Coyote

The Nature of Kern County

CARNIVORES

Dogs and Foxes

Coyote

Canis latrans

by Alison Sheehey ã 1998-2008

Kingdom - ANIMALIA Phylum - CHORDATA Subphylum - VERTEBRATA Class - MAMMALIA Subclass - THERIA Order - CARNIVORA Family - CANIDAE

Genus - Canis specific epithet - latrans subspecific epithet - mearnsii (east Desert) ochropus (rest of county)

DESCRIPTION

Length – Head and body: 750-1000 mm. Tail length: 300-400 mm. Weight: males 8-20 kg, females 7-18 kg. Dental formula: i 3/3-c 1/1-p 4/4-m 2/3 x 2, Total 42. Mammae 8. Eyes: Yellow/brown. Pelage: back gray, legs tan, belly grayish white. Diet: omnivorous.

HABITAT

Common to grasslands, valley scrub, deserts, and urban settings.

RANGE

The coyote is found from Alaska to Nova Scotia and Panama. It is found in almost every habitat in Kern County.

California Ground Squirrel Coyote Deer Mouse Desert Cottontail Fox Squirrel Kit Fox Lodgepole Chipmunk Virginia Opossum San Joaquin Antelope Squirrel Kern County Mammals Kern Mammal Checklist

All text and photos copyrighted to Alison Sheehey.

No permission to use is expressed or implied.