Lupulella is a genus of canine found in Africa. This genus consists of only two extant species, the black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas) and the side-striped jackal (Lupulella adusta).

Taxonomy

The two species had previously been considered members of the genus Canis. In 2017, a taxonomic review recommended that these two species be recognised as genus Lupulella. In response to this review, the American Society of Mammalogists recognised the new genus.

In 2019, a workshop hosted by the IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group recommends that because DNA evidence shows the side-striped jackal (Canis adustus) and black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) to form a monophyletic lineage that sits outside of the Canis/Cuon/Lycaon clade, that they should be placed in a distinct genus, Lupulella (Hilzheimer, 1906) with the names Lupulella adusta and Lupulella mesomelas.

Genus Lupulella – Schreber, 1775 – two species
Common nameScientific name and subspeciesRangeSize and ecologyIUCN status and estimated population
Side-striped jackalLupulella adusta (Sundevall, 1847) Seven subspecies L. a. adustaL. a. bwehaL. a. centralisL. a. grayiL. a. kaffensisL. a. lateralisL. a. notatuscentral and southern AfricaSize: Habitat: Diet:LC
Black-backed jackalLupulella mesomelas (Schreber, 1775) Two subspecies Cape black-backed jackal, L. m. mesomelasEast African black-backed jackal, L. m. schmidtieastern and southern AfricaSize: Habitat: Diet:LC

Phylogeny

Cladogram based on genomic data:

TruedogsCerdocyonina Wolf-likecanids Canis/Cuon/Lycaon Lupulella Side-striped jackal Black-backed jackal
Cerdocyonina
Wolf-likecanidsCanis/Cuon/Lycaon Lupulella Side-striped jackal Black-backed jackal
Canis/Cuon/Lycaon
LupulellaSide-striped jackal Black-backed jackal
Side-striped jackal
Black-backed jackal

External links

  • Data related toLupulellaat Wikispecies