Historical and present distribution of coyote (Canis latrans) in Mexico and Central America

Abstract

Aim Coyote (Canis latrans) distribution in Mexico and Central America has expanded recently reaching the Yucatan peninsula, Belize and Panama, probably promoted by deforestation of tropical areas. Historically, the southern distribution of coyotes prior to European settlement in America was described as reaching only as far south as central Mexico and that introduction of livestock favoured migration of coyotes to southern Mexico and Central America. However, coyote fossil records in Central America and Yucatan, as well as observational records of travellers during the sixteenth century suggest that the coyote's arrival to the region was earlier. Because of the uncertainty of past coyote distribution and the possible economic and ecological impacts due to recent range expansion, the objectives of this study were to confirm if paleontological and historical evidence support the hypothesis that the southernmost limit of coyote distribution before the arrival of European settlers was the centre of Mexico, to discuss the possible factors that have influenced historical shifts in coyote distribution, and to model the present distribution of the coyote in Mexico and Central America, determining the areas where they could invade in the near future.

Disease: A Hitherto Unexplored Constraint on the Spread of Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) in Pre-Columbian South America

“…1) and it was completely absent from Central and South America. Coyotes extended a few hundred kilometres further south: archaeological evidence definitely places them in Belize before Columbus, and historical records indicate that they were either already present, or expanded very quickly, as far south as Nicaragua and Costa Rica by the end of the sixteenth century, with further spread occurring during the twentieth century (Hidalgo-Mihart et al 2004). Like wolves, however, coyotes did not occur in South America.…”

Coyotes (Canis latrans) in Guatemala

“…Extensive deforestation of much of southern Mexico and Central America, since the arrival of Europeans, probably has increased the available suitable habitat for coyotes. Because coyotes tend to occupy open areas rather than forests (Young and Jackson, 1951;Hidalgo-Mihart et al, 2004;Ceballos and Oliva, 2005) Hidalgo -Mihart et al (2004-Mihart et al ( :2037-Mihart et al ( -2038 recorded specimens do not, to our knowledge, have actual specimens associated with them. Three of these localities, northeast of Guatemala City, Quetzaltenango, and Cuchumatanes (5Sierra de los Cuchumatanes), were described by C. O. Handley, Jr., directly to Young (Young and Jackson, 1951) based upon Handley's fieldwork in Guatemala during 1947.…”

“…However, Hidalgo-Mihart et al (2004) presented convincing paleontological evidence that coyotes have been in southern Mexico and most of Central America prior to arrival of Europeans in the 15 th Century. Extensive deforestation of much of southern Mexico and Central America, since the arrival of Europeans, probably has increased the available suitable habitat for coyotes.…”

“…Its range extends from the Pacific to Atlantic Oceans and from Alaska to Panama (Young and Jackson, 1951;Bekoff, 1977;Hall, 1981;Méndez et al, 1981;Wozencraft, 2005). Its distribution in Central America and Mexico was summarized recently by Hidalgo-Mihart et al (2004). Records cited for Guatemala were based upon visual and auditory observations and there was no known specimen of the coyote recorded in any collections (T. J.…”

Large Mammal Use of Seminatural Grasslands and Implications for Aviation Strike Risk

“…Greater small mammal diversity and abundance in native warm-season grasses could suggest greater prey availability for predators like coyotes. Coyotes are omnivorous, so animal prey availability is but one of many factors that influence their use of an area (Chamberlain and Leopold 1999;Fedriani et al 2001;Hidalgo-Mihart et al 2004;Randa and Yunger 2006;Randa et al 2009). …”