Mitochondrial DNA Variation in Southeastern Pre-Columbian Canids

The Journal of Heredity
Kristin E BrzeskiSabrina S Taylor

Abstract

The taxonomic status of the red wolf (Canis rufus) is heavily debated, but could be clarified by examining historic specimens from the southeastern United States. We analyzed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 3 ancient (350-1900 year olds) putative wolf samples excavated from middens and sinkholes within the historic red wolf range. We detected 3 unique mtDNA haplotypes, which grouped with the coyote mtDNA clade, suggesting that the canids inhabiting southeastern North America prior to human colonization from Europe were either coyotes, which would vastly expand historic coyote distributions, an ancient coyote-wolf hybrid, or a North American evolved red wolf lineage related to coyotes. Should the red wolf prove to be a distinct species, our results support the idea of either an ancient hybrid origin for red wolves or a shared common ancestor between coyotes and red wolves.

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Citations

Feb 9, 2020·The Journal of Heredity·Bridgett M vonHoldt, Matthew L Aardema
Dec 14, 2018·Genes·Elizabeth HeppenheimerBridgett M vonHoldt
Jun 12, 2018·The Journal of Heredity·Robin S WaplesL Scott Mills
Jul 15, 2021·Ecology and Evolution·Paul J Wilson, Linda Y Rutledge

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