The extinct small Cypriot wild boar (Sus scrofa circeus): osteological description, origins, and insular evolution

A new subspecies of extinct wild boar, Sus scrofa circeus, has been identified from Cyprus, characterized by significant insular evolution. This small Cypriot wild boar exhibited a 13% size reduction compared to its Near Eastern continental counterpart and displayed unique morphological traits, including reduced dewclaws and molar forms resembling those of the Corsico-Sardinian subspecies. The study, based on comprehensive morphometric analyses of 2814 linear measurements and geometric morphometrics, suggests that these boars originated from Late Glacial populations in the north Levant plains rather than southern regions. Furthermore, domestic pigs in Cyprus were locally domesticated from this endemic wild boar around 7500 BC, with no detectable continental input.

Vigne, J.-D., Cucchi, T., Domont, A., & Harbers, H. (2024). The extinct small Cypriot wild boar (Sus scrofa circeus): osteological description, origins, and insular evolution. Klimonas, 493–524. https://doi.org/10.4000/129kw