Gray Wolf
Canis lupus · Animal
The gray wolf is the largest wild member of the dog family. Living in family packs, wolves hunt cooperatively across forests, tundra and mountains, and are the wild ancestor of the domestic dog.
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Canis lupus
- Kind
- Animal
- Conservation status
- Least Concern (IUCN LC)
- Habitat
- Forest · Tundra · Grassland · Mountains
- Range
- North America & Eurasia
- Size
- 1–1.6 m long (body)
- Weight
- 30–80 kg
- Lifespan
- 6–8 years in the wild
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Activity
- Crepuscular · lives in packs
- Population
- Stable globally (IUCN)
Diet
Packs hunt large hoofed mammals such as deer, elk and moose, and also eat smaller animals and carrion.
Behavior
A pack is usually a breeding pair and their offspring. Wolves communicate with howls, body language and scent, and can travel tens of kilometres in a day.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Carnivora
- Family
- Canidae
- Genus
- Canis
- Species
- C. lupus
Conservation
Wolves were eliminated from much of their range by the 20th century but have returned to many areas of Europe and North America under legal protection.
Main threats
- Conflict with livestock farming
- Illegal killing
- Habitat fragmentation