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Coyote - CANIS LATRANS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Coyote": "Coyote" is from the Mexican Nahuatl word "coyotl."
Location: Central America to Alaska.
Habitat: Terrestrial. Plains and open country.
Description: The coyote is similar in appearance to the gray wolf. The color and texture of the coat varies geographically. Northern coyotes have thicker fur, and black patches may be found on the front of the forelimbs and near the base and tip of the tail. The ears are longer than those of the wolf. Length is 40 to 54 inches with the tail adding about 16 more inches. It weighs between 33 and 44 pounds.
Behavior: The coyote eats a varied diet including small rodents, rabbits, carrion, and small domestic animals. They live normally alone or in pairs. Occasionally, they live in large groups, but there is no evidence of them hunting in packs. Coyotes communicate with each other by sound, sight and even taste. Like the other members of the family of dogs and jackals, the coyote uses feces and urine as signals to mark its territory. It is very active, especially in the early evening and in winter.
Reproduction: Mating occurs from January through March, and after a gestation period of about 60 days, an average of six young are born in a den usually dug by the female. The young are blind and defenseless at birth, and emerge from the burrow after two or three weeks. They nurse between five and seven weeks, and are completely independent by nine months of age. Coyotes reach sexual maturity in their second year of life.
Go to the Carnivora Page to learn more about all the meat-eating animals.
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