In the face of a deadly disease, the color of your coat could be the difference between life and death—at least if you’re a wolf. Despite the common name “gray wolf,” North American wolves (Canis lupus) actually vary in coloration, with two primary fur colors: gray and black. And as it turns out, the mutation that gives the animals black coats also makes them more likely to survive an infection of canine distemper virus. According to a study published today (October 20) in Science, the tendency of black wolves to mate with gray ones and vice versa is critical to the populations’ stability.
“It really is a fascinating story of evolutionary ecology,” says Adam Boyko, a canine geneticist at Cornell University who wasn’t involved in the work, applauding the study’s exploration of pathogens and evolution. University of Minnesota ecologist Joseph Bump, who also did not participate in the research, also ...
