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Distinct Genetic Lineage of Southeastern Canadian Wolves

In the southeastern region of Canada, wolf and coyote populations have long been a source of intrigue due to their uncertain origins and genetic ties. A recent study sheds light on the evolutionary journey of North American wolves, a topic that has sparked discussions among taxonomists and conservationists.

The identity of these canids (a family that includes coyotes, foxes, jackals, wolves, and domestic dogs) in eastern Canada has been a subject of controversy. It remains unclear whether they constitute a unique species or are hybrids of coyotes and gray wolves, as per EurekAlert.

In Canada, some recognize the eastern wolf, also known as the Algonquin wolf, as a separate species based on genetic and behavioral research. The eastern wolves are classified as “Special Concern” under Canada’s federal Species at Risk Act.

The study was published in Molecular Biology and Evolution by Oxford University Press.

Eastern wolves diverged from gray wolves approximately 67,000 years ago While earlier research has highlighted the uniqueness of eastern wolves compared to coyotes and gray wolves in Canada, the provincial government currently classifies them as a single species within their primary habitat in central Ontario.

Scientists sequenced the genomes of 25 animals of unknown origin and with varying levels of recent hybridization, representing all wolf-like canids in Canada. The analysis revealed that wolves residing in the Great Lakes area of southeastern Canada have distinct genetic traits compared to other regional canids. The findings suggest that eastern wolves diverged from gray wolves around 67,000 years ago.

Eastern wolves may have interbred with animals like coyotes and gray wolves Researchers in Canada theorize that eastern wolves interbred with animals such as coyotes approximately 37,000 years ago and continue to crossbreed with both coyotes and gray wolves.

“This paper addresses crucial evolutionary queries among North American wolf-like canids and also offers data of direct and practical significance,” stated the study’s lead author, Christopher Kyle.

Image credit: Dave Ciufo/Molecular Biology and Evolution/EurekAlert

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