Cuon Versus Canis: A Comparative Guide to the Morphological Distinction of Postcranial Bones and Its Archaeo‐Paleontological Implications

The genera Cuon and Canis are part of the carnivore guild during the late Middle and Late Pleistocene in Europe. However, most identifications in archaeo‐palaeontological contexts are made on cranial and dental elements as these are taxonomically the most diagnostic anatomical regions. In contrast, taxonomical identifications of postcranial remains are scarce and often based on metric criteria because of their morphological similarity between the two taxa. This is one of the main causes of the low level of visibility of Cuon in the fossil record. Therefore, to partially solve this problem, this study presents a comparative analysis of the postcranial anatomy of extant and fossil Cuon and Canis , tested on several modern referential and fossil assemblages, as a morphological guide for a more precise determination of these canid genera in archaeo‐palaeontological assemblages. The application of this comparative guide on Pleistocene large canid assemblage results in an increase in the identification to genus level. Therefore, this work is a useful tool for the identification of Cuon remains, which enhances the visibility of this genus in the European fossil record and provides new opportunities to advance in the understanding of its anatomy and its variation.