Six Breeds Of Wolves

The wolf, or  Canis lupus, is a carnivorous mammal, from which the dog descends. It is present in North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, and currently has reduced its habitat due to hunting and deforestation. In this article, we’re going to talk about the wolf breeds that exist today.

Characteristics of wolves

It is a predator that has an arcade identical to the dogs , and that inhabits the coniferous forests , temperate forests, mountains, prairies and tundras. Its size and weight depend on the breed, but range from 60 to 90 cm and can weigh up to 70 kg.

Wolves are capable of hunting day or night, and can walk many miles without tiring, thanks to their sight and sense of smell. In addition,  its coat is quite thick and divided into layers: the outer layer is impermeable, repelling water and moisture, while the inner layer serves as a thermal insulator, protecting it against the cold. The color of its coat varies according to the ecosystem where it is found.

After mating, pregnancy lasts approximately two months. At birth, puppies have darker fur and blue eyes. In addition, they are born deaf and blind, so they depend 100% on their mother. They live in lairs until they are three weeks old and start to leave them when they are around two months old.

The wolf is lonely at the time of to hunt , being able to survive for several days without feeding, in addition to being able to feed on prey bigger than him: sheep, deer, goats, reindeer, moose, etc. But he also feeds on small species such as hares and rodents.

What breeds of wolves are there?

Among the subspecies or breeds of wolves, we can find those that inhabit very varied places, such as the European, Asian, oceanic and North American continents. Among the best known are:

1. Gray Wolf

It weighs around 55 kg and although the adjective “grey” is associated with its coat, there are also black, white and red wolves. They have a narrow muzzle and head compared to other species and are a little slower.

Although they are not the fastest breed of wolves,  their sharp teeth allow them to penetrate three times deeper into flesh than the average dog.  The gray wolf communicates with its pack using different verbal forms, including howling, and is able to adapt to almost all habitats, if there is food.

2. Iberian wolf

As its name indicates, this breed lives on the Iberian Peninsula, most north of the Douro river, and it is worth mentioning that the Iberian wolf is currently found in endangered .

Morphologically speaking, it is medium in size, measuring around 70 cm and weighing around 50 kg. In addition, its coat has many dark spots on its tail and its head is large and massive. Its ears are triangular and the muzzle has “moustaches”. It is a large carnivorous animal, whose food is based on large mammals and herbivores.

3. Arctic wolf

This is a gray wolf subspecies and its coat is completely white to help it camouflage in the snow. feeds on reindeer and musk oxen, and inhabits mainly the frigid regions of Alaska, Greenland and Canada.

In this sense, as he lives in places of extreme cold, he has an outer layer of skin that gets fatter when winter comes. In addition, its ears are small to help keep you warm and regulate your body temperature, while the feet are padded, allowing you to walk on snow and ice. Lives in packs and is very territorial.

Source: Ahmad Qarmish12

4. Arabian Wolf

This breed lives in the Arabian Peninsula, especially in Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and Israel. As for food, he consumes hares, sheep, goats and dead animal carcasses. Their population spread after hunting was banned in Oman, although they do not form large packs. 

As for its physical appearance, it is small and gray in color, has a short and fine coat, and does not have sweat glands. To control body temperature, they use wheezing. 

5. Red Wolf

It gets its name from the reddish-brown color of its coat. It has a characteristic white spot around the mouth. Also, its head and ears are big. In terms of habitat, this species lives in North and South Carolina, in the United States.

With regard to his personality, it should be noted that he is usually quite sociable, and his pack maintains a structure  hierarchical . The breeding season takes place in February and March, and females are capable of giving birth to up to ten offspring. Despite this, and, unfortunately, it is another breed that is at extremely high risk of extinction in the short term.

6. Ethiopian wolf

Lastly, the Ethiopian wolf is confused with jackals due to its physique and its medium size. It has a more pointed snout than wolves of other species and its coat can be red, white or brown.

She is an exclusive breed of Africa, whose habitat is located near mountains and some plains. Your personality is less territorial and aggressive compared to other wolves. It walks in packs formed by six specimens and feeds on rodents.

• Among other wolf breeds, we highlight the following: Himalayan, Indian, Levantine, Italian, Romanian, Russian, Steppe, Tibetan, Honshu, Mexican, Newfoundland, Prairie and American tundra.

Image source: DocTaxon and Ahmad Qarmish12