<p>Remains of ancient foxes, that were once domesticated, were found buried with their owners at an archaeological site in Argentina. These foxes, called Dusicyon avus, were kept as pets by hunter-gatherers some 1500 years back, in Patagonia, Argentina.</p>

<p>Previously, some studies opined that after the arrival of European dogs, people started disregarding foxes as pets. However, a recent study shows that climate change was the actual reason for their extinction among various other factors, and not the arrival of European dogs.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rover-and-first-japanese-astronaut-on-moon-us-japan-announce-historic-space-collaboration-710050">Rover and first Japanese astronaut on Moon: US, Japan announce historic space collaboration</a></p>

<p>The study was conducted in parts of South America by Ophelie Lebrasseur among others, who is a zooarchaeologist at the University of Oxford. During the study, the team also found the remains of a&nbsp;fox that had “been deliberately buried alongside the person in the grave,” told Lebrasseur to Live Science.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lebrasseur is a co-author of the new study, which was led by molecular biologist Cinthia Abbona of Argentina's Institute of Evolution, Historical Ecology and Environment (IDEVEA) in Mendoza.</p>

<h2><strong>Proof of people keeping foxes as pets in parts of South America</strong></h2>

<p>The remains of a fox buried with a human were found at the Cañada Seca site. Researchers initially thought that the bone specimens were from the Lycalopex genus of South American foxes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, upon carrying out precise measurements and DNA analysis, it was later found to be the remains of Dusicyon avus.</p>

<p>Watch |&nbsp;<strong>Peru archaeologists unearth 1,000-year-old mummies of children in Lima</strong></p>

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<p>An analysis of the carbon and nitrogen isotopes present in the fox bones indicated that the animal had eaten a plant-rich diet similar to that of the person buried in the grave, said Lebrasseur. Wild foxes were generally habitual of eating more meat, but the fox found inside the grave had been eating whatever the human ate.</p>

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<p>"The most plausible explanation is that this fox was a valuable companion to the hunter-gatherer groups," the authors wrote in the study.</p>

<p>"Its strong bond with human individuals during its life would have been the primary factor for its placement as a grave good after the death of its owners or the people with whom it interacted," they wrote.</p>

<h2><strong>Spread of dogs as pets in South America</strong></h2>

<p>Dogs (Canis familiaris) first came to the South American continent about 4000 years ago, but by 3000 years ago, their spread seems to have stopped north of Patagonia.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/accelerated-aging-heightens-cancer-risk-in-younger-population-study-709980">Accelerated ageing is heightening cancer risk in younger population: Study</a></p>

<p>Due to this, the first evidence of dogs in the region is from the 16th century, when some indigenous societies started breeding dogs of European descent.</p>

<p>It is highly unlikely that the modern dogs of the region could have descended from a mixture of dogs and foxes, as was thought previously.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Remains of ancient foxes, that were once domesticated, were found buried with their owners at an archaeological site in Argentina. These foxes, called Dusicyon avus, were kept as pets by hunter-gatherers some 1500 years back, in Patagonia, Argentina.

Remains of ancient foxes, that were once domesticated, were found buried with their owners at an archaeological site in Argentina. These foxes, called Dusicyon avus, were kept as pets by hunter-gatherers some 1500 years back, in Patagonia, Argentina. Previously, some studies opined that after the arrival of European dogs, people started disregarding foxes as pets. However, a recent study shows that climate change was the actual reason for their extinction among various other factors, and not the arrival of European dogs. Also Read | Rover and first Japanese astronaut on Moon: US, Japan announce historic space collaboration The study was conducted in parts of South America by Ophelie Lebrasseur among others, who is a zooarchaeologist at the University of Oxford. During the study, the team also found the remains of a fox that had “been deliberately buried alongside the person in the grave,” told Lebrasseur to Live Science. Lebrasseur is a co-author of the new study, which was led by molecular biologist Cinthia Abbona of Argentina's Institute of Evolution, Historical Ecology and Environment (IDEVEA) in Mendoza. Proof of people keeping foxes as pets in parts of South America The remains of a fox buried with a human were found at the Cañada Seca site. Researchers initially thought that the bone specimens were from the Lycalopex genus of South American foxes. However, upon carrying out precise measurements and DNA analysis, it was later found to be the remains of Dusicyon avus. Watch | Peru archaeologists unearth 1,000-year-old mummies of children in Lima × An analysis of the carbon and nitrogen isotopes present in the fox bones indicated that the animal had eaten a plant-rich diet similar to that of the person buried in the grave, said Lebrasseur. Wild foxes were generally habitual of eating more meat, but the fox found inside the grave had been eating whatever the human ate. Also Read | ‘I think this is pretty doable,’ says Elon Musk on Mars settlement plans "The most plausible explanation is that this fox was a valuable companion to the hunter-gatherer groups," the authors wrote in the study. "Its strong bond with human individuals during its life would have been the primary factor for its placement as a grave good after the death of its owners or the people with whom it interacted," they wrote. Spread of dogs as pets in South America Dogs (Canis familiaris) first came to the South American continent about 4000 years ago, but by 3000 years ago, their spread seems to have stopped north of Patagonia. Also Read | Accelerated ageing is heightening cancer risk in younger population: Study Due to this, the first evidence of dogs in the region is from the 16th century, when some indigenous societies started breeding dogs of European descent. It is highly unlikely that the modern dogs of the region could have descended from a mixture of dogs and foxes, as was thought previously. (With inputs from agencies)

Guess which wild animal was used to be man's pet 1,500 years ago. Hint: Not dogs

<p>A dog-fox hybrid has been found. Yes, this time it's for real. We are not referring to the two animals who become great friends in the film 'Fox and the Hound'.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In Brazil, a recent discovery has unveiled what is being described as the world's first dog-fox hybrid, the first known crossbreed between these two species.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This unusual canine came to light in 2021 after a car accident, prompting its urgent transfer to a hospital in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The veterinarians were perplexed due to its distinctive traits, resembling neither a fully wild nor a domestic animal.</p>

<h2><strong>How the animal was different?</strong></h2>

<p>Flávia Ferrari, a conservationist, remarked that the black, pointy-eared creature exhibited "unusual" behaviours.</p>

<p>"It was not as docile as a dog, but it also lacked the aggressiveness expected of a wild canid when handled," Ferrari told The Telegraph.</p>

<p><strong>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/web-stories/trending/8-dog-breeds-that-can-go-extinct-soon-1686912174803">Eight Dog breeds that can go extinct soon</a></strong></p>

<p>The researchers then conducted a series of tests to configure the animal's genetic composition.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Their findings, published last month in the journal <em>Animals</em>, confirmed it as a hybrid between&nbsp;a pampas fox, native to South America, and a domestic dog of unknown breed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This groundbreaking revelation presents the first documented case of hybridisation between these two species.</p>

<h2><b>But the hybrid creature passed away recently</b></h2>

<p>Dubbed a "dogxim," combining "dog" with the Portuguese name for the pampas fox, the hybrid sadly passed away earlier this year from unspecified causes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hybridisation, whether natural or human-induced, occurs in approximately 10 per cent of animal species, typically among closely related ones.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;Researchers say Dog's tail are only a communication tool</strong></p>

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<p>Notable examples of human-created hybrids include mules (cross between donkeys and horses) and ligers (a mix of lions and tigers). In the wild, interbreeding is observed in deer and elk species.</p>

<p>It's worth noting that the development of hybrids can potentially harm wild populations by facilitating the transmission of diseases across species. However, most artificially produced hybrids are infertile.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH WION LIVE HERE</strong></p>

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A dog-fox hybrid has been found. Yes, this time it's for real. We are not referring to the two animals who become great friends in the film 'Fox and the Hound'. In Brazil, a recent discovery has unveiled what is being described as the world's first dog-fox hybrid, the first known crossbreed between these two species.

A dog-fox hybrid has been found. Yes, this time it's for real. We are not referring to the two animals who become great friends in the film 'Fox and the Hound'. In Brazil, a recent discovery has unveiled what is being described as the world's first dog-fox hybrid, the first known crossbreed between these two species. This unusual canine came to light in 2021 after a car accident, prompting its urgent transfer to a hospital in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil. The veterinarians were perplexed due to its distinctive traits, resembling neither a fully wild nor a domestic animal. How the animal was different? Flávia Ferrari, a conservationist, remarked that the black, pointy-eared creature exhibited "unusual" behaviours. "It was not as docile as a dog, but it also lacked the aggressiveness expected of a wild canid when handled," Ferrari told The Telegraph. Also read | Eight Dog breeds that can go extinct soon The researchers then conducted a series of tests to configure the animal's genetic composition. Their findings, published last month in the journal Animals, confirmed it as a hybrid between a pampas fox, native to South America, and a domestic dog of unknown breed. This groundbreaking revelation presents the first documented case of hybridisation between these two species. But the hybrid creature passed away recently Dubbed a "dogxim," combining "dog" with the Portuguese name for the pampas fox, the hybrid sadly passed away earlier this year from unspecified causes. Hybridisation, whether natural or human-induced, occurs in approximately 10 per cent of animal species, typically among closely related ones. Also watch | Researchers say Dog's tail are only a communication tool × Notable examples of human-created hybrids include mules (cross between donkeys and horses) and ligers (a mix of lions and tigers). In the wild, interbreeding is observed in deer and elk species. It's worth noting that the development of hybrids can potentially harm wild populations by facilitating the transmission of diseases across species. However, most artificially produced hybrids are infertile. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

World's first fox-dog hybrid has passed away

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Guess which wild animal was used to be man's pet 1,500 years ago. Hint: Not dogs

World's first fox-dog hybrid has passed away