The Mexican wolf, also known as the lobo, is a subspecies of gray wolf native to southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico in the United States, and northern Mexico. It once also ranged into western Texas. It is the smallest of North America's gray wolves, and is similar to the Great Plains wolf, though it is distinguished by its smaller, narrower skull and its darker pelt, which is yellowish-gray and heavily clouded with black over the back and tail. Its ancestors were likely the first gray wolves to enter North America after the extinction of the Beringian wolf, as indicated by its southern range and basal physical and genetic characteristics.
Mexican wolf
Skull
The Aztec god Xolotl, depicted here in the 15th century Codex Fejervary-Mayer, may have been based on the Mexican wolf rather than a dog as once believed.
Traditional Zuni wolf fetish.
Subspecies of Canis lupus
There are 38 subspecies of Canis lupus listed in the taxonomic authority Mammal Species of the World. These subspecies were named over the past 250 years, and since their naming, a number of them have gone extinct. The nominate subspecies is the Eurasian wolf.
Skulls of various wolf subspecies from North America
Image: Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate III) C. l. albus mod
Image: Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate IV) C. l. arabs mod
Image: Dogs, jackals, wolves, and foxes (Plate III) C. l. campestris mod