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Animal World
Gray Wolf — photograph 1
📷 Wikimedia Commons · Free License
IUCN: Least Concern

Gray Wolf

Canis lupus

KingdomAnimalia›PhylumChordata›ClassMammalia›OrderCarnivora›FamilyCanidae›GenusCanis
About

The wolf, also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of Canis lupus have been recognized, including the dog and dingo, though grey wolves, as popularly understood, include only naturally occurring wild subspecies. The wolf is the largest wild extant member of the family Canidae, and is further distinguished from other Canis species by its less pointed ears and muzzle, as well as a shorter torso and a longer tail.

The wolf is nonetheless related closely enough to smaller Canis species, such as the coyote and the golden jackal, to produce fertile hybrids with them. The wolf's fur is usually mottled white, brown, grey, and black, although subspecies in the arctic region may be nearly all white.

Key Facts
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Habitat
Forests, tundra, mountains, grasslands, and deserts
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Diet
Carnivore — deer, moose, elk, bison, smaller mammals
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Size & Weight
Body 100–160 cm; weight 30–80 kg
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Lifespan
6–8 years wild; up to 16 in captivity
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Range
North America, Europe, Asia
MammalCanine
Photo Credits
#1Wikimedia Commons · Free License
#2Gary Kramer · Public domain
#3Fool4myCanon · CC BY 2.0
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