Falkland Islands wolf

Also known as Falkland Islands fox, Dusicyon australis, Falkland Island wolf

species of mammal

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The Falkland Islands wolf was a species of mammal that lived on the Falkland Islands until it went extinct in the 19th century. It is scientifically notable as an example of how isolated island species can disappear when humans arrive, making it important to understanding extinction and the impact of human settlement on unique wildlife.

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Wikidata facts

Image: Falkland Island wolf, Dusicyon australis OMNZVT2369 !1pub (cropped).jpg

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Article

The Falkland Islands wolf, or warrah (Dusicyon australis), was the only native land mammal of the Falkland Islands. This endemic canid became extinct in 1876.

It was once believed that the most closely related genus was South American fox (Lycalopex), including the culpeo, a fox-like mammal which was introduced to the Falkland Islands in modern times. A 2009 cladistic analysis of DNA identified the Falkland Islands wolf's closest living relative as the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), an unusually long-legged, fox-like South American canid, from which it separated about 6.7 million years ago. However, the Falkland Islands wolf diverged from its mainland ancestor Dusicyon avus only around 16,000 years ago. Dusicyon avus persisted on the South American mainland until around 400 years ago.