DNA shows there is only one species of wolf in North America - the gray wolf

[OnlinePoker]

The first large study of North American wolf genomes has found that there is only one species on the continent: the gray wolf. Two other purported species, the Eastern wolf and the red wolf, are mixes of gray wolf and coyote DNA, the scientists behind the study concluded.

The finding, announced Wednesday, highlights the shortcomings of laws intended to protect endangered species, as such laws lag far behind scientific research into the evolution of species.

The gray wolf and red wolf were listed as endangered in the lower 48 states under the Endangered Species Act in the 1970s and remain protected today, to the periodic consternation of ranchers and agricultural interests.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/28/science/red-eastern-gray-wolves.html

[LWolf]

1. If

they are closely enough related for interbreeding, and it occurs naturally, are they "hybrids" or something else? I guess I've always thought of "hybrids" as planned, controlled breedings. I guess I'm wrong.

And does it matter? If a kind of creature is endangered, isn't it endangered whether or not it is a product of inter-species breeding?

Interesting article.

[OnlinePoker]

2. The way I see it, this is one way new species evolve

Interbreeding with close genetic cousins to fill a biological niche seems to have happened in this case.

[LWolf]

3. Yes. nt