Patagonian partnerships: the extinct and its interaction with prehistoric human communities.

The southern Mendoza province, located in the northern region of Patagonia, was inhabited by hunter-gatherer groups until historic times. Previous archaeological studies have reported canid remains among faunal assemblages, which were assumed to be part of the human diet. However, the taxonomic identification and significance of these canids within human groups have raised questions. In this study, we used ancient DNA analysis, morphological examination and stable isotope analysis (δC and δN) to re-evaluate the taxonomic assignment of a canid discovered at the Late Holocene burial site of Cañada Seca. Previous morphological identifications suggested that it belonged to the genus , but our results conclusively demonstrate that the individual belongs to the extinct fox species . This finding expands known geographical distribution to Patagonia's northern extremity. Furthermore, statistical predictions based on genetic divergence undermine the hypothesis that hybridization between and , facilitated by the introduction of domestic dogs, played a role in the extinction of species. On the other hand, our findings indicate that a individual shared a similar diet and was probably buried alongside humans, suggesting a close relationship between the two species during their lives and deaths.