Feb15

I say coyote, you say cayote, and this is neither.

Posted on February 15, 2014 by marghe24

The eastern coyote (Canis latrans) is actually a genetic mix between grey wolves (Canis lupus), red wolves (Canis lupus rufus) and coyotes (Canis latrans). In Maine, for example, 22% of a study group had about 50% wolf genes. They call it the coywolf, and it’s pretty cute. Do we need to think up a new scientific name? Canis latrans lupus, maybe?

Yet another new hybrid species in the making!

You can find more info on the species here,

and there is a documentary on the coywolf coming out soon, too.

A coyote (source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/emdot/145432), probably waiting for scraps

A coywolf (source: http://www.thirteen.org/13pressroom/files/2013/12/2.BEST-BEACH-COYWOLF.jpg)

5 responses »

jesserie44 on February 28, 2014 at 17:32 said:

Oh my goodness, I just wrote a post about coyotes and how they’re hybridizing with wolves! I hadn’t seen the PBS clip, thanks for sharing!

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- marghe24 on February 28, 2014 at 17:55 said:
  
  Amazing stuff, right? I love finding out new things 🙂 and sharing them, of course. I’ll come check out your blog soon, thank you for taking the time to comment and feel free to do so more – I am also open to constructive criticism 😀
  
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  - jesserie44 on February 28, 2014 at 18:16 said:
    
    Nature never ceases to amaze me. I will be sure to keep up with your posts!
    
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Clyo on September 27, 2015 at 10:23 said:

I’d love to have a doxy (dog+fox) if it was possible, but it’s not.

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- marghe24 on September 27, 2015 at 10:27 said:
  
  Unfortunately genetics is not on your side for that… But have you seen the red fox shiba? The owner dyed the dog’s feet and now it kindof looks like a fox 😀
  
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