Coyote Canis latrans

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CoyoteCanis latrans

• Power point by Nina

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Introduction

• The name coyote is a Spanish alteration of the
  original Aztec name coyotl. The Latin name Canis
  latrans, which means barking dog, was given to it
  by Thomas Say, who published a description of the
  species in 1833. Since 1967, its official name in
  Canada, in both English and French, has been
  coyote. Coyotes are one of the few mammals whose
  range is steadily increasing despite persecution
  by people. They are intelligent and playful, like
  most domestic dogs, yet they are predators and
  have a reputation for killing small farm animals.
  In some parts of Canada, coyotes are called
  brush wolves, however, wolves are larger and
  less adaptable than coyotes.

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General Description

• The coyote is one of seven species of the
  Canadae family found in Canada. The wolf, red
  fox, arctic fox, swift fox, grey fox, and dog
  also belong to this family. A male coyote is
  smaller and slimmer than the wolf and weighs
  from 9 to 23 kg, it has an overall length of
  120150 cm (including a 3040 cm tail), and
  stands 5866 cm high at the shoulder. A female is
  usually four-fifths as large. Coyotes ears are
  usually wide, pointed and erect. They have a
  tapering muzzle and black nose. Unlike most dogs,
  the top of the muzzle has an almost continuous
  line with the forehead. Coyotes have slightly
  slanted yellow eyes and black round pupils, which
  give them a look of cunning. Its teeth are
  amazingly long and can inflict serious wounds.
  The neck looks oversized for the body because it
  is well furred. Coyotes have long tongues like
  most dogs which, often hangs out between their
  teeth and helps regulate their body temperatures.
  Like all Canidae, the coyote has, at the root of
  the tail, a gland that releases a scent. Glands
  like these also exist on other parts of the body.
  Scent glands often become more active when the
  animals meet. The coyote's urine also has a very
  strong smell and is used to mark out its
  territory. Continued.

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Continued

• The fur is generally a tawny grey, darker on
  the hind part of the back where the black tipped
  fur becomes wavy. The legs, paws, muzzle, and the
  back of the ears are more yellowish In color,
  while the throat, belly, and inside of the ears
  tend to be whiter in color. The tail, darker at
  the top and lighter on the underside, is lightly
  fawn- colored towards the tip which is black. A
  coyotes fur is long and soft and is well-suited
  for the cold. Because it is light-colored in
  winter and darker in the summer, it blends in
  well with its surroundings. Like all dogs,
  coyotes have four toes and non-retractable paws.
  They also have more elongated paws than that of a
  dog the same size and the claws are not used in
  attack or defense. This is because of the
  constant contact with the ground which blunt the
  claws and do not leave deep wounds.

Coyote Comparisons The Gray Wolf, (Canis lupus)
once shared much of the same range as the Coyote
and belongs to the same Genus -- Canis. But the
wolf is usually larger and darker in
appearance. Coyotes also carry their tails quite
differently than wolves. A Coyote's tail is
normally held down, although not between the
legs. A wolf carries its tail rather
horizontally. The nearly successful attempts to
exterminate the Gray Wolf (the Coyote's primary
predator) has been largely responsible for the
Coyote's great expansion across the American
continent.
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Habitat

• Coyotes have slowly increased their habitat
  range. They are steadily expanding their
  territory throughout North America. The reason
  for their expansion is not really known, but
  there are some reasons. The destruction of
  forested areas where they dwelt were being
  threatened and cut down. The lack of prey and
  food could also be a factor for their expansion.

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Diet

• Coyotes are omnivores or animals who eat both
  meat and vegetation. They prey on small rodents
  such as rabbits or hares and also commonly eat
  berries or wild fruits in the summer and fall.
  Deer and other large hoofed mammals are hunted by
  coyotes also. When available, insects such as
  grasshoppers are eaten and coyotes also scavenge
  on wolf kills. Coyotes change their hunting
  methods according to the size of the animal. For
  example if hunting a larger animal such as a
  deer, coyotes hunt in packs. If it is only a
  rabbit, a coyote will hunt alone. Coyotes will
  also attack and feed on farm animals such as
  calves, sheep, or chickens. Although coyotes are
  mainly flesh-eaters, they eat just about anything
  that is available.

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Bibliography

• http//www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/hww-fap/coyote/coyot
  e.html