Wolf

Canis lupus

Last updated: January 8, 2023
Verified by: AZ Animals Staff
© Mircea Costina/Shutterstock.com

Wolves are apex predators that travel in packs and are essential for the health of most ecosystems


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Wolf Scientific Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
Scientific Name
Canis lupus

Read our Complete Guide to Classification of Animals.

Wolf Conservation Status


Wolf Facts

Main Prey
Deer, Elk, Moose
Fun Fact
Wolves are apex predators that travel in packs and are essential for the health of most ecosystems
Habitat
Grass plains and woodland
Predators
Human
Diet
Carnivore
Average Litter Size
4
Lifestyle
  • Pack
Favorite Food
Deer
Type
Mammal
Slogan
Thought to date back more than 300,000 years!

Wolf Physical Characteristics

Color
  • Brown
  • Grey
  • Black
  • White
Skin Type
Fur
Top Speed
46 mph
Lifespan
10-12 years
Weight
80-150lbs

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“Wolves are apex predators that travel in packs and are essential for the health of most ecosystems.”

Wolves are some of the most iconic predators in the animal kingdom. They’re featured in songs, legends, and even modern films. Although the gray wolf (timber wolf) is the most recognizable, there are more than 30 distinct subspecies that range across the northern hemisphere. These dedicated pack animals hunt together, roam together, and play together, all while maintaining an important role in their local ecosystem.

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An Incredible Animal: 4 Wolf Facts

  • Dog descendants: The Latin name for dogs is Canis lupus familiaris. This means that, according to animal classification standards, all dogs are actually just a type of wolf. Both dogs and wolves are members of the largest canine species in existence!
  • Mouth full of teeth: The average wolf has a total of 42 teeth in its mouth. Their teeth can be up to 2.5 inches long.
  • Quick sprints: When wandering as a pack, wolves tend to travel at a rate of 5 miles per hour. However, when a wolf wants to run, it can sprint as fast as 38 miles per hour.
  • Long-term relationships: Many wolf species mate for life.

Scientific Name

The scientific name for wolves is Canis lupus. “Lupus” is the Latin name for “wolf,” while “canis” is the Latin name for “dog”. Wolves belong to the Canidae family alongside domesticated dogs, coyotes, raccoons, and many other carnivorous species.

Wild Dog Breeds: Red Wolf

The Red Wolf can only be found in North Carolina.

©mruizseda/Shutterstock.com

Subspecies

There are over thirty different subspecies of this animal that can be found across the northern hemisphere. Some of the most iconic types of wolf include:



  • Canis lupus lupus: The Eurasian wolf is the most common type in Europe and Asia. You can recognize Eurasian wolves by the rusty sheen on their slate-gray fur.
  • Canis lupus albus: The tundra wolf is found throughout Russia and northern Europe. They are particularly large and have fluffy, light-colored fur.
  • Canis lupus rufus: The red wolf used to range across the entire eastern half of the United States. Today, this distinctive subspecies can still be found in North Carolina.
  • Canis lupus occidentalis: The northwestern wolf is an iconically large, light-gray subspecies that wanders the arctic tundras. You’ll find this animal in Alaska, British Columbia, and all of the northwest territories.
  • Canis lupus arabs: The Arabian Wolf, sometimes called the desert wolf, is one of the smallest types of wolf – found throughout the Arabian Peninsula.
  • Canis lupus campestris: The Steppe Wolf is an average-sized wolf found in Kazakhstan and northern Ukraine where it plays an important role in the region’s ecosystem.
  • Canis lupus chanco: The Himalayan or Tibetian Wolf is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and into the Himalayians. They can survive in mountain forests and alpine regions but are seen to prefer grasslands. They cause problems for local ranchers because they prey on yak and sheep.
  • Canis lupus arctos: The Arctic Wolf is a beautiful white wolf found in the northernmost regions of Canada. It preys on Arctic hares, muskoxen, caribou, and sometimes, Arctic foxes.
  • Canis lupus lycaon: The Gray wolf (Eastern Wolf or Timber Wolf) was once found throughout North America but currently exists only in Quebec and Ontario, Canada.
  • Other subspecies: Mongolian wolf, New Guinea Singing Dog (dingo), Indian wolf, Mexican wolf, British Columbian wolf, Vancouver Island wolf, Hudson Bay wolf, Northern Rocky Mountain wolf, Alexander Archipelago wolf, Mackenzie River wolf, Baffin Island wolf, Greenland wolf, Alaskan Interior wolf, Alaskan Tundra wolf, Iberian wolf, Italian or Apennine wolf, and Labrador wolf.
Dire wolf close-up

The dire wolf co-existed with the gray wolf in North America for about 400,000 years.

©Daniel Eskridge/Shutterstock.com

Evolution

There is some debate over the evolution of wolves, but it is likely that they evolved from a population of small, early canids during the Pliocene eras from the same line that also preceded the coyote. The wolf and coyote diverged from the same ancestor 1.5 million years ago. Jackals and other members of the genus Canis had split the lineage before this time.

Prior to the appearance of wolves and coyotes, about 20 million years ago, canines and felines had branched into separate families. The first gray wolf, Canis lupus, probably appeared in Eurasia about one million years ago, during the Pleistocene period. It is thought that wolves migrated to North America around 750,000 years ago.

The Dire Wolf, Canis dirus, evolved earlier and co-existed with the gray wolf in North America for about 400,000 years. Climate change 16,000 years ago caused the prey of the animal to go extinct – leading to the extinction of the dire wolf itself.

Appearance & Behavior

Wolves are large, four-legged, carnivorous mammals. They have pointed ears, elongated snouts, and bushy tails that curl behind them as a means of expression. Although there are many different subspecies with their own unique coloring, most wolves share the same rough, thick fur with either a gray or beige pattern. In many cases, the animal’s natural coloring will match the landscape that they need to blend in with.

A family of grey wolves in the forest.

Wolves are social animals that travel and live in packs containing 4-8 adults.

©AB Photographie/Shutterstock.com

The average wolf typically weighs somewhere between 80 and 160 pounds. Females are usually smaller than their male counterparts, often by as much as 40 pounds. Most wolves are about 4-6 feet long and stand roughly 2-3 feet high. One of the largest wolves ever captured was killed in Alaska in 1975; he weighed an impressive total of 175 pounds.

Wolves are social animals that live and hunt together in a pack. Most packs contain about 4-8 adults, but packs as large as 30 have been known to exist in some parts of Alaska. Packs maintain territories between 25 and 100 miles across. In most cases, the wolves are the only prominent carnivores within their chosen territory.

Gray or Arctic Wolf in deep snow

This arctic wolf blends into the snowy scenery. Most wolves prefer colder climates.

©moosehenderson/Shutterstock.com

Habitat: An Animal in Need of Space

Wolves are animals that are native to the northern hemisphere and can be found in Europe, Asia, and North America. They like to live in habitats with plenty of game, cover, and room to roam. However, they are not limited to any one kind of terrain; this is why you’ll see wolves in arctic tundras, mountains, forests, plains, and nearly every other kind of northern environment. Due to their large size and the thickness of their fur, most wolves prefer to live in cold climates, so you’re unlikely to ever see one in the southern parts of their respective continents.

Most wolves spend their time ranging across their territory and looking for prey. When the pack is fed, they can be found scouting for threats or sleeping in a cave, clearing, or other makeshift dens. Although some species like to live in a single location, most wolves go to sleep in a different part of their territory every night.

What Do Wolves Eat
An adult wolf needs to eat about 5-7 pounds of meat every day to maintain a healthy weight.

Diet: A Carnivorous Animal

These animals are carnivores and will eat nearly any type of prey that they can catch. With that said, they typically prey on large hoofed mammals like deer, elk, moose, sheep, goats, and bison. When large prey is not available, wolves are likely to catch smaller mammals like rabbits or beavers.

An adult needs to eat about 5-7 pounds of meat every day to maintain a healthy weight. Typically, a pack will kill a single large mammal and survive off the meat for several days before moving on to the next opportunity. The average wolf eats the equivalent of 15 deer across an entire year; this is why packs need to maintain such large territories in order to survive.

For a complete analysis of a wolf’s diet, make sure to read ‘What Do Wolves Eat.

Wolves eat

Wolves are at the top of the food chain within their territories.

©Holly Kuchera/Shutterstock.com

Predators and Threats: Animals at the Top of the Food Chain

These animals are apex predators, which means that they are at the top of the food chain within their designated territories. Still, they stick together in packs for good reason; there are plenty of bigger meaner animals who are willing to consider them as prey. In general, these animals need to watch out for bears and large cats like tigers or mountain lions. When they work together, a pack can take down a polar bear – but a wolf alone might not be so lucky.

The actual biggest threat to any wolf is human interaction. They often get shot by poachers, licensed hunters, and farmers who are attempting to protect their livestock. These animals also suffer from climate change caused by deforestation. When humans move in, their territory gets smaller, reducing their prey options and making survival difficult. The human presence is often the reason for the drastic decline in wolf presence across North America over the last hundred years.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan: The Dominant Animals Breed

Every pack contains a dominant male and a dominant female. If the pack is small, these two are the only ones who will breed. However, in larger packs, some of the other females may also choose to carry young. These animals have a gestation period of around 3 months and are typically born in litters of 4-6. Breeding season occurs in early spring, allowing the pups to be born in the warmest part of the year.

A wolf mother with puppies.

Female wolves usually give birth to litters of 4-6 pups.

©Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/Shutterstock.com

Pups are born with closed eyes and stunted noses. At birth, many pups only weigh less than 1-2 pounds. However, the pups develop quickly, gaining as much as 3 pounds a week for the duration of the summer season. Pups typically have their eyes open and are walking within two weeks of their birth.

The animal is able to hunt alongside the pack after surviving its first year. The small size of most packs reflects the grim statistics for survival; only one or two pups may make it out of every litter. If more pups survive, they will likely disperse to new territories with more game. When there is adequate nutrition, most keep growing and will reach their full size at around 2 years old.

The average lifespan for wolves in the wild is about 4-8 years. However, animals in captivity have been known to live for 15, and it’s possible that some wild wolves are able to survive for this long. The oldest wolf ever recorded was named Madadh; she lived to be 19 years old with the help of her caretakers. As these animals get older, they may suffer from joint problems, combat injuries, and the effects of famine.

Population: A Large Number of Animals

The current global wolf population sits at around 300,000 individuals. Roughly 16,000 of these animals live in America; most of them are located in Alaska, and around 5,000 wolves live in the contiguous states. Meanwhile, more than 60,000 of them live in Canada. The rest of the world’s population inhabits the northern parts of Europe and Asia.

After a dramatic and distressing decrease in the population at the end of the 1900s, most animal conservationists are happy to report that populations have held steady for the last decade. Wolves, and especially gray wolves, are currently considered to be of least concern. Some species, like the red wolf, remain critically endangered.

Animals in the Zoo: Where to Find the Wolf

These animals are a popular exhibit at nearly every zoo in the United States and around the world. You can find packs at the San Diego Zoo, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, and most local city zoos. If you want to see the endangered red wolf in person, check out the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago.

Eastern Timber Wolf in the zoo of Stadt Haag, Austria.

©Christian Jansky / Creative Commons

Read more about wolves…

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About the Author

After a career of working to provide opportunities for local communities to experience and create art, I am enjoying having time to write about two of my favorite things - nature and animals. Half of my life is spent outdoors, usually with my husband and sweet little fourteen year old dog. We love to take walks by the lake and take photos of the animals we meet including: otters, ospreys, Canadian geese, ducks and nesting bald eagles. I also enjoy reading, discovering books to add to my library, collecting and playing vinyl, and listening to my son's music.

Wolf FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What is the difference between a wolf and a dog?

Dogs have been bred for domesticated lifestyles, and this has directly affected their overall appearance, especially when compared to wolves.

Are wolves carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores?

Wolves are a carnivorous species, which means that they exclusively eat meat. Wolves typically hunt large, hoofed mammals like deer, elk, caribou, and bison. Many wolves will also hunt smaller animals like rabbits to help get through times of starvation.

Is a wolf a mammal?

Wolves are mammals. The scientific name for a wolf is Canis lupus, and they belong to the Mammalia class in the order Carnivora.

Is a wolf dangerous?

Wolves and humans have a long and complicated relationship that can make wild interactions difficult to judge. In general, wild wolves are not safe to approach by anyone except a trained park ranger or animal conservationist. Wolves cannot be properly domesticated and are incredibly dangerous to keep as pets. However, many trained rangers have reported positive interactions with both wild and captive wolves. As long as wolves and their territory are treated with respect, they should not be considered to be an immediate threat to humans who are passing through their area.

What are wolves afraid of?

A large pack of wolves has very little to fear except human interaction. Wolves usually flee from loud sounds, bright fires, and large groups of humans. Be aware that throwing rocks at wolves is unlikely to scare them away and may instead encourage the pack to see you as a threat.

What is a wolf known for?

Wolves are known for being intelligent and resourceful. They stick close to the other members of their pack and tend to avoid humans whenever possible. Wolves trapped on their own may become desperate due to hunger; this is why approaching a lone wolf is often considered to be a dangerous action.

Where do wolves live?

Wolves live in nearly every undeveloped part of the northern hemisphere. Forests, plains, and arctic tundras all make suitable habitats for wolf packs. Wolves prefer cold areas, so don’t expect to see them in the southern part of their continents.

What Kingdom do Wolves belong to?

Wolves belong to the Kingdom Animalia.

What class do Wolves belong to?

Wolves belong to the class Mammalia.

What phylum to Wolves belong to?

Wolves belong to the phylum Chordata.

What family do Wolves belong to?

Wolves belong to the family Canidae.

What order do Wolves belong to?

Wolves belong to the order Carnivora.

What type of covering do Wolves have?

Wolves are covered in Fur.

What genus do Wolves belong to?

Wolves belong to the genus Canis.

What is the main prey for Wolves?

Wolves prey on deer, elk, and moose.

What are some predators of Wolves?

Predators of Wolves include humans.

How many babies do Wolves have?

The average number of babies a Wolf has is 4.

What is an interesting fact about Wolves?

Wolves are thought to date back more than 300,000 years!

What is the scientific name for the Wolf?

The scientific name for the Wolf is Canis lupus.

What is the lifespan of a Wolf?

Wolves can live for 10 to 12 years.

How fast is a Wolf?

A Wolf can travel at speeds of up to 46 miles per hour.

How Does a Wolf Compare to a Tibetan Mastiff?

Wolves are more powerful predators than Tibetan Mastiffs, though they are roughly the same size and weight. Read all about their differences here!

Who will win a fight between a wolf and a moose?

An adult moose will kill a single wolf in a fight. Cases exist where a single wolf has killed a moose, but they are usually juveniles if not calves.

Who would win a fight between a wolf and a mountain lion?

A mountain lion would win a fight against a wolf. Mountain lions have a size advantage, a power advantage, and more weapons in their arsenal to kill a wolf. If the mountain lion successfully ambushed a wolf, the fight is immediately over, and the wolf is dead due to a pierced skull or ripped throat.

What's the difference between a wolf and a Siberian Husky?

The wolf grows larger than the Siberian Husky, and the Husky is domesticated, while the wolf is wild. Finally, the wolf tends to match its environment, while the Siberian Husky only comes in select colors and markings.

What diet differences emerge among wolves in different geographies?

There are some wolves with very unique diets. For example, in the Pacific Northwest, there are packs of “sea wolves” that almost exclusively hunt marine animals. 90% of the self wolf diet comes from sources like fish, barnacles, and whale carcasses.

What's the difference between wolves and Irish Wolfhounds?

Irish wolfhounds are bigger than wolves, and they were originally bred to hunt this apex predator. Additionally, wolves live longer lives on average compared to the Irish wolfhound.

What are the differences between African wild dogs and wolves?

While the African wild dog and wolf may come from the same family, their key differences are their scientific name, size and weight, habitat and distribution, diet, bite force, speed, and lifespan.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. Wikipedia, Available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf
  2. International Wolf Center, Available here: https://wolf.org/wolf-info/basic-wolf-info/biology-and-behavior/
  3. Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Available here: https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=wildlifenews.view_article&articles_id=503
  4. The National Wildlife Federation, Available here: https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Gray-Wolf
  5. Ranger Planet, Available here: https://rangerplanet.com/what-eats-a-wolf-list-of-wolf-predators/

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