The coyoteCanis latrans) It is a placental mammal that is part of the Canidae family and is related to the domestic dog. One of its main characteristics is its solitary howl. This contact call is used to communicate that a coyote is out of the pack..
The size and weight of this animal depend on the sex and its geographical location. Thus, females are larger than males and those who live in the north tend to weigh more than those who live in the south..
Its distribution covers all of Central America and North America, excluding the polar regions. This canid adapts easily to habitats, so it can live in forests, swamps, and deserts. Also, it is found in suburban, agricultural and urban areas, where it tends to attack domestic animals..
Canis latrans It has a very particular behavior: it marks with urine the place where it keeps the food that it will eat later. Urination is common in this species, being used as an olfactory sign of dominance. Usually done while traveling, when playing or digging, and to show aggression and territoriality.
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The genus Canis descends from Eucyon davisi, whose remains date from the Miocene and appeared in the United States and Mexico. During the Pliocene, the Canis lepophagus appeared in that same region and in the early Pleistocene there was already the Canis latrans.
According to research, the transition from Eucyon davisi to C. lepophagus it was linear. Canis lepophagus it existed before the clades of the genus Canis split apart. This was small in size, with a narrow skull. Their weight was similar to that of modern coyotes, but their limbs were shorter..
The coyote is a more primitive animal than the gray wolf, which is evidenced by its small size and narrow jaws and skull. This prevents it from having the gripping power to hold large prey, just as wolves do..
In addition, the sagittal crest of the Canis latrans it is flattened, indicating that its bite is weak. In this way, the evidence could indicate that the ancestors of the coyote are more similar to foxes than to wolves..
Comparatively, Pleistocene coyotes (C. l. Orcutti) were larger and more robust than the current species, probably in response to the existence of larger prey. The reduction in size occurred during the 1000 years of the Quaternary extinction event, where large dams became extinct.
The size varies according to sex, since the male is larger and heavier than the female. Thus, the male weighs between 8 and 29 kilograms, while the female has a weight of 7 to 18 kilograms. The male is between 1 and 1.35 meters long, with a 40-centimeter-long tail.
In addition, there are differences in relation to the geographical region where it lives. In this sense, the subspecies that live in the north weigh around 18 kilograms, while those in southern Mexico weigh an average of 11.5 kilograms..
The coyote has a thin face, with large ears, in relation to the size of the head. The eyes are round, with yellow irises. In relation to the nose, it is black and measures less than 25 millimeters.
The muzzle is fine and pointed, with prominent, thin and long canines. The molars are adapted to grind meat and bones. As for the skull, it is elongated and the forehead is slightly sloping.
The coloration can include gray or reddish tones, with some black and white hairs interspersed.
However, the color may vary according to the geographical location. Those that live in high regions tend to have grayer and black colorations, while those in desert areas are whitish gray..
The coyote has a white area that covers the lower part of the muzzle and extends up to the belly. On the dorsal line it has black hairs, which demarcate a strip with a dark cross at the height of the shoulders. Albinism occurs very infrequently in the coyote population.
In relation to the tail, it is dense and wide, with a black tip. This is about half the length of the body. At the dorsal base it has a supracaudal gland, bluish-black in color. Also, it has a mane, made up of hairs that are between 80 and 110 millimeters long..
The fur of the Canis latrans It is made up of two types of hair: some are soft and short and others are coarse and long. In addition, it has marked variations, related to the environment where it takes place..
The northern subspecies have it denser and longer than that of the southern species, which have it short and thin. Some Central American and Mexican coyotes have hispid hair, characterized by being rough, stiff, and hard..
A molt occurs annually, from summer to autumn. Before this, the coat is discolored and worn. Thus, in summer it has shorter and finer hair than in winter. The thick layer of the cold season is highly insulating, increasing the preservation of body heat.
The legs are small, compared to the size of the body. The front ones have four fingers and the rear ones five, each with a strong, non-retractable claw..
The stride of the Canis latrans he measures between 15 and 20 centimeters and his stride when walking is 33 centimeters. However, when jogging, the footprint can reach a length of two to three feet. When running, it does so at a speed of 50 km / h.
The coyote can have a high hearing sensitivity, ranging from 100Hz to 30kHz. The sense of smell is highly developed and allows it to identify, among other things, its territory and the reproductive status of the female.
Regarding the structure of the eyeball, this species has a duplex retina, with a preponderance of the shoots. In addition, before the variations in the intensity of the light, the cones and the rods are activated. Due to this, its visibility at night is good, a very favorable aspect in its twilight and night habits..
- Animal Kingdom.
- Subkingdom Bilateria.
- Chordate phylum.
- Vertebrate Subphilum.
- Mammal class.
- Order Carnivora.
- Family Canidae.
- Genus Canis.
- Species Canis latrans.
Populations of Canis latrans they have decreased, which has alerted the organisms dedicated to the protection of the species. This is why the IUCN has categorized the coyote within the group of animals that, if the pertinent actions are not taken, could be vulnerable to extinction..
The great threat of this canid is man, who degrades the environment and hunts it illegally. The natural habitat of the coyote has been modified, as a result of the deforestation of the ecosystem, for the establishment of urban, agricultural and livestock settlements.
Due to this, the animal frequently invades urban areas that are close to where it lives, attacking and preying on sheep, cows, bulls and other livestock. To protect the cattle, the man hunts the coyote, which has caused a decline in its population.
In addition, hunters capture this mammal for its skin, which is sold at high prices both regionally and internationally. Although the Canis latrans has suffered for many years from various threats, currently the reductions in its population are local and temporary.
In the United States, the coyote is protected in 12 states. In addition, in Mexico it is a species that is regulated by the General Wildlife Law and its Regulations..
The Canis latrans originally inhabited the United States, Mexico and Canada. However, during the 19th century, this species spread to various forested biomes where it had never lived. Thus, it was located in deciduous forests, taiga and tropical forests.
Specialists maintain that the fragmentation of the environment and the extinction of some of its predators, such as the gray wolf (Canis lupus) and the jaguar (Panthera onca).
Currently, the coyote is found in Central America and has colonized all of North America, with the exception of the polar areas. Thus, it is distributed from Costa Rica to the northern region of Alaska. The highest densities occur in the United States, the south central region, and the Great Plains..
This canid is absent from the Arctic islands in northern Canada, including a large area north of Quebec, Labrador, and Newfoundland. Likewise, it is rare in areas where gray wolves are abundant, such as northern Alaska, northeastern Minnesota, Ontario, and Manitoba..
The coyote occupies a wide variety of habitats. It can live in almost any ecosystem where the populations of animals that make up its diet are found. Thus, it can be located in meadows, forests, mountains and deserts, where the availability of water could limit its distribution..
The expansion of this species towards the eastern part of Panama may be related to the use of livestock and urban areas, thus showing the great adaptability of the Canis latrans to different environments. Likewise, it could live in areas with short grasses, in semi-arid areas where sagebrush exists or in arid regions..
In search of its food, this animal could walk between 5 and 16 kilometers a day, as well as use frozen rivers as access routes during the winter. Like other canids, it is an excellent swimmer, being able to swim up to 0.8 kilometers through streams.
To build its burrow, the coyote uses steep areas, bushes, rocky ledges, and hollow logs. You can also use those left behind by other animals, such as the American badger (Taxidea taxus).
The resting place is generally between 1.5 and 7.5 meters long and 3 meters in diameter. In addition, it has several entrances and many interconnected tunnels.
In a household range, a family of two or more generations, a single adult or a couple could live together. The extent of this area varies in each region. For example, in Texas it is 5 square kilometers, while in Washington it can span from 54 to 142 square kilometers..
Males tend to have higher ranges than females. Thus, while the average in males is 42 square kilometers, females occupy 10 square kilometers.
Social behavior and group size influence the size of the territory where the coyote lives. Those who live in herds during the winter have smaller households than those who are alone or in pairs..
The coyote is an opportunistic predator, eating a diverse range of foods, including everything from insects and fruits to large ungulates and carrion. However, it seems to be selective with some species, preferring not to eat shrews and brown rats..
Within its diet are bison, elk, crustaceans, deer, sheep, rodents, snakes, insects, rabbits and birds. In the group of birds are the larks, wild turkeys, sparrows, swans and pelicans.
He also eats blackberries, peaches, blueberries, pears, and apples. In urban areas, they often attack domestic or farm animals, in addition to being able to eat food that is found in the garbage.
The availability of food influences your diet. In winter, it consumes 1% plant matter, 3% birds, 3% deer, 8% goats and sheep, 15% rodents, 34% rabbits and 35% carrion. Also, he spends most of his time resting.
In the summer, the number of available prey increases, which reduces the size of the prey it attacks.
Success in hunting may depend on environmental characteristics, the age of the coyote, and the size of the prey..
When Canis latrans Hunting in a group or in pairs, you can have access to large animals such as elk, antelope, wild sheep and deer. However, if the coyote comes across baby sheep or calves, they prefer them to larger prey..
To hunt, it uses its vision and olfactory and auditory stimuli. In addition, it usually captures those animals that offer little resistance, such as the young, the sick, the old, those that are trapped in the snow or pregnant females..
This species stores surplus food, marking with its urine the place where it is stored, thereby expressing its dominance..
There is an unusual alliance between the coyote and the badger. The two work together to capture prairie dogs, which are usually found inside underground caves. The badger digs them up using its claws, while when they emerge from the hole, the coyote catches and kills them. After eating, the canid leaves some remains for the badger.
When the coyote hunts small prey, such as mice, it stiffens its legs, stops, and then pounces on the animal. In the case of chasing a larger animal such as a deer, it is usually done in a herd.
Thus, one or more coyotes chase the animal, while the rest of the canids wait. Then the relief group will continue with the hunt. Working as a team, they save energy and guarantee the success of the task.
Females and males can reproduce in their first year. However, some coyotes do not reproduce until they are two years old. Females are monoestric, as they have estrus once a year. Regarding the spermatogenesis cycle in males, it is annual.
The duration of estrus is 2 to 5 days and ovulation occurs 2 or 3 days before the end of the receptivity of the female.
Courtship behaviors take place 2 to 3 months before couples mate. One of the ways in which the female attracts the male is through the scent marks he leaves, using his urine and feces to do so. Through these, the male obtains information about whether the female is in heat.
After copulation, a strong bond is established between the pair: they establish the area where the burrow will be, they hunt and both take care of the young. Likewise, they can continue to mate for several years, but generally they do not do so for life..
Gestation lasts from 60 to 63 days, after which time between 2 and 12 cubs are born, with an average of 6 pups. There are some factors that could influence litter size.
The mother is in charge of the upbringing, being able to be helped by a baby from the previous litter. The male contributes with food and protection. However, it could abandon them if the female leaves the burrow before weaning..
At birth, the cubs weigh between 240 and 275 grams, with a length of 16 centimeters. They have their eyes closed, but they will open them after 14 days. During the first 10 days, they depend exclusively on breast milk.
The incisor teeth appear around 12 days, the canines appear at 16 days and the premolars appear at 21 days. The parents supplement the diet of the young, offering them solid foods that have previously regurgitated.
Then, around the sixth week, lactation decreases and they begin to receive mice and pieces of meat. When they are 4 months old they can already hunt small mammals.
Puppies start walking when they are 3 weeks old and are running by the sixth week. Likewise, fights begin between them, and when they are 5 weeks old they have already established domain hierarchies..
The social unit is formed by the family, where there is a reproductive female. The coyote is a gregarious animal, although it does not usually depend on its companions. However, it could join forces with other members of the species to attack a large ungulate, which it cannot take down individually..
These groupings are temporary and can be made up of non-breeding females, single males, and adult offspring..
Canis latrans It is a not very territorial animal, it usually defends its space almost exclusively during the mating stage. However, it could hunt down and fight an intruder, although it rarely kills it. One of the common reasons for conflict within the group is food shortages.
The coyote is recognized as the most vocal wild mammal in all of North America. The range of their vocalizations can reach 11 types, which are divided into three groups: alarm, contact and greeting.
Alarm vocalizations include huffing, grunting, yelling, barking. The growls are emitted by the cubs while playing, but are also used by the males during copulation. As for howls, snorts and barks are alarm calls that, due to their intensity, can be heard over long distances.
To greet, the coyote whistles and howls at a low frequency. They can use these sounds when they are gathered, and they could also be the final part of the greeting ceremony, which concludes with the wagging of the tail..
Within contact calls, the solitary howl constitutes the iconic sound of this species. This vocalization is associated with the announcement of the existence of a coyote, who is alone and separated from the herd..
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