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What Is the Difference Between a Wolf and a Coyote?
Mar 20, 2026 4:44 AM

  

What Is the Difference Between a Wolf and a Coyote?1

  Coyote A coyote (Canis latrans). (more) What Is the Difference Between a Wolf and a Coyote? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/science/What-Is-the-Difference-Between-a-Wolf-and-a-Coyote Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

  External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written and fact-checked by Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Oct. 10, 2025 •Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot The most obvious difference between wolves and coyotes is in their size and build. Most wolves, in particular the gray wolf (Canis lupus), are significantly larger and more robust, typically weighing between 14 and 65 kg (31 and 143 pounds) and possessing a muscular frame with long legs and large feet suited for extensive travel. In contrast, coyotes (C. latrans) are smaller and are more lightly built, weighing 9 to 23 kg (20 to 50...

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What Is the Difference Between a Wolf and a Coyote?2

  

What Is the Difference Between a Wolf and a Coyote?2

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