The discovery of fossils from a new species of canid, on the West Coast of South Africa, has unearthed the African origins of the crafty jackal - tracing its history on the continent back 5 million years ago.
The new species, called Eucyon khoikhoi, answers a lingering question about the evolution of jackals in Africa and represents a significant turning point in its journey from North America, where the canidae family originated from more than 35 million years ago.
Until now, it was thought that Eucyon davisi, a North American canid that lived between 10 million and 5 million years ago, was the natural ancestor of all wolves, jackals, and coyotes. The discovery of Eucyon khoikhoi also underlines the value of Langebaanweg, the fossil site situated 120 km west of Cape Town in the Western Cape.
The origin of the African jackal traced back to the West Coast of SA
The new species, called Eucyon khoikhoi, answers a lingering question about the evolution of jackals in Africa and represents a significant turning point in its journey from North America, where the canidae family originated from more than 35 million years ago.
Until now, it was thought that Eucyon davisi, a North American canid that lived between 10 million and 5 million years ago, was the natural ancestor of all wolves, jackals, and coyotes. The discovery of Eucyon khoikhoi also underlines the value of Langebaanweg, the fossil site situated 120 km west of Cape Town in the Western Cape.
The origin of the African jackal traced back to the West Coast of SA
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