title: Ancient hybrid origin of the eastern wolf not yet off the table: a comment on Rutledge et al. (2015).
abstract: A recent study of North American canids by Rutledge et al. (Biol. Lett. 11, 20150303 (doi:10.1098/rsbl.2015.0303)) refutes the hypothesized hybrid origin of the eastern wolf (EW) based on genomic evidence against very recent hybridization. However, the analyses do not rule out the possibility of more ancient hybridization. Claims to have resolved the evolutionary origin of the EW are therefore inappropriate. Importantly, though, we plead that uncertainty about the ancient history of the taxon should not affect current conservation policy.
authors: Institute of Zoology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors: Kristina M
authors: 0000-0001-8108-8339
authors: KM
authors: Sefc
authors: Institute of Zoology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria stephan.koblmueller@uni-graz.at.
authors: Stephan
authors: 0000-0002-1024-3220
authors: S
authors: Koblmüller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D046029:Coyotes / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D019596:Wolves / Q000235:genetics*
keywords: Canis lycaon; canidae; coyote; eastern wolf; hybridization