Lycaon (genus) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lycaon (genus) |
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| African wild dogs | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Subfamily: | Caninae |
| Tribe: | Canini |
| Genus: | Lycaon Brookes, 1827 |
| Species | |
The Lycaon is a special group of canids, which are animals related to dogs, wolves, and foxes. This group includes the famous African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), known for its unique spotted coat and amazing hunting skills. It also includes two types of Lycaon that are now extinct, meaning they no longer exist: Lycaon sekowei and Lycaon magnus.
The Lycaon Family Tree
This group of animals is known for being very good at hunting and running. They have special extra bumps, called cusps, on their premolar teeth, which are great for eating meat. The Lycaon group separated from the family of wolf-like dogs a very long time ago, during a period called the Plio-Pleistocene era.
Since then, Lycaon animals have changed over time. They became lighter and developed four toes on each foot, which helps them run even faster. They have always been "hypercarnivorous," meaning they eat mostly meat.
One of the extinct members, Lycaon sekowei, lived in South Africa during the early Pleistocene epoch. It wasn't quite as fast or good at running as the African wild dog we know today.
Some scientists believe that an extinct group of ancient dogs called Xenocyon might be the ancestors of both Lycaon and another group of dogs called Cuon. This means Xenocyon could be like a great-grandparent to both these modern dog families.
Other scientists have a different idea. They think that two extinct types of Canis (Canis (Xenocyon) falconeri and Canis (Xenocyon) lycaonoides) should actually be put into the Lycaon group. If this is true, it would show a clear line of how the species changed over time:
- L. falconeri lived in Eurasia during the late Pliocene.
- L. lycaonoides then appeared in Eurasia and Africa during the early and middle Pleistocene.
- Finally, L. pictus (the African wild dog) came from L. lycaonoides during the middle to late Pleistocene and is still alive today in Africa.
See also
- Lycaon of Arcadia, a character from ancient Greek stories who was turned into a wolf.
