This specimen is a Coyote. The Coyote is a canine native to North America and is smaller then the Gray Wolf. Originally limited to the American Southwest and Great Plains and northern and central Mexico, the extirpation of wolves and deforestation by humans has caused this species to flourish with populations now as far north as Alaska, as far east as New England, and as far south as the Panama Canal. Coyote males average 8-20 kg and females average 7-18 kg in weight depending on distribution. Females are typically shorter than males. In Native American folklore, the Coyote is a trickster spirit. This specimen has been identified as a female and was liekly collected from the New York area.
- Catalog Number:
- 67975
- Object/Specimen Description:
- Specimen Count:
- 1
- Locality:
- US Northeast (NY, CT, RI, MA, VT, NH, ME)
- Sex:
- Female
- Collecting Locality:
- North America, United States, New York
- Upper Level Taxonomy:
- Animalia, Chordata, Vertebrata, Tetrapoda, Mammalia, Eutheria, Carnivora, Caniformia, Canidae
Although modern carnivores are a diverse group when it comes to diet, a typical carnivore feeds mostly on meat. Meat-eating carnivores tend to have a set of sharp-tipped teeth (carnassials), a characteristic of ancestral carnivores. Modified from molars, carnassials are specialized for slicing flesh. While meat is easier to digest, prey must be found, captured, and killed. Hunting collaboratively is sometimes more effective than hunting alone, and many large carnivores hunt in groups. Elaborate social behaviors have evolved around hunting, such as the dominance hierarchy in a pack of wolves. Even carnivores that do not hunt collaboratively, such as harbor seals and coatis, may live in social groups. Benefits of grouping may include sharing care of young or sharing defense of territory. Young carnivores must learn to hunt, which often means an extended training period. Carnivores have a high ratio of brain to body mass, allowing for the learning, coordination, and agility needed for hunting.