Coywolf
Encyclopedia
The coywolf or eastern coyote is a canid hybrid
having a mixture of genetic stock from western coyote
(Canis latrans) and either the Gray wolf
(Canis lupus) or the Red wolf
(Canis rufus). They come from a constantly evolving gene pool
and are viewed by some scientists as an emerging species. The genetic composition of these animals is debated amongst scientists.
It is possible for wolves and coyotes to interbreed and produce fertile offspring, but wolves usually kill coyotes, a fact which displaces questions of their status as two separate species. However breeding experiments in Germany
with poodle
s and coyotes, as well as with wolves, jackals and later on with the resulting dog-coyote hybrids showed a decrease in fertility and significant communication problems as well as an increase in genetic diseases after three generations of interbeeding between the hybrids, unlike with wolfdog
s. Therefore it was concluded that domestic dogs and gray wolves are the same species and that the coyote is a separate species from both.
The first-generation offspring is generally intermediate in size to both parents, being larger than a pure coyote, but smaller than a pure wolf. A study showed that of 100 coyotes collected in Maine
, 22 had half or more wolf ancestry, and one was 89 percent wolf. A theory has been proposed that the large eastern coyotes in Canada are actually hybrids of the smaller western coyotes and wolves that met and mated decades ago as the coyotes moved toward New England from their earlier western ranges. In the early fall of 2010 there was a report given of a coywolf attack on an old man walking his dogs near the humber river in downtown Toronto
The Red Wolf
is thought by certain scientists to be in fact a wolf/coyote hybrid rather than a unique species. Strong evidence for hybridization was found through genetic testing which showed that red wolves have only 5% of their alleles unique from either Gray wolves or coyotes. Genetic distance calculations have indicated that red wolves are intermediate between coyotes and grey wolves, and that they bear great similarity to wolf/coyote hybrids in southern Quebec and Minnesota. Analyses of mitochondrial DNA showed that existing Red Wolf populations are predominantly coyote in origin. Researchers in the Northeast and Canada say the population of coywolf hybrids is growing in the Northeast region.
On March 31st, 2010, a presentation by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources research scientist Brent Patterson outlined key findings that most coyotes in Eastern Ontario
are wolf-coyote hybrids and the Eastern wolves
in Algonquin Park are, in general, not inter-breeding with coyotes. And, on the April 20, 2011 episode of "Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files
," analysis of DNA extracted from the corpse of a so-called "Texas chupacabra
" showed it to actually be a coyote/Mexican timber wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) hybrid.
Canid hybrid
Canid hybrids are the result of interbreeding between different species of the canine family -Genetic considerations:Members of the dog genus Canis: wolves, dogs , coyotes, and golden jackals cannot interbreed with members of the wider dog family: the Canidae, such as South American canids, foxes,...
having a mixture of genetic stock from western coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
(Canis latrans) and either the Gray wolf
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
(Canis lupus) or the Red wolf
Red Wolf
The red wolf is a North American canid which once roamed throughout the Southeastern United States and is a glacial period survivor of the Late Pleistocene epoch...
(Canis rufus). They come from a constantly evolving gene pool
Gene pool
In population genetics, a gene pool is the complete set of unique alleles in a species or population.- Description :A large gene pool indicates extensive genetic diversity, which is associated with robust populations that can survive bouts of intense selection...
and are viewed by some scientists as an emerging species. The genetic composition of these animals is debated amongst scientists.
It is possible for wolves and coyotes to interbreed and produce fertile offspring, but wolves usually kill coyotes, a fact which displaces questions of their status as two separate species. However breeding experiments in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
with poodle
Poodle
The Poodle is a breed of dog. The poodle breed is found officially in toy, miniature, and standard sizes, with many coat colors. Originally bred as a type of water dog, the poodle is highly intelligent and skillful in many dog sports, including agility, obedience, tracking, and even herding...
s and coyotes, as well as with wolves, jackals and later on with the resulting dog-coyote hybrids showed a decrease in fertility and significant communication problems as well as an increase in genetic diseases after three generations of interbeeding between the hybrids, unlike with wolfdog
Wolfdog
A wolfdog is a canid hybrid resulting from the mating of a wolf and a dog . The term "wolfdog" is preferred by most of the animals' proponents and breeders because the domestic dog recently was taxonomically recategorized as a subspecies of wolf...
s. Therefore it was concluded that domestic dogs and gray wolves are the same species and that the coyote is a separate species from both.
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, 22 had half or more wolf ancestry, and one was 89 percent wolf. A theory has been proposed that the large eastern coyotes in Canada are actually hybrids of the smaller western coyotes and wolves that met and mated decades ago as the coyotes moved toward New England from their earlier western ranges. In the early fall of 2010 there was a report given of a coywolf attack on an old man walking his dogs near the humber river in downtown Toronto
The Red Wolf
Red Wolf
The red wolf is a North American canid which once roamed throughout the Southeastern United States and is a glacial period survivor of the Late Pleistocene epoch...
is thought by certain scientists to be in fact a wolf/coyote hybrid rather than a unique species. Strong evidence for hybridization was found through genetic testing which showed that red wolves have only 5% of their alleles unique from either Gray wolves or coyotes. Genetic distance calculations have indicated that red wolves are intermediate between coyotes and grey wolves, and that they bear great similarity to wolf/coyote hybrids in southern Quebec and Minnesota. Analyses of mitochondrial DNA showed that existing Red Wolf populations are predominantly coyote in origin. Researchers in the Northeast and Canada say the population of coywolf hybrids is growing in the Northeast region.
On March 31st, 2010, a presentation by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources research scientist Brent Patterson outlined key findings that most coyotes in Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario
Eastern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario which lies in a wedge-shaped area between the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence River...
are wolf-coyote hybrids and the Eastern wolves
Eastern Wolf
The Eastern Wolf , also known as Eastern Canadian Wolf or Eastern Canadian Red Wolf, may be a subspecies of gray wolf or a distinct species of canid native to the eastern part of North America since the Pleistocene era. It seems to be closely related to the Red Wolf...
in Algonquin Park are, in general, not inter-breeding with coyotes. And, on the April 20, 2011 episode of "Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files
Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files
-Reviews:The show has been described as Mythbusters meets Destination Truth. A Variety magazine review says – "Now we know what Fox Mulder would have done after leaving "The X-Files" unit: Get his own reality-TV show!"-Criticism:...
," analysis of DNA extracted from the corpse of a so-called "Texas chupacabra
Chupacabra
The chupacabras is a legendary cryptid rumored to inhabit parts of the Americas. It is associated more recently with sightings of an allegedly unknown animal in Puerto Rico , Mexico, and the United States, especially in the latter's Latin American communities...
" showed it to actually be a coyote/Mexican timber wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) hybrid.
Behavior
Coywolves have the wolf characteristics of pack hunting and aggression and the coyote characteristics of lack of fear of human-developed areas. They seem to be bolder and more intelligent than regular coyotes.External links
- The complicated science of studying coyotes and hybrid species: Mysteries That Howl and Hunt
- Interbreeding Threatens Rare Species, Experts Say
- Eastern Coyote/Coywolf Research http://www.easterncoyoteresearch.com/
- Jonathan Way's Eastern Coyote Webpage https://www2.bc.edu/~wayjo/