Gray Wolf

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Gray wolf

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Wolf" redirects here. For other uses of "wolf" or "wolves", see Wolf (disambiguation).

"Gray Wolves" and "She-wolf" redirect here. For other uses, see Gray Wolves (disambiguation) and She-wolf (disambiguation).

Gray wolf

Temporal range: Middle Pleistocene–Recent |

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Eurasian wolf (Canis lupus lupus). |

Conservation status |

Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] |

Scientific classification |

Kingdom: | Animalia |

Phylum: | Chordata |

Class: | Mammalia |

Order: | Carnivora |

Family: | Canidae |

Subfamily: | Caninae |

Tribe: | Canini |

Genus: | Canis |

Species: | C. lupus |

Binomial name |

Canis lupus

Linnaeus, 1758[2] |

Subspecies |

Numerous and disputed, seeSubspecies of Canis lupus |

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Historical (red) and modern (green) range of C. lupus (not including the newly discovered wolf populations in Ethiopia, Egypt, Senegal, Mali and Algeria) |

Gray wolf in a European forest

The gray wolf or grey wolf (Canis lupus[a]) also known as the timber wolf,[3][4] or western wolf,[b] is a canid native to the wilderness and remote areas of North America, Eurasia, and northern, eastern and western Africa. It is the largest extant member of its family, with males averaging 43–45 kg (95–99 lb), and females 36–38.5 kg (79–85 lb).[6] Like the red wolf, it is distinguished from other Canis species by its larger size and less pointed features, particularly on the ears and muzzle.[7] Its winter fur is long and bushy, and predominantly a mottled gray in color, although nearly pure white, red, or brown to black also occur.[4] As of 2005,[8] 37 subspecies of C. lupus are recognised byMSW3. The nominate subspecies is the Eurasian wolf (Canis lupus lupus),[9] also known as the common wolf.[10]

The gray wolf is the second most specialised member of the genus Canis, after the Ethiopian wolf, as demonstrated by its morphologicaladaptations to hunting...