The eastern wolf, also known as Eastern Canadian wolf or Eastern Canadian red wolf, may be a subspecies of gray wolf (Canis lupus lycaon), a distinct species of canid (Canis lycaon) or a hybrid species (Canis lupus X Canis latrans) native to the eastern part of North America since the Pleistocene era.^[2] It seems to be closely related to the red wolf. Some populations may contain instances of hybridization with Coyotes, known as coywolves.

Many names were proposed, including the eastern wolf, eastern gray wolf, eastern timber wolf, and Algonquin wolf, although eastern wolf has appeared to gain the most recognition.^[3][4]

Taxonomy [edit]

Eastern wolf in the zoo of Stadt Haag, Austria

Eastern wolf was recently recognized as a potentially distinct species, but closely related to red wolf.^[5] Some authors disagree^[6] and the status as a distinct species is not official. Now, many international and government organizations carry out scientific research for their taxonomy and genetics to answer this question, as well as researching their ecology and influence on the ecosystem.

The eastern wolf is smaller than the gray wolf and has a gray-reddish coat with black hairs covering the back and sides of the thorax. The mtDNA analysis confirms that eastern wolf belonged to an ancient form of primitive wolf (with red wolf) originating some 750,000 years ago in the eastern part of North America (Nowak 1979, 1992). This distribution of haplotypes shows elements similar to the red wolf and probably is a part of this species. Red wolf populations were extirpated from the wild in the southeastern United States, were reintroduced to the wild in recent decades and are now critically endangered.

On March 31, 2010, a presentation by Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources research scientist Brent Patterson outlined key findings about the eastern wolf (and coyotes): Most coyotes in Eastern Ontario are wolf-coyote hybrids; wolves in Algonquin Park are, in general, not inter-breeding with coyotes; and the buffer zone around Algonquin Park is a great success with mortality rates down and populations remaining stable.^[2]

Proponents of distinct species designation believe that the Eastern Canadian wolf is just the remnant northern range of a once continuous range of a native canid – the eastern wolf (Eastern Canadian wolf and red wolf). The pre-Columbian range was thought to include U.S. states east of the Mississippi and south of the Canadian Shield-St. Lawrence corridor.^[7]

Unlike the gray wolf, the eastern wolf in Algonquin Park has never been recorded with an all-black or all-white coat (wolf research in Al. P. cited 2008). Eastern wolf mainly exist in Algonquin Park in Canada-USA border. Type Algonquin is a largely pure genetic population of Eastern wolf while type-Ontario is hybrid with gray wolf (possible with C. l. nubilus or C. l. griseoalbus ad etc.) (Wilson et al. 2000). Mech and Frenzel (1971) suggest that the northeastern Minnesota timber wolves are assigned to C. l. lycaon but are found in an area within 150 km of the range of C. l nubilus as described by Goldman (1944).

Physical attributes [edit]

The eastern wolf is smaller than the gray wolf. It has a pale grayish-brown pelt. The back and the sides are covered with long, black hairs. Behind the ears, there is a slight reddish color. These differences in attributes are thought to be a result of their red wolf ancestry. The eastern wolf is also skinnier than the gray wolf and has a more coyote-like appearance. This is because wolves and coyotes often mate and breed wolf/coyote hybrid pups in the park. The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society states: "Hybridization with coyotes has historically been a precursor to the decline of Eastern wolf populations. The Committee on the Status of Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) has identified hybridization with coyotes as one of the major threats facing the Eastern wolf, and hybridization continues to pose a serious challenge to red wolf recovery efforts in North Carolina." Because the two animals looks so much alike, a ban on the hunting of Algonquin wolves and coyotes has been in place to make sure no accidental deaths occur.

Gray wolves will attack, kill or drive out coyotes if they find them, but recent studies by John and Mary Theberge suggest that Eastern wolf males possibly mate with and accept coyote females. John Theberge states that, because coyotes are smaller than wolves, that female wolves would be less likely to accept a smaller mate.

Range [edit]

The eastern wolf mainly occupies the area in and around Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, and also ventures into adjacent parts of Quebec, Canada. It is present in New York state. It also may be present in Minnesota and Manitoba. In the past, this species might have ranged south into the United States, but after the arrival of Europeans, these wolves were heavily persecuted and became extirpated from the United States. In Canada, exact numbers of Eastern Canadian wolves are unknown.

In Algonquin wolves often travel outside the park boundaries, and enter farm country where some are killed. "Of all the wolf deaths recorded from 1988 to 1999, a minimum of 66% was caused by humans. Shooting and snaring outside park boundaries were the leading causes of death for wolves radio-collared in Algonquin Park".^[8] One wolf that was radio-collared in July 1992 was located in October in Gatineau Park (north of Ottawa), which is 170 km from Algonquin Park. By mid-December it had made its way back to Algonquin and then, in March 1993, this wolf's severed head was found nailed to a telephone pole in Round Lake.

Diet [edit]

The eastern wolf preys on white-tailed deer, moose, lagomorphs, and rodents including beaver, muskrat, and mice. Studies in Algonquin Provincial Park showed that three species accounted for 99% of the wolves' diet: moose (some of which is scavenged), white-tailed deer, and beaver (ca. 33% each). The wolves tend to prey more frequently on beaver in the summer, and on white-tailed deer in the winter.^{[citation needed]}

References [edit]

• Banfield, A.W.F. 1974. The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press.
• Reid, F.A. 2006. Field Guide to the Mammals of North America north of Mexico. Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin. New York.
• http://www.hww.ca/en/species/mammals/wolf.html

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Canis is a genus containing seven to 10 extant species, including dogs, wolves, coyotes, and jackals, and many extinct species.

Timeline and relationships (Tedford & Wang)

Wolves, dogs and dingos

Wolves, dogs, and dingoes are subspecies of Canis lupus. The original referent of the English word wolf, the Eurasian wolf, is called C. l. lupus to distinguish it from other wolf subspecies, such as the Indian wolf (C. l. pallipes), the Arabian wolf (C. l. arabs), or the Tibetan wolf (C. l. chanco), which are probably more similar to the variety of wolf that was ancestral to the modern dog (C. l. familiaris).

Some experts have suggested some subspecies of C. lupus be considered Canis species distinct from C. lupus. These include Central Asia's Himalayan wolf, and the Indian wolf, as well as the North America's red wolf and eastern wolf.

The dingo (C. l. dingo), from Australia, and the domestic dog (C. l. familiaris) are also considered subspecies of C. lupus, although they are not commonly referred to or thought of as "wolves".^[2]

Coyotes, jackals, and "wolves"

C. lupus is but one of many Canis species called "wolves", most of which are now extinct and little known to the general public. One of these, however, the dire wolf, has gained fame for the thousands of specimens found and displayed at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles, California.

The dire wolf is an example of the word "wolf" being applied loosely, i.e., to a canid which is not C. lupus. Other examples include Canis simensis, which has undergone many popular name changes, as its intermediate morphology had caused some to think of it as a jackal or a fox, but current taxonomic and genetic consensus is reflected in its "official name", the Ethiopian wolf.

Canis species too small to attract the word "wolf" are called coyotes in the Americas and jackals elsewhere. Although these may not be more closely related to each other than they are to C. lupus, they are, as fellow Canis species, all more closely related to wolves and domestic dogs than they are to foxes, maned wolves, or other canids which do not belong to the Canis genus. The word "jackal" is applied to three distinct species of this group: Africa's side-striped (C. adustus), black-backed (C. mesomelas), and golden (C. aureus) jackals, which can be found across northern Africa, southwestern and south-central Asia, and the Balkans.

While North America has only one small-sized species, the coyote (C. latrans), it has become very widespread indeed, moving into areas once occupied by wolves. They can be found across much of mainland Canada, in every state of the continental United States, all of Mexico except the Yucatán Peninsula, and the Pacific and central areas of Central America, ranging as far south as northern Panama.

Etymology

The name Canis means "dog" in Latin. The word "canine" comes from the adjective form, caninus ("of the dog"), from which the term canine tooth is also derived.^[3] The canine family has prominent canine teeth, used for killing their prey. The word canis is cognate to the Greek word kūon (Greek: Κύων) which means "dog".

Gallery

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  Gray wolf (Canis lupus)

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  Domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris)

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  Dingo (Canis lupus dingo) (with familiaris as "domestic dog subspecies")

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  Red wolf (Canis lupus rufus) (includes latrans admixture)

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  Eastern wolf (Canis lupus lycaon (often includes latrans admixture)

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  Dire wolf (Canis dirus) (extinct)

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  Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis)

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  Coyote (Canis latrans)

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  Golden jackal (Canis aureus)

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  Side-striped jackal (Canis adustus)

• 

  Black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas)

See also

• List of Canis species

References

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The Iranian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) and the Indian wolf (Canis indica) were for a long time thought to be the same species, but are now considered to be two different species, since the Indian wolf does not interbreed with any other wolf species. Genetic testing also indicates that the Indian wolf is a separate species from the Canis lupus pallipes found throughout the Middle East and Western Asia.^[1] It is found in Iran and southern Turkey.

References