The red wolf (Canis lupus rufus, formerly Canis rufus) is a
North American canid which once roamed throughout the
Southeastern United States. Based on fossil and archaeological
evidence, the original red wolf range extended throughout the
Southeast, from the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, north to the Ohio
River Valley and central Pennsylvania, and west to central Texas
and southeastern Missouri. Historical habitats included forests,
swamps, and coastal prairies, where it was an apex predator. The
red wolf being morphologically midway between grey wolves and
coyotes, recent genetic research indicate it may actually be a
hybrid species. The red wolf was thought to be extinct in the
wild by 1980. 1987 saw a reintroduction in northeastern North
Carolina through a captive breeding program and the animals are
considered to be successfully breeding in the wild. The red wolf
stands about 66–79 cm (26–31 in) at the shoulder. The total
length is 111–165 cm (44–65 in) including a tail of 30–43 cm
(12–17 in). The body weight