MAMMALS OF MARYLAND 



131 



FiGUEE 44. — Distribution of Canis latrans. 



Distribution in Maryland, — May be expected anywhere in the State. 

 See discussion in Remarks section. 



Distinguishing characteristics. — Teeth 3/3, 1/1, 4/4, 2/3, = 42; 

 closely resembles a small poUce dog, but with shorter legs, a bushier 

 tail, and a more slender muzzle. Some feral dogs are so similar to 

 coyotes that it is a difficult task for even an expert to distinguish them. 

 The problem is further compounded because the coyote and dog may 

 interbreed in the wild, although authentic reports of such crosses are 

 scarce. There does not appear to be any certain way to distinguish 

 coyote-dog hybrids from pure domestic dogs. 



The coyote is grayish in coloration, and the dorsal hairs are tipped 

 with black. There is a rusty or yellowish tint on the neck and along 

 the sides, particularly on the flanks. The head is grizzled gray ; the ears 

 brownish. The feet are fulvous, and the throat and belly white. Since 

 some domestic dogs may be similar to this in coloration, it is sometimes 

 necessary to examine the skull to determine the species of the animal 

 in question. The most important cranial difference between the two 

 is that in the coyote the frontal region of the skull is always flattened, 

 whereas in the dog it bulges to some degree. In some varieties of domes- 

 tic dog this bulge is quite pronounced, in others it is less so, but it is 

 generally more developed than in the coyote. The second most notice- 

 able difference is found in the rostrum, which is slender and elongated 



