Canis hallstromi Troughton, 1957

Parnaby, Harry E., Ingleby, Sandy & Divljan, Anja, 2017, Type Specimens of Non-fossil Mammals in the Australian Museum, Sydney, Records of the Australian Museum 69 (5), pp. 277-420 : 347-349

Canis hallstromi Troughton, 1957

Proc. R. Zool. Soc. N.S.W. 1955–1956: 93. (8 May 1957).

Common name. New Guinea Singing Dog.

Current name. Canis familiaris Linnaeus, 1758 ; following Jackson et al. (2017). Taxonomic status has been contested; variously considered to be a feral lineage of the domesticated dog (e.g., Helgen, 2007; Oskarsson et al. 2012; Jackson & Groves, 2015); a valid species (e.g., Crowther et al., 2014; Koler-Matznick et al., 2007; Troughton, 1971) or a synonym of Canus lupus dingo Meyer, 1793 (e.g., Wozencraft, 2005).

Holotype. M.8502, by subsequent designation ( Troughton, 1971). Male, skull ( Fig. 29 ), flat skin and skeleton, collected by J. A. Sinclair in 1956. Registered 6 November 1964. An entry against the specimen “KBO 6 November 1964 ” possibly means “killed by order”.

Condition. Cranium and both dentaries: bones are porous on the labial side of all gum lines, exposing the tooth roots; cranium missing 1st upper right incisor and 1st upper right post-canine tooth. Whole skeleton is partly articulated. Flat skin: minor holes present throughout the skin.

Cranial measurements (mm). M.8502: GL, 162.72; ConL, 152.85; BasL, 145.36; NasL, —; NasB, 14.60; UC1–C1 (alv.), 26.33*; APV, 10.23; PAL, 79.02; UPM (alv.), 14.51*; UMR (alv.), 13.22*; ZB, 101.05; POC, 27.78; BUL, 22.76; MB, 61.65; DL (condyl.), 121.58; LPM (alv.), 9.50*; LMR (alv.), 29.77*. [* = estimate, bone eroded].

Type locality. Lavani Valley , Huri Duna , Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea. The provenance of the holotype remains unsubstantiated as it is not clear whether it came from the Lavani Valley or an adjoining region, nor is it known if the type specimens were wild or village animals (Dwyer & Minnegal, 2016) .

Paratype. M.8917 by subsequent designation ( Troughton, 1971). Female, skull, flat skin and skeleton, donated by Taronga Park Zoo, 1967. Same locality and collection data as holotype. Registered 5 July 1967 .

Comments. Troughton’s description was based on external criteria taken from two live animals (adult male and young female), sent to Taronga Zoo, Sydney in 1956. Troughton (1971) cited the registration numbers of holotype and paratype.A re-diagnosis is provided by Koler-Matznick et al. (2003). Jackson & Groves (2015: 287) consider hallstromi to be an ancient breed of the domestic dog, and provide a useful discussion of the problems of applying subspecific nomenclature to introduced populations.

Order Rodentia

Figures

Figure 29. AM M.8502, holotype skull of Canis hallstromi Troughton, 1957. (Photography by Stuart Humphreys).