Clarifying historical range to aid recovery of the Mexican wolf

摘要: We assessed historical, morphological, and genetic information on the range of Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) to plan recovery this endangered subspecies. Early accounts its included Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico, southeastern Arizona, southwestern New sometimes western Texas, USA. Such are supported by ecological, physiographic, morphological data. Recent suggestions depict a more extensive northern periphery have been based primarily fragmented geographic sampling markers assumed be diagnostic at subspecies level. Some these markers, found in extant wolves, reportedly also occur few individuals far north defined early accounts. Extending historical northward would necessitate drawing that line transitions phenotype, breaks vegetation associations, barriers gene flow, differences prey base. review morphologic, genetic, ecological illustrate why such extensions not supported. The distribution likely does correspond detected certain molecular markers. should altered through identification similar habitat other locations, inadequately sampled or theoretical arguments about movement capacity. Rather, it respect original descriptions were made when animal was still present landscape, which concordant with relationships, physiography, morphology, principles population genetics. Clarifying accurately will foundational developing scientifically defensible plan. © 2017 Wildlife Society.