# What is this dead animal? Warning: Graphic image. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2019, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-dead-animal-warning-graphic-image/834933 "2019-06-03T00:15:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-dead-animal-warning-graphic-image/834933/1 "2019-06-03T00:15:14Z")
This picture was posted on Facebook. It was taken in southwest Oklahoma. I would guess some kind of canine but the head doesn’t look right. Warning: It’s partially decomposed. [https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190603/894dac00b02ca656b34f7ef7656cc55d.jpg](https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190603/894dac00b02ca656b34f7ef7656cc55d.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-dead-animal-warning-graphic-image/834933/2 "2019-06-03T00:22:17Z")
Most likely a coyote or dog. The fleshy part of the nose has pulled away from the bone. Here’s a coyote skull image for comparison: [https://previews.123rf.com/images/megasquib/megasquib0612/megasquib061200021/700883-coyote-skull-isolation-on-black.jpg](https://previews.123rf.com/images/megasquib/megasquib0612/megasquib061200021/700883-coyote-skull-isolation-on-black.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-dead-animal-warning-graphic-image/834933/3 "2019-06-03T00:25:01Z")
It’s a dog. IMO ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-dead-animal-warning-graphic-image/834933/4 "2019-06-03T00:27:51Z")
The [red wolf](https://www.skullsunlimited.com/products/replica-red-wolf-skull-bc-147) is also found in Oklahoma. (And [here](https://www.skullsunlimited.com/products/gray-wolf-skull-sm-495-c?variant=43279085902) is a grey wolf skull, which has better views.) Looks like maybe some of the teeth are missing or worn down in the OP photo? ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-dead-animal-warning-graphic-image/834933/5 "2019-06-03T15:37:12Z")
Chupacabra? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-dead-animal-warning-graphic-image/834933/6 "2019-06-03T18:34:34Z")
Where wolf? There wolf. ---
**Author:** ![garxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@garxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garxie)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-dead-animal-warning-graphic-image/834933/7 "2019-06-03T20:26:26Z")
If it’s a female, could be a She-wolf. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-dead-animal-warning-graphic-image/834933/8 "2019-06-04T01:08:40Z")
The reason it’s almost certainly not a gray wolf or red wolf isn’t due to anatomy, it’s just due to demographics. Both types of wolves are extremely rare compared to coyotes and even more rare compared to dogs. So just playing the odds, if you come across a medium size canid skeleton, it’s not going to be a wolf. When you hear hoofbeats think horses, not escaped zebras.