The
coyote ( or , , or ;
Canis latrans) is a
canid native to
North America. It is a smaller, more
basal animal than its close relative, the
gray wolf, being roughly the North American equivalent to the
Old World golden jackal, though it is larger and more predatory in nature. It is listed as "
least concern" by the
IUCN, on account of its wide distribution and abundance throughout North America, even southwards through
Mexico and
Central America. It is a highly versatile species, whose range has expanded amidst human environmental modification. This expansion is ongoing, and it may one day reach
South America, as shown by the animal's presence beyond the
Panama Canal in 2013. , 19 subspecies are recognized.