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Man and Nature: Donations from Kenneth E. Behring

Coyote

 

Coyote

Canis latrans

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus: Canis

Distribution: North America, south to Panama and north to

Alaska

Endangered category: Least Concern (LC)

Coyotes are close relatives of wolves. The coyote is 74 to 94 cm long and its tail length ranges from 26 to 37 cm. It weighs 8 to 16 kg. Coyotes are slim. They have different fur colors, from greyish white to red brown. It’s rare to see all black ones; coyotes have a thick and hairy tail. The tip of their tails is usually black. They often live in a group. Coyotes are monogamous. Both male and female coyotes will take responsibility for bringing up offspring. They have a sense of territory, marking the boundary of the group with howling sound and scent mark. Coyotes have strong adaptability and can live in various habitats, from tropical region to high mountains and deserts. And they can also live in cities. They are high efficient opportunist predators and they are omnivorous, with their dietary from fruits, insects and small mammals to large ungulate animals and livestock.

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