Encyclopedia > Coyote

  Article Content

Coyote

Coyote
(larger image)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Mammalia
Order:Carnivora
Family:Canidae
Genus:Canis[?]
Species:latrans[?]
A mammal (Canis latrans) that is a member of the Canidae family and a relative of the domestic dog. The word "coyote" is of Nahuatl origin.

Coyotes are only found in North America.

Coyotes may occasionally assemble in small packs, but normally hunt alone.

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.

Character in mythology

There are many North American stories about Coyote, who is seen as the trickster.



All Wikipedia text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License

 
  Search Encyclopedia

Search over one million articles, find something about almost anything!
 
 
  
  Featured Article
242

... 190s 200s 210s 220s 230s - 240s - 250s 260s 270s 280s 290s Years: 237 238 239 240 241 - 242 - 243 244 245 246 247 Events Patriarch Titus[?] succeeds Patriarch ...

 
 
 
This page was created in 23.6 ms