Coyote vs Wolf
The wolf is heavier: 32.2 kg against 13.4 kg for the coyote, about 2.4 times the weight.
Photo: Yathin S Krishnappa · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: User:Mas3cf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
What is the difference between a coyote and a wolf?
Each point below is worked out from a pair of recorded values.
- The wolf is heavier: 32.2 kg against 13.4 kg for the coyote, about 2.4 times the weight.
- The wolf is longer-lived: 29.5 years against 21.8 years for the coyote, about 35% longer.
- Both belong to the genus Canis, so they are close relatives.
- Both are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Side by side
| Coyote | Wolf | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Canis latrans | Canis lupus |
| Family | Canidae | Canidae |
| Order | Carnivora | Carnivora |
| Weight | 10.6 kg – 13.4 kg | 21 kg – 32.2 kg |
| Length | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Lifespan | 21.8 years – 21.8 years | 20 years – 29.5 years |
| Main food | antelope jackrabbit, arvicolinae, beaver, bighorn sheep, canada goose, carrion and 36 more | apple, arvicolinae, berry, bird, bison, carrion and 30 more |
| Habitat | Not recorded | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Countries recorded | Not recorded | 1 |
A scale drawing needs a recorded length for both animals; only weights are on record for this pair.