There is only one Canis Rufus, and this is him
“Canid hybrids are the result of interbreeding between different species of the canine (dog) family (genus Canis). They often occur in the wild, in particular between domestic or feral dogs and wild native canids.[1]
The wolf-like canids are a group of large carnivores that are genetically closely related because their chromosomes number 78. The group includes genus Canis, Cuon and Lycaon.
The members are the dog (C. lupus familiaris), gray wolf (C. lupus), coyote (C. latrans), golden jackal (C. aureus), Ethiopian wolf (C. simensis), black-backed jackal (C. mesomelas), side-striped jackal (C. adustus), dhole (Cuon alpinus), and African wild dog (Lycaon pictus).[2]
Newly proposed members include the red wolf (Canis rufus), eastern wolf (Canis lycaon), and African golden wolf (C. anthus).
As they possess 78 chromosomes, all members of the genus Canis (coyotes, wolves, jackals) are karyologically indistinguishable from each other, and from the dhole and the African hunting dog.[3][4]:p279 The members of Canis can potentially interbreed.[5]
When the differences in number and arrangement of chromosomes is too great, hybridization becomes less and less likely. The wolf, dingo, dog, coyote, and golden jackal all have 78 chromosomes arranged in 39 pairs.[6] This allows them to hybridize freely (barring size or behavioral constraints) and produce fertile offspring. There are two exceptions: the side-striped jackal and black-backed jackal.[7]
Although these two theoretically could interbreed with each other to produce fertile offspring, it appears they cannot hybridize successfully with the rest of the genus Canis.
A study of the maternal mitochondrial DNA of the black-backed jackal could find no evidence of genotypes from the most likely mates - the side-striped jackal nor the golden jackal - indicating that male black-backed jackals had not bred with these.[8] There is no evidence that the African wild dog hybridizes with any of them.[9]
Other members of the wider dog family, the Canidae, such as South American canids, true foxes, bat-eared foxes, or raccoon dogs which diverged seven to ten million years ago, are less closely related to and cannot hybridize with the wolf-like canids[6] because the red fox has 34 metacentric chromosomes and from 0 to 8 small B chromosomes,[10] the raccoon dog has 42 chromosomes, and the fennec fox has 64 chromosomes.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canid_hybrid
thanks for the info. rather more than I was expecting, but hey! learn something new everyday. LOL
There are increasing reports of a cross-breed of wolf/coyote called Coywolf in Eastern Canada and I think coming down into the states. It is smart and doesn’t seem to be afraid of people.
You’re right. In the Southern Tier of NY state we’ve been experience the same type of thing. Seems the Eastern Coyote has crossed with either a wolf, or large domestic dog. I’ve shot two that weighed over 120 lbs., each. I’ve talked to the DEC and they claim they’re hybrid coyotes. Some call the coy-dogs.
Seems that there are times they’re not shy and out during the day.