''Nyctereutes'' (Greek: ''nyx, nykt-'' "night" + ''ereutēs'' "wanderer") is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

canid Canidae (; from Latin, ''canis'', "dog") is a family (biology), biological family of caniform carnivorans, constituting a clade. A member of this family is also called a canid (). The family includes three subfamily, subfamilies: the Caninae, a ...

which includes only two extant species, both known as raccoon dogs: the common raccoon dog (''Nyctereutes procyonoides'') and the Japanese raccoon dog (''Nyctereutes viverrinus''). ''Nyctereutes'' first entered the fossil record 5.5 million years ago ( Mya) in

northern China Northern China () and Southern China () are two approximate regions that display certain differences in terms of their geography, demographics, economy, and culture. Extent The Qinling, Qinling–Daba Mountains serve as the transition zone ...

. It was one of the earliest canines to arrive in the

Old World The "Old World" () is a term for Afro-Eurasia coined by Europeans after 1493, when they became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia in the Eastern Hemisphere, previously ...

. All but two species became extinct before the end of the

Pleistocene The Pleistocene ( ; referred to colloquially as the ''ice age, Ice Age'') is the geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from to 11,700 years ago, spanning the Earth's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Before a change was fin ...

. A study suggests that the evolution of ''Nyctereutes'' was influenced by environmental and climatic changes, such as the expansion and contraction of forests and the fluctuations of temperature and precipitation.

Characteristics

They are typically recognized by their short snouts, round crania and the shaping of their molars, specifically the ratio between M1 and M2. ''Nyctereutes'' is considered mainly an opportunistic carnivore, feeding on small mammals, fish, birds, and insects, alongside occasional plants, specifically roots. Their diet is mostly influenced by environmental factors. Japanese raccoon dogs are considered distinct from the mainland species because of the larger skull size found in Russian and Hokkaido raccoon dogs.

Species

Extant species

Fossil species

*†'' Nyctereutes abdeslami'' 3.6—1.8 Mya (Morocco) *†'' Nyctereutes donnezani'' 9.0—3.4 Mya (Eastern Europe, Spain) *†'' Nyctereutes lockwoodi'' 3.42—3.2 Mya (Ethiopia) *†'' Nyctereutes megamastoides'' (Europe) *†'' Nyctereutes sinensis'' 3.6 Mya—781,000 years ago (Eastern Asia)Paleobiology Database: 'Nyctereutes sinensis'' basic info.
/ref> *†'' Nyctereutes tingi'' *†'' Nyctereutes vinetorum''

Characteristics

Species

Extant species

Fossil species

References

Further reading