Will's Skull Page - Coyote Skull

Canis latrans

Coyote

WILL'S SKULL PAGE

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Long-nosed North American canid. The skull can be separated from that of the wolf by the palate length/width ratio : coyote greater than 2, wolf (and most domestic dogs) less than 2.

1. Coyote skull, lateral view.

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Internet Resources

Standard references :
American Society of Mammalogists Monographs
Smithsonian / Wilson & Reeder's Taxonomic List
University of Michigan Animal Diversity Web

Other Links:
Saint Michael's College Digital Coyote - putting a large collection of coyote skulls online.

Taxonomy:
Order - Carnivora (typical carnivores)
Suborder - Caniformia (dog-like)
Family - Canidae (dogs)

Scientific Name:
Canis "dog"
latrans "barker", from the latin latro "I bark"

Dental Formula
U 3.1.4.2 L 3.1.4.3

Measurements: (defined)
Condylobasal length - 183mm
Zygomatic width - 95mm (more)

Collection Data
Stage - adult
Area collected - Kansas
Source - roadkill

Skull Measurements (defined)
(all measurements in mm)
Specimen	CB	ZW	JL	IW	PC	NL	UT	Sex	Comments
Illustrated	183	95	141	31	35	76	69