Sveltewolf: Difference between revisions
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[[Wikipedia:Phylogenetics|Phylogenetically]], sveltewolves are [[Wikipedia:herpestoidea|herpestoideans]] most closely related to the [[Wikipedia:hyena|hyenas]] of Nkungu and Etzavaz, of which the [[Wikipedia:aardwolf|aardwolf]] is the closest. Behaviourally, however, sveltewolves are closer to small canid species such as [[Wikipedia:fox|foxes]], with the major exception of the [[tree hyena]], which behaves similar to the [[Wikipedia:Red panda|red panda]], and [[hashka]], which occupy a similar niche to [[Wikipedia:human|humans]] and [[Jötunn|jötnar]] as a sapient species. | [[Wikipedia:Phylogenetics|Phylogenetically]], sveltewolves are [[Wikipedia:herpestoidea|herpestoideans]] most closely related to the [[Wikipedia:hyena|hyenas]] of Nkungu and Etzavaz, of which the [[Wikipedia:aardwolf|aardwolf]] is the closest. Behaviourally, however, sveltewolves are closer to small canid species such as [[Wikipedia:fox|foxes]], with the major exception of the [[tree hyena]], which behaves similar to the [[Wikipedia:Red panda|red panda]], and [[hashka]], which occupy a similar niche to [[Wikipedia:human|humans]] and [[Jötunn|jötnar]] as a sapient species. | ||
== Evolution == | |||
=== Origins === | |||
Haschidae evolved from a common ancestor with [[Wikipedia:Hyena|hyaenids]] around the early [[Wikipedia:Miocene|Miocene]], around 21 million years ago. | |||
=== Euhaschinae === | |||
The common ancestor of the [[Euhaschinae]] was the thieving sveltewolf ([[Euhascha pseudocrocuta|''Euhascha pseudocrocuta'']]), a highly social, large sveltewolf that evolved somewhat similarly to the [[Wikipedia:Spotted hyena|spotted hyena]] as a carrion-eater taking advantage of wolf kills while also supplementing their diet with fruits, which explains their later omnivory. They eventually evolved tree-climbing as an escape strategy, which led to more fruit entering their diet as it was of easier access. This newfound fruit preference, compounded with their tree-climbing behaviour, led to them evolving opposable pseudo-thumbs. | |||
== Phylogeny == | == Phylogeny == | ||
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|2=''[[Plesicyon rufus]]'' (red sveltewolf) | |2=''[[Plesicyon rufus]]'' (red sveltewolf) | ||
|3=''[[Plesicyon crinatus]]'' (greater sveltewolf) | |3=''[[Plesicyon crinatus]]'' (greater sveltewolf) | ||
|4=''[[Plesicyon glaucus]]'' ( | |4=''[[Plesicyon glaucus]]'' (boreal sveltewolf) | ||
}} }} | }} }} | ||
|label2=[[Euhaschinae]] (Tree-dwelling sveltewolves and hashka) | |label2=[[Euhaschinae]] (Tree-dwelling sveltewolves and hashka) | ||
| Line 46: | Line 54: | ||
== Characteristics == | == Characteristics == | ||
=== | === Physical characteristics === | ||
Although sveltewolves are highly varied, some common physical characteristics can be appreciated. Firstly, most sveltewolves, with the exception of the red sveltewolf (''[[Plesicyon rufus]]''), tend to have muted, desaturated coat colours ranging in the greys, blacks, whites and browns. These coats tend to darken around the face and neck, limbs, and the ends of their tails. The lighter-coloured areas are usually covered in faint stripes. Sveltewolf ears tend to be big and round-tipped, | Although sveltewolves are highly varied, some common physical characteristics can be appreciated. Firstly, most sveltewolves, with the exception of the red sveltewolf (''[[Plesicyon rufus]]''), tend to have muted, desaturated coat colours ranging in the greys, blacks, whites and browns. These coats tend to darken around the face and neck, limbs, and the ends of their tails. The lighter-coloured areas are usually covered in faint stripes. They are endowed with manes, which in some species extend around the entirety of the neck, and are softer than the coarser fur around the rest of the body. This mane can be used in communication through piloerection. | ||
Sveltewolf ears tend to be big and round-tipped, their noses somewhat flatter than those of [[Wikipedia:Canid|canids]], and their necks more elongated than those of their hyena relatives. Their tails are usually slim and tipped with a bristle-like fluff at the tip which may, like the mane, also piloerect as an emotional response. Their tongues are strikingly cat-like, with noticeable backwards-facing spines along the upper surface. | |||
[[Euhaschinae]], the forest tree-dwelling subfamily including [[hashka]], are highly divergent while also retaining some features from their land-dwelling relatives. | |||
=== Behaviour === | === Behaviour === | ||
Sveltewolves, with the exception of hashka, generally feed on small animals and insects, and some species, especially the tree-dwelling sveltewolves, may primarily feed on fruit. They are tendentially [[Wikipedia:Sociality#Solitary but social|solitary-but-social]], only demonstrating higher sociality in members of the [[Euhaschinae]] subfamily. | |||
== Relationships with humans == | == Relationships with humans == | ||
Revision as of 15:11, 22 September 2026
| Sveltewolves Temporal range: Early Miocene – recent
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| Four examples from each genus of Haschidae, clockwise from upper left: etzavazi sveltewolf (Paraproteles obscurus), tree hyena (Nemohascha megalopus), ashnan sveltewolf (Plesicyon gracilis), and hashka (Orthohascha garrula) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Superfamily: | Herpestoidea |
| Family: | Haschidae |
| Type genus | |
| Plesicyon F.
| |
| Genera | |
| |
Sveltewolves (/ˈsvɛltwʊlvz/ SVELT-wolves, /-tə-/ SVEL-tə-wolves) are feliform carnivoran mammals belonging to the family Haschidae (/ˈhaskɪdi:/ Latin pronunciation: [as.ki.dɛ:]). It is a large and varied family of mostly crepuscular to nocturnal, small-animal predators distributed across Nkungu, Etzavaz and southern coastal Ashnan. Hashka are the only extant members in Anschuhe, even though they, too, are native to Ashnan, and were displaced out of the continent.
Phylogenetically, sveltewolves are herpestoideans most closely related to the hyenas of Nkungu and Etzavaz, of which the aardwolf is the closest. Behaviourally, however, sveltewolves are closer to small canid species such as foxes, with the major exception of the tree hyena, which behaves similar to the red panda, and hashka, which occupy a similar niche to humans and jötnar as a sapient species.
Evolution
Origins
Haschidae evolved from a common ancestor with hyaenids around the early Miocene, around 21 million years ago.
Euhaschinae
The common ancestor of the Euhaschinae was the thieving sveltewolf (Euhascha pseudocrocuta), a highly social, large sveltewolf that evolved somewhat similarly to the spotted hyena as a carrion-eater taking advantage of wolf kills while also supplementing their diet with fruits, which explains their later omnivory. They eventually evolved tree-climbing as an escape strategy, which led to more fruit entering their diet as it was of easier access. This newfound fruit preference, compounded with their tree-climbing behaviour, led to them evolving opposable pseudo-thumbs.
Phylogeny
| Haschidae |
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Characteristics
Physical characteristics
Although sveltewolves are highly varied, some common physical characteristics can be appreciated. Firstly, most sveltewolves, with the exception of the red sveltewolf (Plesicyon rufus), tend to have muted, desaturated coat colours ranging in the greys, blacks, whites and browns. These coats tend to darken around the face and neck, limbs, and the ends of their tails. The lighter-coloured areas are usually covered in faint stripes. They are endowed with manes, which in some species extend around the entirety of the neck, and are softer than the coarser fur around the rest of the body. This mane can be used in communication through piloerection.
Sveltewolf ears tend to be big and round-tipped, their noses somewhat flatter than those of canids, and their necks more elongated than those of their hyena relatives. Their tails are usually slim and tipped with a bristle-like fluff at the tip which may, like the mane, also piloerect as an emotional response. Their tongues are strikingly cat-like, with noticeable backwards-facing spines along the upper surface.
Euhaschinae, the forest tree-dwelling subfamily including hashka, are highly divergent while also retaining some features from their land-dwelling relatives.
Behaviour
Sveltewolves, with the exception of hashka, generally feed on small animals and insects, and some species, especially the tree-dwelling sveltewolves, may primarily feed on fruit. They are tendentially solitary-but-social, only demonstrating higher sociality in members of the Euhaschinae subfamily.