The oldest African fox (Vulpes riffautae n. sp., Canidae, Carnivora) recovered in late Miocene deposits of the Djurab desert, Chad

Naturwissenschaften. 2007 Jul;94(7):575-80. doi: 10.1007/s00114-007-0230-6. Epub 2007 Mar 15.

Abstract

We report on the oldest fox (Canidae) ever found in Africa. It is dated to 7 Ma based on the degree of evolution of the whole fauna. It belongs to a new species. Its overall size and some morphological characteristics distinguish the Chadian specimen from all the other foxes. The presence of Vulpes and of the genus Eucyon in slightly younger African locality, as well as in southwestern Europe in the late Miocene, may indicate that canids migrated in Europe from Africa through a trans-Mediterranean route.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution
  • Body Size
  • Chad
  • Fossils*
  • Foxes / anatomy & histology*
  • Foxes / classification*
  • Mandible / anatomy & histology*
  • Tooth / anatomy & histology*