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Wolf-like canids

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The sources used are:

* Wilson, P.J., Grewal, S., Lawford, I.D., Heal, J.N.M., Granacki, A.G., Pennock, D., Theberge, J.B., Theberge, M.T., Voigt, D.R., Waddell, W., Chambers, R.E., Paquet, P.C., Goulet, G., Cluff, D., White, B.N. (2000). "DNA profiles of the eastern Canadian wolf and the red wolf provide evidence for a common evolutionary history independent of the gray wolf". Canadian Journal of Zoology 78: 2156–2166.

*
Lindblad-Toh, K.; Wade, CM; Mikkelsen, TS; Karlsson, EK; Jaffe, DB; Kamal, M; Clamp, M; Chang, JL et al. (2005). "Genome sequence, comparative analysis and haplotype structure of the domestic dog". Nature 438 (7069): 803–819.

I did this piece in order to clarify the relationships between Canis species capable of hybridizing, hence why I omitted Canis mesomelas and Canis adustus, which are too basal to reproduce with any of the above shown species. One thing that I hope should become immediately apparent in this piece is the fact that the term "wolf" is taxonomically meaningless. For example, simensis is usually considered a "legitimate" wolf, yet aureus is more closely related to lupus than simensis is, yet it is classed as a "jackal" (an equally meaningless term from a genetic standpoint). Furthermore, latrans is also far more closely related to lupus than simensis is, yet it is termed "coyote", and isn't usually included as much in wolf fansites or organisations. Yet more confusion stems from lycaon and rufus. Assuming that they are in fact distinct species, the phylogenetic tree makes it clear that they branched off from the same lineage as latrans, not lupus, yet they are in turn called "eastern wolf" and "red wolf" respectively.

So, what do aureus and latrans have in common that excludes them from the "legitimate" wolves by laypeople and wolfaboos? Perhaps they are doing too well from a conservation point of view to warrant the PR boost that the name "wolf" usually gives a species. Would people care more about coyotes and golden jackals if they retained their less common names of "prarie wolf" and "reed wolf"? I think they would, considering some self-proclaimed armchair "wolf experts" on the internet exclude these two species, yet include completely unrelated animals (outside the genus Canis) like the maned wolf or Falkland Island wolf.

EDIT: THIS PHYLOGENETIC TREE IS OUT OF DATE. Red/Eastern wolves are hybrids between grey wolves and coyotes, and the wolf/coyote split occurred 6,000, 117,000 years ago, not 1-2 Million years ago. See advances.sciencemag.org/conten…
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OddDoggo123's avatar
Soo which one gave us dogs?