MAMMALS OF THE GENUS CANIS LINNAEUS, 1758 (CANIDAE, CARNIVORA) IN EGYPT

Abstract

The taxonomic relations of mammals of the genus Canis in Egypt are reassessed on the basis of new, geographically comprehensive material and extensive field survey. Three species that markedly differ in several morphological and ecological characters are recognized. The large canid of the Nile Valley, which has been generally designated Canis aureus lupaster, is sufficiently different from Canis aureus to merit treatment as a separate species under its original name Canis lupaster. Two subspecies of Canis lupaster are recognized in Egypt based on morphological, ecological and biogeographic evidence. The nominal subspecies inhabits the Egyptian Nile Valley north of the First Nile Cataract, while C. lupaster doederleini n. comb. occupies the Nile Valley in Nubia, south of the First Cataract. Canis aureus is represented by two subspecies, Canis aureus syriacus in eastern Sinai and a very small jackal in the hyperarid, northern region of the Egyptian Western Desert. The latter is sufficiently different from known C. aureus subspecies to deserve a separate subspecific status and is herein described as Canis aureus qattarensis ssp. nov. In the Sinai Peninsula, new material shows for the first time the occurrence of the Wolf, Canis lupus. This wolf appears identical with Canis lupus arabs of the Arabian Peninsula. An identification key of Egyptian species of the genus Canis is presented.