The systematic status of the Italian wolfCanis lupus (original) (raw)

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.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

• Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
• Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
• Cancel anytime View plans

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

• Altobello G. 1921. [Fauna of Abruzzo and Molise]. Mammiferi 4: 38–45. [In Italian]
  Google Scholar
• Boitani L. 1984. Genetic considerations on wolf conservation in Italy. Bollettino di Zoologia 51: 367–373.
  Google Scholar
• Boitani L. 1993. Wolf management action required for conservation. [In: Wolves in Europe, status and perspectives. C. Promberger and W. Schroder, eds]. Wildbiologische Gesellschaft München e. V., Munich: 114–118.
  Google Scholar
• Ciucci P. and Boitani L. 1991. Viability assessment of the Italian wolf and guidelines for the management of the wild and a captive population. Ricerche di Biologia della Selvaggina 89: 1–58.
  Google Scholar
• Corbet G. B. 1978. The mammals of the Palaearctic Region: a taxonomic review. British Museum (Natural History), London: 1–314.
  Google Scholar
• Ellerman J. R. and Morrison-Scott T. C. S. 1966. Checklist of Palaearctic and Indian mammals. 2nd Edition. British Museum Natural History, London: 1–810.
  Google Scholar
• Nowak R. M. 1979. North American Quaternary_Canis_. Monograph of the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas 6: 1–154.
  Google Scholar
• Nowak R. M. 1995a. Another look at wolf taxonomy. [In: Ecology and conservation of wolves in a changing world. Proceedings of the 2nd North American Wolf Symposium, August 24–27, 1992. L. N. Carbyn, S. H. Fritts and D. R.Seip, eds]. Canadian Circumpolar Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton: 375–398.
  Google Scholar
• Nowak R. M. 1995b. Hybridization: The double-edged threat. Canid News (Newsletter of the IUCN Canid Specialist Group) 3: 2–6.
  Google Scholar
• Pocock R. I. 1935. The races of_Canis lupus_. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 43: 617–686.
  Google Scholar
• Randi E. 1993. Effects of fragmentation and isolation on genetic variability of the Italian populations of wolf_Canis lupus_ and brown bear_Ursus arctos_. Acta Theriologica 38: 113–120.
  Google Scholar
• Randi E., Francisci F. and Lucchini V. 1995. Mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length monomorphism in the Italian wolf (Canis lupus) population. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolution Research 33: 97–100.
  Google Scholar
• Randi E., Lucchini V., Christensen M. F., Mucci N., Funk S. M., Dolf G. and Loeschcke V. 2000. Mitochondrial DNA variability in Italian and east European wolves: detecting the consequences of small population size and hybridization. Conservation Biology 14: 464–473.
  Article Google Scholar
• SAS Institute 1987. SAS/STAT guide for personal computers, version 6. 1–1028.
  Google Scholar
• Sokolov V. E. and Rossolimo O. L. 1985. Taxonomy and variability. [In: The wolf, history, systematics, morphology, ecology. D. I. Bibikov, ed]. U.S.S.R. Academy of Science, Nauka Publishers, Moscow: 21–50.
  Google Scholar
• Vila C., Savolainen P., Maldanado J. E., Amorim I. R., Rice J. E., Honeycutt R. L., Crandall K. A., Lundeberg J. and Wayne R. K. 1997. Multiple and ancient origins of the domestic dog. Science 276: 1687–1689.
  Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar
• Wayne R. K., Lehman N., Allard M. W. and Honeycutt R. L. 1992. Mitochondrial DNA variability of the gray wolf: genetic consequences of population decline and habitat fragmentation. Conservation Biology 6: 559–569.
  Article Google Scholar
• Young S. P. and Goldman E. A. 1944. The wolves of North America. American Wildlife Institute, Washington, D.C.: 1–636.
  Google Scholar

Download references

Author information

Author notes

1. Nicholas E. (Brusco) Federoff
   Present address: U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Mail Code 7507C, 20460, Washington D.C., USA

Authors and Affiliations

1. 2101 Greenwich Street, 22043, Falls Church, VA, USA
   Ronald M. Nowak
2. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, 11510 American Holly Drive, 20708, Laurel, MD, USA
   Nicholas E. (Brusco) Federoff

Authors

1. Ronald M. Nowak
2. Nicholas E. (Brusco) Federoff

Rights and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Nowak, R.M., Federoff, N.E.(. The systematic status of the Italian wolf_Canis lupus_ .Acta Theriol 47, 333–338 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03194151

Download citation

• Received: 19 April 2001
• Accepted: 21 January 2002
• Issue date: September 2002
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03194151

Key words