Wolf
The wolf is a wild canid, usually referring to the gray wolf (*Canis lupus*), the largest living wild member of the dog family.
The wolf is a wild canid, usually referring to the gray wolf (*Canis lupus*), the largest living wild member of the dog family. Wolves are native to Eurasia and North America and are social predators that often live and hunt in packs.
Taxonomy and classification
The term wolf most often refers to the gray wolf (*Canis lupus*), a canid in the family Canidae and order Carnivora. Other animals commonly called wolves include the red wolf and Ethiopian wolf, which are distinct species.
Distribution and habitat
Gray wolves historically had one of the broadest ranges of any mammal, and today they are found mainly across parts of Eurasia and North America. They are especially associated with remote and wilderness habitats.
Behaviour and diet
Wolves are highly social predators that typically form hierarchical packs. They hunt a range of prey, especially large hoofed mammals, and may also feed on smaller animals.
Relationship with humans
Wolves have long been persecuted because of conflicts with livestock, and they were also domesticated indirectly through the evolution of the domestic dog. Their conservation status varies by region and by species.
Key facts
- Wolves are the largest living wild members of the dog family.
- The gray wolf is the best-known wolf species and is native to Eurasia and North America.
- Wolves are social animals that often live and hunt in packs.
- Their prey commonly includes deer, moose, and caribou, though they may also take smaller animals.
- The domestic dog was domesticated from wolves several thousand years ago.
Wolves are an important part of Canada's wildlife, and gray wolves are found in several regions across the country.
Frequently asked questions
What is a wolf?
Where do wolves live?
Do wolves live in packs?
What do wolves eat?
Are wolves endangered?
Are dogs related to wolves?
References
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/wolfSupports: Wolf as a wild doglike carnivore; gray wolf as best known; other wolf species; geographic distribution and classification.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/summary/wolfSupports: Gray wolf as ancestor of domestic dogs; social pack behaviour; prey; conservation context; size.
- National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/gray-wolfSupports: Gray wolf scientific name, diet, lifespan, size, conservation status, and basic characteristics.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/animal/gray-wolfSupports: Gray wolf as largest wild member of the dog family; distribution; domestication history.