Nyctereutes abdeslami is an extinct species of canid belonging to the genus Nyctereutes, which includes the extant raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides). It lived during the late Pliocene epoch.
Taxonomy and Discovery
The species was first described in 1997 by the paleontologist Denis Geraads. The fossil remains used for the description were recovered from the Ahl al Oughlam site near Casablanca, Morocco. The specific epithet abdeslami was chosen to honor Abdeslam Lihli, who assisted in the excavations at the site.
Morphology and Paleobiology
Nyctereutes abdeslami is characterized by dental and cranial features typical of the genus Nyctereutes, which is known for its omnivorous adaptations. Compared to other members of the genus, N. abdeslami was relatively large, exceeding the size of the modern raccoon dog but generally smaller than the contemporaneous European species Nyctereutes megamastoides. Its dentition suggests a generalized diet, likely consisting of small vertebrates, invertebrates, and plant matter.
Distribution and Ecology
The presence of Nyctereutes abdeslami in North Africa is significant for paleontologists because the genus is predominantly associated with Eurasia. Its discovery at Ahl al Oughlam, which dates to approximately 2.5 million years ago, provides evidence of the dispersal of Nyctereutes from Eurasia into Africa during the Pliocene. This suggests that during this period, environmental conditions allowed for faunal exchanges between the two continents, enabling lineages typically restricted to northern latitudes to inhabit parts of Africa.