- Newfoundland Wolf
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Newfoundland Wolf Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Canidae Genus: Canis Species: C. lupus Subspecies: C. l. beothucus Trinomial name Canis lupus beothucus
Allen & Barbour, 1937The Newfoundland wolf (Canis lupus beothucus) was a subspecies of the gray wolf, Canis lupus, which existed on the island of Newfoundland off the east coast of Canada. This extinct wolf was said to have been a large, white animal with a black stripe down its spine.
Recently, coyotes, (Canis latrans) or eastern coyotes from mainland Canada[1] have filled the niche formerly occupied by the Newfoundland wolf.
History
European settlers were quick to view the wolf as a cattle killer, and so set out to destroy the island population by setting a bounty on the animal. On September 14, 1839, the colonial government proclaimed a wolf bounty of five pounds. Hunting, trapping and vigorous predator control methods quickly reduced the wolf population on the island. This, combined with a reported caribou population decline, seem the most likely causes of the wolf's demise. By 1911 the last wild wolf was shot, although the official extinction is dated 1930.
The subspecies was not formally described until after its extinction. Appropriately, its scientific name means "Beothuk Wolf"—after the Native American inhabitants of Newfoundland (the Beothuk) who are likewise extinct.
External links
References
- ^ "Coyotes on the island of Newfoundland". Archived from the original on 2007-10-31. http://web.archive.org/web/20071031015946/http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/wildlife/publications/coyotenews2.pdf. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
Categories:- Extinct carnivorans
- Fauna of Newfoundland
- Mammal extinctions since 1500
- Wolves
- Extinct mammals of North America
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