The systematic status of the Italian wolf Canis lupus
Acta Theriologica
By: Ronald M. Nowak and Nicholas E. Federoff
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Abstract
In the past, the gray wolf Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758, has been recognized in Italy as either the subspecies lupus or italicus. It has also been postulated that this population has undergone introgression from the domestic dog Canis familiaris. In order to clarify these issues, multistatistical analyses were made of 10 skull measurements of 34 full grown male wolves from the Italian Peninsula, 91 other male Eurasian wolves, and 20 domestic dogs. The analyses, together with other morphological evidence and prior genetic research, support recognition of the Italian wolf as a separate subspecies, Canis lupus italicus. The same evidence indicates that the subspecies has not been affected through hybridization with the domestic dog.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | The systematic status of the Italian wolf Canis lupus |
| Series title | Acta Theriologica |
| DOI | 10.1007/BF03194151 |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Year Published | 2002 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Contributing office(s) | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
| Description | 6 p. |
| First page | 333 |
| Last page | 338 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |