Early Wednesday afternoon, Ralph and Cynthia DeFelice saw and photographed a coyote swimming between two of the Elizabeth islands.

In an email to the Gazette, the DeFelices said they spotted the swimming coyote at around 1 p.m. in Robinson’s Hole, between Pasque and Naushon.

Edgartown wildlife expert Gus Ben David positively identified the image as a healthy coyote.

“That’s a beautiful example of a Canis latrans,” Mr. BenDavid said, using the scientific name for coyote, which in Latin means barking dog.

Mr. BenDavid said swimming coyotes are not an uncommon sight around the Elizabeth islands.

“We know they do that,” he said.