Coyote
The coyote, Canis latrans, is a carnivorous mammal belonging to the dog family, Canidae, order Carnivora. Coyotes are smaller than gray wolves but overlap in size with red wolves and domestic dogs. The nose pad is narrower and the ears are longer than those of the wolf. Nineteen subspecies are recognized; these differ somewhat in size and color.
Coyote Elegance
© Jess Lee Photography
Adult males range in weight from 8 to 20 kg (18 to 44 lb), and females from 7 to 18 kg (15 to 40 lb). Color varies, but coyotes are usually gray.Coyotes communicate by howling. Their sense of smell is well developed.
Originally, coyotes inhabited open country and grasslands in the southwestern United States and Mexico, where they were well represented in Aztec folklore and art. The coyotes' geographic range has expanded in recent history, and they now are found in a variety of habitats from central America to northern Alaska and throughout the United States and most of Canada.
Their diet is extremely diverse, and they take advantage of whatever is available, including rodents, rabbits, birds, insects, and fruit. They sometimes eat domestic animals. Much of their winter diet is carrion. Females breed between January and March and produce an average of six pups.
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