Editing Coywolf (section)

====Mexican wolf × coyote hybrids====
In a study that analyzed the molecular genetics of coyotes, as well as samples of historical red wolves and [[Mexican wolf|Mexican wolves]] from Texas, a few coyote genetic markers have been found in the historical samples of some isolated Mexican wolf individuals. Likewise, gray wolf Y chromosomes have also been found in a few individual male Texan coyotes.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0003333 |pmid=18841199 |pmc=2556088 |year=2008 |last1=Hailer |first1=F. |last2=Leonard |first2=J.A. |title=Hybridization among three native North American ''Canis'' species in a region of natural sympatry |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=3 |issue=10 |pages=e3333 |bibcode=2008PLoSO...3.3333H|doi-access=free }}</ref> This study suggested that although the Mexican wolf is generally less prone to hybridizations with coyotes, exceptional genetic exchanges with the Texan coyotes may have occurred among individual gray wolves from historical remnants before the population was completely extirpated in Texas. The resulting hybrids would later on melt back into the coyote populations as the wolves disappeared. 

The same study discussed an alternative possibility that the red wolves, which also once overlapped with both species in central Texas, were involved in circuiting the gene flows between the coyotes and gray wolves, much like how the eastern wolf is suspected to have bridged gene flows between gray wolves and coyotes in the Great Lakes region, since direct hybridizations between coyotes and gray wolves is considered rare.

In tests performed on a stuffed carcass of what was initially labelled a [[chupacabra]], mitochondrial DNA analysis conducted by [[Texas State University]] showed that it was a coyote, though subsequent tests revealed that it was a coyote × gray wolf hybrid sired by a male Mexican wolf.<ref>{{cite news |author=Ardizzoni, S. |date=September 1, 2013 |url=http://bionews-tx.com/news/2013/09/01/texas-state-university-researcher-helps-unravel-mystery-of-texas-blue-dog-claimed-to-be-chupacabra/ |title=Texas State University researcher helps unravel mystery of Texas 'blue dog' claimed to be Chupacabra |website=Bio News Texas |access-date=January 23, 2014 |archive-date=March 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319203625/http://bionews-tx.com/news/2013/09/01/texas-state-university-researcher-helps-unravel-mystery-of-texas-blue-dog-claimed-to-be-chupacabra/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>