The identity of Fuegian and Patagonian “dogs” among indigenous peoples in southernmost South America
Abstract Background By using a historical approach we attempt to answer the question of whether the “dogs” of Fuegian and Patagonian peoples are a domesticated dog (Canis lupus familiaris) or a tamed or domesticated Culpeo “fox” (Lycalopex culpaeus), or a cross breed. Methods and results We reviewed...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:b74c74a24c364b1ebfec4f933af588ef 2023-08-27T04:08:52+02:00 The identity of Fuegian and Patagonian “dogs” among indigenous peoples in southernmost South America Fabian M. Jaksic Sergio A. Castro 2023-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1186/s40693-023-00119-z https://doaj.org/article/b74c74a24c364b1ebfec4f933af588ef EN eng BMC https://doi.org/10.1186/s40693-023-00119-z https://doaj.org/toc/0717-6317 doi:10.1186/s40693-023-00119-z 0717-6317 https://doaj.org/article/b74c74a24c364b1ebfec4f933af588ef Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, Vol 96, Iss 1, Pp 1-12 (2023) Aonikenk Canis lupus familiaris Chonos Kawesqar Lycalopex culpaeus Magallanes Zoology QL1-991 Botany QK1-989 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1186/s40693-023-00119-z 2023-08-06T00:49:10Z Abstract Background By using a historical approach we attempt to answer the question of whether the “dogs” of Fuegian and Patagonian peoples are a domesticated dog (Canis lupus familiaris) or a tamed or domesticated Culpeo “fox” (Lycalopex culpaeus), or a cross breed. Methods and results We reviewed historical chronicles and current scientific papers, and clarified several rather confusing concepts, providing disambiguation for terms such as Magellanic region, Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego; Fuegian and Patagonian peoples; and Fuegian and Patagonian dogs. We conclude that these dogs belong to two different canid varieties: The smaller domestic dog typical of the “canoe-indians” (Chonos, Kawesqar, and Yahgan peoples) and the larger tamed or domesticated Culpeo “fox" typical of the “foot indians” (Aonikenk, Manek'enk, and Selk’nam peoples, thus proposing the use of Fuegian and Patagonian dog, respectively. Discussion We think that the original Fuegian dog was indeed a Canis lupus familiaris brought along by the natives after the Bering’s crossing and that the Patagonian dog was a tame Culpeo fox Lycalopex culpaeus, which was progressively replaced by the more gregarious, human friendly, and colorful domestic dogs brought by European explorers, adventurers, colonizers, and settlers of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego during the mid to late 1800s. The possibility that the Patagonian dog was a cross between domestic dog and Culpeo “fox” cannot be ruled out, but the only specimen genetically analyzed was closest to being the latter and not a hybrid. Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus Tierra del Fuego Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Chonos ENVELOPE(-60.783,-60.783,-62.467,-62.467) Magallanes ENVELOPE(-62.933,-62.933,-64.883,-64.883) Patagonia Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 96 1 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Aonikenk Canis lupus familiaris Chonos Kawesqar Lycalopex culpaeus Magallanes Zoology QL1-991 Botany QK1-989 |
spellingShingle |
Aonikenk Canis lupus familiaris Chonos Kawesqar Lycalopex culpaeus Magallanes Zoology QL1-991 Botany QK1-989 Fabian M. Jaksic Sergio A. Castro The identity of Fuegian and Patagonian “dogs” among indigenous peoples in southernmost South America |
topic_facet |
Aonikenk Canis lupus familiaris Chonos Kawesqar Lycalopex culpaeus Magallanes Zoology QL1-991 Botany QK1-989 |
description |
Abstract Background By using a historical approach we attempt to answer the question of whether the “dogs” of Fuegian and Patagonian peoples are a domesticated dog (Canis lupus familiaris) or a tamed or domesticated Culpeo “fox” (Lycalopex culpaeus), or a cross breed. Methods and results We reviewed historical chronicles and current scientific papers, and clarified several rather confusing concepts, providing disambiguation for terms such as Magellanic region, Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego; Fuegian and Patagonian peoples; and Fuegian and Patagonian dogs. We conclude that these dogs belong to two different canid varieties: The smaller domestic dog typical of the “canoe-indians” (Chonos, Kawesqar, and Yahgan peoples) and the larger tamed or domesticated Culpeo “fox" typical of the “foot indians” (Aonikenk, Manek'enk, and Selk’nam peoples, thus proposing the use of Fuegian and Patagonian dog, respectively. Discussion We think that the original Fuegian dog was indeed a Canis lupus familiaris brought along by the natives after the Bering’s crossing and that the Patagonian dog was a tame Culpeo fox Lycalopex culpaeus, which was progressively replaced by the more gregarious, human friendly, and colorful domestic dogs brought by European explorers, adventurers, colonizers, and settlers of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego during the mid to late 1800s. The possibility that the Patagonian dog was a cross between domestic dog and Culpeo “fox” cannot be ruled out, but the only specimen genetically analyzed was closest to being the latter and not a hybrid. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Fabian M. Jaksic Sergio A. Castro |
author_facet |
Fabian M. Jaksic Sergio A. Castro |
author_sort |
Fabian M. Jaksic |
title |
The identity of Fuegian and Patagonian “dogs” among indigenous peoples in southernmost South America |
title_short |
The identity of Fuegian and Patagonian “dogs” among indigenous peoples in southernmost South America |
title_full |
The identity of Fuegian and Patagonian “dogs” among indigenous peoples in southernmost South America |
title_fullStr |
The identity of Fuegian and Patagonian “dogs” among indigenous peoples in southernmost South America |
title_full_unstemmed |
The identity of Fuegian and Patagonian “dogs” among indigenous peoples in southernmost South America |
title_sort |
identity of fuegian and patagonian “dogs” among indigenous peoples in southernmost south america |
publisher |
BMC |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40693-023-00119-z https://doaj.org/article/b74c74a24c364b1ebfec4f933af588ef |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-60.783,-60.783,-62.467,-62.467) ENVELOPE(-62.933,-62.933,-64.883,-64.883) |
geographic |
Chonos Magallanes Patagonia |
geographic_facet |
Chonos Magallanes Patagonia |
genre |
Canis lupus Tierra del Fuego |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus Tierra del Fuego |
op_source |
Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, Vol 96, Iss 1, Pp 1-12 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40693-023-00119-z https://doaj.org/toc/0717-6317 doi:10.1186/s40693-023-00119-z 0717-6317 https://doaj.org/article/b74c74a24c364b1ebfec4f933af588ef |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40693-023-00119-z |
container_title |
Revista Chilena de Historia Natural |
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96 |
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1 |
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