Wolf packs have an alpha male and alpha female, and typically no one else in the pack is allowed to breed.ĭominance fights can be lethal, but usually the combatants try to avoid injuring one another. One of the most important tasks for any wolf is to figure out its place in the dominance hierarchy. They also communicate by scent and body language. In addition to howls, they use a variety of vocal calls including barks, growls, and yelps. Like humans, wolves use complex forms of communication to maintain the stability of their large social groups. It’s just a long-range communication method that packs use to mark their territory, coordinate their movements, or prepare for a hunt.Ī wolf’s howl can carry as far as seven miles. In reality, howling has nothing to do with the moon. The iconic image of the gray wolf is of a lone individual with its muzzle in the air, howling under a full moon. Gray Wolf Behavior & Life Cycle A gray wolf showing aggression. You can find out more about coyotes on this page: Coyote Facts.The gray wolf is a close cousin of the coyote, Canis latrans – so close, in fact, that scientists disagree about whether coyotes should be counted as a separate species or merely a small-bodied subspecies of Canis lupus. You can find out more about dogs on this page: Fun Facts on Dogs.But at the genetic level wolves and dogs remain extremely close. Over thousands of years of selective breeding, domestic dogs have developed a huge variety of body types, whereas natural selection has kept all wild wolves looking fairly similar to one another. The domestic dog is usually considered to be a subspecies of gray wolf. Dogs were once placed in their own species, Canis familiaris, but scientists now realize that the domestic dog is simply a subspecies of the gray wolf. Little is known about this subspecies, chiefly because their habitat is difficult for scientists to reach and study in.īy far the most well-known wolf subspecies is Canis lupus familiaris, the domestic dog. The Greenland wolf Canis lupus orion lives in unimaginable cold at the remote northern end of Greenland. With the largest individuals reaching 150 lbs., they outweigh all but the largest domestic dog breeds. The largest gray wolf is the Alaskan timber wolf Canis lupus occidentalis. You can find out more about the Eurasian wolf on this page: Eurasian Wolf Facts.Human hunting has more or less eliminated the Eurasian wolf from its former range in Western Europe, but it still roams free across Eastern Europe, Siberia, and all the way to the border of China. The most widespread subspecies, and the first to be scientifically recognized, is Canis lupus lupus, the Eurasian wolf. Over its wide range, the gray wolf has diversified into a huge variety of different types, and now there are some 30 recognized subspecies of Canis lupus, each of which corresponds to a different region and habitat. That allows them to take down large prey, such as the American bison, that no other predator would challenge. More than any other land carnivore, wolves specialize in coordinated attacks. But wolves have something few cats have: a pack. Wolves are famous for being fearsome hunters, but an individual wolf is actually not so formidable when it comes to strength, speed, and stealth, wolves can’t compete with wild cats like cougars. The gray wolf’s scientific name is Canis lupus.Ī highly adaptable animal, the gray wolf can be found in habitats ranging from the Arctic tundra of the far north to the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. The gray wolf’s name is often shortened to just ‘wolf’ whenever you hear someone talking about a ‘wolf’, they’ll almost certainly be referring to the gray wolf. With its shaggy, variegated coat and large, intelligent eyes, the species is an iconic predator of the Northern Hemisphere. The gray wolf (grey wolf in British English) is the largest member of the dog family Canidae, and one of the most widespread. Dire Wolf Facts for Kids & Adults, With Pictures & In-Depth Information.Fun Facts On Dogs: Discover Interesting Facts About Domestic & Wild Dogs.Eurasian Wolf Facts For Kids & Adults: Pictures, Information & Video.Complete Guide To This Critically Endangered U.S. Red Wolf Facts, Pictures & Information.Wild Dog Species List: All Types Of Wild Dogs, With Pictures & Information.

Gray wolf facts, pictures and information: discover the characteristics, behavior and ecology of one of the world’s best-known predators…

Types of wild dogs