Coyote
Missing image Coyote_portrait.jpg Coyote Coyote
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Genus: Canis Species: C. latrans
Binomial name
Canis latrans Say, 1823

A coyote (Canis latrans) is a member of the Canidae (the dog family) and a relative of the domestic dog. Coyotes are only found in North America. Coyotes may occasionally assemble in small packs, but normally hunt alone. Coyotes live an average of about 6 years. The word "coyote" is of Nahuatl origin.

This coyote stands less than two feet (0.6 m) tall and varies in color from gray to tan with sometimes a reddish tint to its coat. A coyote's ears and nose appear long and pointed, especially in relation to the size of its head. It can generally be distinguished from its much larger relative, the Grey Wolf, by its overall slight appearance compared to the massive 75 to 125-pound (34 to 57 kg) stockiness of the bigger canid.

Despite being extensively hunted, the coyote is one of the few medium-to-large-sized animals that has enlarged its territory since human encroachment began (another is the raccoon). Coyotes have moved into most of the areas of North America formerly occupied by wolves, and the "dog" you see scrounging from a suburban trashcan may in fact be a coyote.

Coyotes are considered to be highly intelligent and adaptive animals.

Character in mythology

There are many myths from Native American peoples in which a Coyote plays the role of the trickster and is often the antagonistic force. The trickster is roughly comparable to Satan in Abrahamic traditions, but is more often portrayed in myths as representing foolhardiness and other flaws; a more accurate comparison is with the Norse God Loki.

Fictional Coyotes

Wile E. Coyote is a Warner Brothers cartoon coyote who is endlessly trying to catch and eat an extremely fast Road Runner. His efforts are always futile, and he usually harms himself in the effort.

The cartoon character Wile E. Coyote has comically exaggerated nose and ears, inspired by the appearance of the real animal, as seen below.

External links

• Indiana Coyote Rescue Center (http://www.coyoterescue.org/)

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