Nyctereutes lockwoodi, n. sp., a new canid (Carnivora: Mammalia) from the middle Pliocene of Dikika, Lower Awash, Ethiopia

Paleontologists have identified Nyctereutes lockwoodi, a new species of canid, from middle Pliocene sediments in Dikika, Ethiopia. This discovery, based on fossil remains recovered by the Dikika Research Project, provides critical insights into the evolutionary history of carnivores during this period. The study employed detailed morphological analysis to distinguish N. lockwoodi from other known canid species, revealing unique cranial and dental features that suggest it occupied a distinct ecological niche. This finding contributes to our understanding of mammalian diversification in Africa during the Pliocene, a time marked by significant climatic and environmental changes.

Geraads, D., Alemseged, Z., Bobe, R., & Reed, D. (2010). Nyctereutes lockwoodi, n. sp., a new canid (Carnivora: Mammalia) from the middle Pliocene of Dikika, Lower Awash, Ethiopia. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 30(3), 981–987. https://doi.org/10.1080/02724631003758326