The coyote is a species of canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the gray wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf. It fills much of the same ecological niche as the golden jackal does in Eurasia. The coyote is larger and was once referred to as the American jackal by a behavioral ecologist. Other historical names for the species include the prairie wolf and the brush wolf.
Coyote
A closeup of a mountain coyote's (C. l. lestes) head
A Toltec pictograph of a coyote
Melanistic coyotes owe their color to a mutation that first arose in domestic dogs.
Canis is a genus of the Caninae which includes multiple extant species, such as wolves, dogs, coyotes, and golden jackals. Species of this genus are distinguished by their moderate to large size, their massive, well-developed skulls and dentition, long legs, and comparatively short ears and tails.
Diagram of a wolf skull with key features labelled
Eurasian wolf skull
Male coyote
Female coyote