What is the Evolutionary History of the Red Wolf

Question

What is the evolutionary history of the red wolf?
A) The red wolf (Canis rufus) was always a species and evolved independently from Canis lupis as a result of geographic isolation when humans modified the landscape.
B) The red wolf (Canis rufus) was always a species and evolved independently from Canis latrans as a result of geographic isolation when humans modified the landscape
C) The red wolf (Canis rufus) was never a species that evolved independently. It is a hybrid Canis rufus and C. latrans.
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The red wolf (Canis rufus) is not a distinct species, but is rather a hybrid of grey wolves (Canis lupus) and coyotes (Canis latrans). This hybridization occurred as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation caused by human activities, leading to population mixing and interbreeding between the two species. While red wolves were once considered a separate species, genetic analysis has shown that they are not distinct enough from coyotes or grey wolves to warrant separate species status.