Evaluating the Taxonomic Status of the Mexican Gray Wolf and the Red Wolf
2019

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Scientists strive to develop clear rules for naming and grouping living organisms. But taxonomy, the scientific study of biological classification and evolution, is often highly debated. Members of a species, the fundamental unit of taxonomy and evolution, share a common evolutionary history and a common evolutionary path to the future. Yet, it can be difficult to determine whether the evolutionary history or future of a population is sufficiently distinct to designate it as a unique species.

A species is not a fixed entity — the relationship among the members of the same species is only a snapshot of a moment in time. Different populations of the same species can be in different stages in the process of species formation or dissolution. In some cases hybridization and introgression can create enormous challenges in interpreting data on genetic distinctions between groups. Hybridization is far more common in the evolutionary history of many species than previously recognized. As a result, the precise taxonomic status of an organism may be highly debated. This is the current case with the Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) and the red wolf (Canis rufus), and this report assesses the taxonomic status for each.

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Press Release
Committee Meeting #1 Videos
Committee Meeting #2 Videos
Report Release Slides
Evaluating the Taxonomic Status of the Mexican Gray Wolf and the Red Wolf: Spanish-Language Summary
Genomic Processes in Hybridization

Publication information

104 pages · 7 x 10 · paperback
ISBN Paperback: 0-309-48824-9
ISBN Ebook: 0-309-48825-7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17226/25351

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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2019. Evaluating the Taxonomic Status of the Mexican Gray Wolf and the Red Wolf. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

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Front Matter i-xiv
Summary 1-6
1 Introduction 7-16
2 Guiding Principles for Identifying Species and Subspecies 17-28
3 Using Genes and Genomes to Identify Species and Subspecies 29-40
4 Is the Mexican Gray Wolf a Valid Subspecies? 41-50
5 Is the Red Wolf a Valid Taxonomic Species? 51-72
Glossary 73-78
Appendix A: Open Session Meeting Agendas 79-82
Appendix B: List of Webinars and Solicited Expert Input 83-84
Appendix C: Biographical Sketches of Committee Members and Staff 85-90

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Evaluating the Taxonomic Status of the Mexican Gray Wolf and the Red Wolf (2019)

Chapter: 3 Using Genes and Genomes to Identify Species and Subspecies

Additional materials

Publication information

Suggested citation

My Academies

Evaluating the Taxonomic Status of the Mexican Gray Wolf and the Red Wolf (2019)

Chapter: 3 Using Genes and Genomes to Identify Species and Subspecies