Rafinesque's names for western American mammals, including the earliest scientific name for the coyote (Canis latrans Say, 1822), based on the apocryphal journal of Charles Le Raye

摘要: Abstract In 1817, the naturalist Constantine S. Rafinesque named nine new species of mammals from American West, indicating recently published journal Charles Le Raye as primary source for his descriptions. was purported to be a French Canadian fur trader who, captive Sioux, had traveled across broad portions Missouri and Yellowstone river drainages few years before Lewis Clark Expedition (1804–1806) traversed much same region. Raye's relied upon by generations scholars valuable documenting native peoples natural history Upper River in era just prior European settlement. Subsequent research, however, has shown that never existed, is fraudulent. Despite this, Rafinesque's creation names followed conventional accepted practice at time, they are potentially available. Fortunately, based on verifiable source...