Giles: Multivariate Analysis of Pleistocene and Recent Coyotes 



385 



It is quite clear that these two groups form a single, well-delimited statistical 

 population; it seems equally clear that no taxonomic distinction should be made 

 between them. This evidence parallels the final conclusions reached by Schultz 

 (1938) after a study of the skeleton of the animals from McKittrick. 



The Rancho La Brea Coyote evinces a greater similarity to the Mountain Coyote, 

 Canis latrans lestes, a northern form, than it does to the coyote, C. I. ochropus, 

 living in the Rancho La Brea region today. Although the similarity of C. I. orcutti 

 to the Mountain Coyote may suggest changing climate, it should be borne in mind 

 that the distinction between California Valley and Mountain coyotes is slight. 



C.L. LESTES 



C.L. MEARNSI 

 C. L. OCHROPUS 



C.L. MEARNSI 



C. L. OCHROPUS 



Fig. 2. Approximate D distance for 

 three Recent coyote subspecies, based 

 on male crania. 



C. L.ORCUTT! 



Fig. 3. Approximate D distance for 

 four coyote subspecies, based on crania 

 of both sexes. 



In borderline cases like that of Canis latrans ochropus and C. I. lestes, the sensi- 

 tivity of the different samples measured becomes apparent. The test made from 

 crania of males shows a significant difference between ochropus and lestes at the 

 5 per cent level. The test made utilizing male and female specimens is almost but 

 not quite significant at the same level. The mandibular test, employing both sexes 

 and only five instead of eight measurements, is not significant. 



Table 5 makes clear that the distinction among the Recent coyote subspecies is 

 considerably less than that between Canis latrans orcutti and any one of them. 

 Since all three of the Recent subspecies listed there are well-defined and generally 

 accepted, the Rancho La Brea Coyote should clearly be given at least subspecific 

 status. 



Canis lepophagus, from Texas Blancan, is represented by so few specimens that 

 conclusions about its taxonomic status must be very tentative. The evidence would 

 suggest, however, that although C. lepophagus is not specifically distinct from the 

 coyotes it is quite probably subspecifically distinct from any one of them, and it 

 has greater affinity to the larger of the Recent coyotes than to the California Late 

 Pleistocene variety. 



