Definition

Noun: 1. The hybrid offspring of a coyote (Canis latrans) and a domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris). This is a first-generation cross between the two species, which are closely related members of the genus Canis.

Usage

The term "coydog" is used specifically in the fields of biology, wildlife management, and zoology to describe a particular type of canid hybrid. It is a compound noun formed from "coyote" and "dog."

Examples

• Wildlife biologists confirmed that the unusual-looking canid captured on the trail camera was a coydog.
• The coydog exhibited a mix of physical traits from both parent species, with the coloration of a coyote but the larger size and build of its dog parent.
• Interbreeding between coyotes and dogs in suburban areas can lead to the birth of coydogs.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in discussions about wildlife conservation, urban ecology, and the challenges of managing hybrid populations.
• It can sometimes be used more broadly or informally to describe an animal that is a suspected hybrid, even if not genetically confirmed.

Variants and Related Words

• Coywolf (noun): A hybrid offspring of a coyote and a wolf (typically the Eastern wolf or gray wolf). This is a distinct hybrid from a coydog.
• Hybrid (noun/adjective): An animal or plant resulting from a cross between two different species, varieties, or breeds.

Synonyms

• Coyote-dog hybrid: A more descriptive, non-compound synonym.
• Canid hybrid: A broader term that could include coydogs, coywolves, or wolfdogs.

Notes on Meaning

• The term refers exclusively to the first-generation cross. Subsequent generations (e.g., a coydog breeding with another coyote or dog) are not typically called coydogs but are described as hybridized or backcrossed animals.
• "Coydog" is a single, specific concept and does not have different meanings in different contexts.

Noun

1. offspring of a coyote and a dog