Yes, coyotes can be black. While the typical coyote displays a mottled coat of gray, brown, and tan, the black variant is a rare but recurring sight, particularly in certain regions of North America. These dark-coated individuals are not a separate species or subspecies; they are genetically identical to their lighter counterparts, differing only in the genes that control their fur color.
Understanding Melanism in Canids
The biological phenomenon responsible for a coyote’s black coat is known as melanism. This condition is defined by an overproduction of dark pigment, specifically eumelanin, which results in a smoky or jet black coat. Standard coyote coloration involves a mixture of two pigment types: eumelanin for black and brown shades, and phaeomelanin for red and yellow shades.
In melanistic coyotes, the genetic machinery favors the dark pigment, causing the dense, dark fur to dominate the animal’s appearance. This inherited trait differs from the typical agouti pattern that gives most canids their characteristic grizzled hair.
The Genetic Legacy of Hybridization
The specific mutation responsible for the black coat color is located on the K locus, a region of the genome controlling pigmentation. This gene variant, known as the \(K^B\) allele, functions as a dominant switch, instructing hair follicles to produce maximum eumelanin.
Scientific analysis suggests this dominant black gene did not originate within the coyote lineage. Instead, the \(K^B\) allele was likely introduced through ancient hybridization events with other canids. The mutation is thought to have first arisen in domestic dogs and was then passed to North American gray wolves through interbreeding.
The gene eventually made its way into coyotes, particularly in the eastern part of the continent, through hybridization with these wolves or with the now-extinct red wolf. This genetic flow is a record of historical interspecies breeding, a common occurrence within the Canis genus. The presence of the dominant \(K^B\) allele effectively overrides the genes for the typical gray-brown coat, resulting in the solid black coloration.
Where Black Coyotes Are Most Common
Black coyotes are not evenly distributed across North America and remain rare, making up less than 1% of the overall population. However, their frequency is noticeably higher in the Southeastern United States, particularly across states like North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. This concentration aligns geographically with the former range of the red wolf and historical areas of extensive coyote-wolf hybridization.
In these regions, the percentage of melanistic individuals can rise significantly, sometimes reaching 5% to 8% of the local population. The dark coloration is thought to persist due to the dense canopy cover found in coastal bottomland forests and wetlands, offering better camouflage from both prey and human hunters.