered by Tiwari & Sille-ro-Zubiri (2004) seems to confirm that Canis mengesi is a distinct taxon from the one occupying the coastal plain zone of Eritrea (i.e., Canis anthus riparius).
4. This new record may indicate that C. mengesi is a specialist of arid rocky habitats.

https://www.zoologicalbulletin.de/B...nti8tH8OylskXefcEONatYDmCOP_l4xgu18GdAQq_-93g


In particular, this paper might interest @TeaLovingDave and @lintworm
Click to expand...

Couldn't it just be a colour morph, or a jackal that rolled around in some clay before being photographed? :D
 
lintworm said:
What a load of bullsh*t, but given the authors I am not surprised. This is exactly why so many people dislike taxonomists. There is 0 genetic evidence, hardly any data and almost 0 evolutionary theory to justify a split, apart from "habitat specialist". Just a bit of extreme PSC splitting imo based on what we know now and I would be very surprised if genetic research indicates strong divergence....
Click to expand...

Enemy Spotted! (Jk)

Im a heavy splitter but I’ll wait till I accept this change or not.
 
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