Why Coyotes and Gray Wolves look similar but they are different at the same time

If you see a Coyote and a Gray Wolf for the first time, you might think that they are the same animal. They might look the same but, there are a lot of things that are different about the them. These differences can be found in their behavior towards people and they’re physical features. They both have very similar fur and they also have similar body, and face. Despite they’re similarities, they are actually very different if you look closely and pay attention to the detail. This essay will help you to understand the differences between these two very similar animals. They will be compared and contrasted in taxonomy, behavior, and physical features.

Coyotes and Gray Wolves mostly have the same taxonomy. They both share the same Kingdom, Domain, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, and Genus. They’re Kingdom is Animalia, they’re Domain is Eukarya, they’re Phylum is Chordata, they’re Classis Mammalia, they’re family is Canidae, and they’re Genus is Canis. However, they seem to come apart at they’re species. The Coyote’s species is Canis latrans, but the Gray Wolf’s species is Canis lupus.

Besides having differences in Taxonomy, they also have their differences and similarities in behavior. Coyotes are very curious and very active. However, a Gray Wolf is the exact opposite of that. They are very friendly, caring, and they are also devoted to their family. They are very social beings. They get involved in groups called packs. On the other hand, in, the coyotes are not so friendly and sometimes aggressive. They are solitary and do not usually form groups. Putting away these differences, they both also share a lot of similarities in their behavior. These similarities are that they are both very intelligent, they both have the same hunting style, and they also have similar diets. They both like to hunt in the night, like a wild, silent shadow creeping in the silent night.

Lastly, they also have a lot of differences in physical features. Coyotes has a greyish-brown to yellowish-brown fur on top. They also have whitish fur on its underparts. They have a black nose, yellow eyes, and a long, bushy, runny tail. They also have very sharp teeth. Gray Wolves also have greyish-brown for their coat color, they also have a runny tail just like the Coyotes. However, Gray Wolves have buffy facial markings and undersides with color of solid white to brown or black.

Although coyotes and Gray wolves can be mistaken for the same animal at first glance, taxonomy, physical traits, and behavior can disprove this myth. While coyote is from the Canis latrans species, the Gray wolf species is Canis lupus. Coyotes have Gray-brown fur on the top, whitish fur on the bottom, they have a black nose, they have yellow eyes, a long bushy tail, a very runny tail, very sharp teeth. Gray wolves have long, bushy tails that often have black tips, the coat color is a mixture of Gray and brown face patterns, and the underside is a solid white to brown or black color. Coyotes are solitary animals, while Gray wolves come in packs and are sociable. With all these mentioned, it's better to say that coyotes and Gray wolves are actually different animals.