Canis etruscus
| Canis etruscus Temporal range: Early Pleistocene 1.9-1.6 Ma | |
|---|---|
| Skull in the Montevarchi Paleontological Museum | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Canis |
| Species: | †C. etruscus |
| Binomial name | |
| †Canis etruscus Forsyth Major, 1877 | |
Canis etruscus (the Etruscan wolf), is an extinct species of canine that was endemic to Mediterranean Europe and Crimean peninsula during the Early Pleistocene. The Etruscan wolf is described as a small wolf-like dog. It is widely agreed to be the ancestor of Canis mosbachensis, and thus ultimately the modern grey wolf (Canis lupus).