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Assessing the Taxonomic Status of the Red Wolf and the Mexican Gray Wolf

Completed

An expert committee will analyze the scientific literature to answer the following two questions:
1. Is the Red wolf a taxonomically valid species?
2. Is the Mexican gray wolf a taxonomically valid subspecies?

The committee will summarize the relevant science about the Red wolf and Mexican gray wolf, including research on the animals’ evolutionary history and genetic diversity.

Description

At the request of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will appoint an ad hoc committee to conduct an independent analysis of scientific literature to answer the following two questions:

1. Is the Red wolf a taxonomically valid species?

2. Is the Mexican gray wolf a taxonomically valid subspecies?

The committee will summarize the relevant science about the Red wolf and Mexican gray wolf, including research on the animals’ evolutionary history and genetic diversity. The committee will deliver its findings and conclusions in a brief report divided into two sections, one for the red wolf and one for the Mexican gray wolf.

Collaborators

Committee

Chair

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Member

Keegan Sawyer

Staff Officer

Sponsors

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Staff

Keegan Sawyer

Lead

Camilla Yandoc Ables

Lead

Jenna Briscoe

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