Where does the wolf live on the map. Description of the wolf. What do wolves eat

The wolf is a typical representative of predatory mammals. Many are familiar with him from literature, and some met in person. But meeting him does not bode well. The animal is not only widespread in nature, but also a frequent character in stories, films, both fiction and animation. Suffice it, for example, to recall Jack London and his story "White Wolves". About the cartoon "Well, wait a minute" is not worth talking about. He is familiar to everyone since childhood.

The name of the animal in different peoples sounds differently, but is characterized by pronounced consonance. In Bulgaria, for example, this predator is called "Vylk", and in Ukraine "Vovk". In Serbian, the name sounds like "Vuk".

general description

For the most part, representatives of the wolf kingdom are of medium or large size. The largest species is considered to be related to gray and polar wolves. An adult at the withers can reach 85 cm. If you do not take into account the tail, then the body will be 1.5-1.6 meters long. There is a rule that was derived by Bergman. In accordance with it, the size of the predator will be the larger, the more severe the environment in which it lives.

The mass of Siberian wolves can reach 90 kg. Such massiveness can impress anyone. The wolves of Arabia have the smallest sizes. For example, the mass of females rarely exceeds 10 kg. No matter what species the wolf belongs to, the female is always smaller than the male.

By external signs, wolves have a pronounced resemblance to large dogs. The body is characterized by the presence of a pronounced muscle relief. As for the maned wolves, they have an outward resemblance to foxes. The tail has a rather pronounced thickness and length. Wolves have a massive head. The ears are pointed, set high, and the muzzle has an elongated shape. The shape of the skull of a maned wolf is similar to that of a fox.

There are 42 teeth in the predator's mouth. The fangs are very large and massive. With the help of teeth, the wolf not only tears the prey apart, but also grinds the bones. When a wolf grabs its prey, it holds it tightly with its fangs. Red wolves contain a dental formula in which the molars are present in smaller numbers.

Wolf cubs that have just been born have blue eyes. Three months later, the iris already has an orange or golden yellow tint. But the blue color of the eyes of some representatives remains for life.

The body of the animal is covered with thick fur. The undercoat is two-layered. Wool has low thermal conductivity. This feature determines the circumstance in which wolves are able to survive in the most severe conditions.

The color of the animal is highly variable. You can find almost all shades in it. There are also completely white wolves. Nature decreed this not by chance. This allows the wolves to perform good camouflage, merging with the surrounding landscape. Different shades indicate that each animal has its own personality.

The predator has well-developed organs of touch. Suffice it to say that he can smell the prey, which is located at a distance of 3 km from him. More than a million different shades of smell are available for his sense of smell. This circumstance renders the animal a good service during the rutting season. The predator is also capable of marking territory.

The vocal range of the wolf is simply amazing. It's hard to say what he can't portray with his voice. It is commonly believed that wolves howl at the moon. But it is not so. By these actions, they warn their relatives about their location, thereby driving away strangers. But a lone wolf howls very rarely, because he is afraid to attract trouble. Usually this is observed in animals in the pack.

Animals have well-developed facial expressions. By showing their teeth, they thereby express their various emotions. Some elements of behavior have a certain resemblance to a dog. If the animal raises its ears and tail, this indicates that for some reason it is alert.

On average, a wolf can live from 8 to 16 years. If favorable conditions are created for an animal in captivity, then life can last up to 20 years.

habitats

It so happened that in terms of prevalence, wolves are second only to humans. They are distributed on the territory of many states, including Russia. On the territory of our country, you can meet 6 species of wolves, including red and polar wolves.

The predator has adapted to existence on the territory of various natural zones. It can be found even in the tundra and desert. The habitat of wolves is characterized by pronounced territoriality. They are characterized by the presence of signs of a social orientation. They form groups (flocks), which include up to 40 individuals. Each flock has its own territory. Each group has its own leader, or rather a pair consisting of a male and a female. There is a strict hierarchy among the pack. But during the rutting period, one can observe the disintegration of the pack, since the wolves form a pair for this time.

Wolves themselves do not dig holes. They prefer to occupy someone else's home, for example, a badger's hole.

Wolves food

The wolf is an animal that is distinguished by endurance and speed. Pursuing prey, he, without getting tired, is able to overcome considerable distances. The diet is dominated by animal food. If the prey is insignificant in size, then it is quite possible to hunt alone. But to cope, for example, with a reindeer alone, a wolf cannot do it. Here, of course, the help of the whole flock will be required. In most cases, the wolf attacks the prey if it is young or sick.

It uses both small animals (hare, ground squirrel, beaver, other species) and large representatives (deer, saiga, bison) in food. If for some reason the main food is not available, the wolf can use small amphibians (frog). In the warm season, mushrooms and berries may be present in the animal's diet.

In some cases, a wolf can even attack a bear that is hibernating or weakened by illness or injury. In case of luck, the animal can absorb up to 14 kg of meat at a time. If the polar wolf is very hungry, he can swallow the whole hare along with the bones.

Wolves have one feature. They return to the corpse of the animal in order to eat all that is left of it. In addition, stocks of meat are made for the future.

Steppenwolves can quench their thirst by raiding watermelon and melon fields.

I must say that there are quite a large number of species of wolves. Separately, it is necessary to dwell only on some types.

1. Red Wolf. It is a fairly large predator. In his appearance, in addition to wolf external data, the features of a jackal and a fox were reflected. The mass of the animal can reach 21 kg, and height - up to 1.1 meters. Compared to other wolves, the tail of this species is fluffier and more voluminous. The end of the tail is always dark in color. The color of the red wolf is dominated by red shades. The species includes 10 subspecies, has the smallest number of teeth in comparison with other representatives. It has a fairly wide geographical distribution in nature, but most often it can be found in the Himalayas. Some territories are distinguished by the small number of this representative. This is due to the fact that its population has sharply decreased, in connection with which it was taken under protection.
2. The wolf is maned. It is a unique member of this family. On the nape there is wool, the length of which can reach 13 cm. The presence of wool determines the formation of a real mane. The weight of the animal can reach 23 kg. The body length of a maned wolf can be 1.3 meters. The elongated muzzle introduces obvious disproportions in the structure of the body. The color is reddish-yellow, but a dark stripe runs along the spine along its entire length. This species lives exclusively in flat areas. The body has extremely long limbs. It feeds on various rodents, amphibious insects, armadillos. From plants they prefer to eat nightshade. In this way they get rid of nematodes.
3. Eastern wolf. Until now, this species has not taken a certain place in the classification. Some consider it a hybrid of the gray wolf, while others consider it as an independent unit. With a height of 89 cm, the weight reaches 30 kg. This applies to males. Females are somewhat more modest in size. The color of the fur contains yellowish-brown shades. There are dark hairs on the back. For the most part, they are characterized by animal food.
4. Wolf ordinary (gray). It is one of the largest predators of this family. The growth of an individual reaches 86 cm. Individual specimens grow up to 90 cm. Body weight is highly variable, but usually does not exceed 60 kg. The tail of a predator can grow up to more than half a meter. The color is characterized by variability and depends on the habitat. In the forests, you can usually meet representatives with a gray-brown color, and in the tundra - white wolves. But the undercoat is always gray in color. These wolves usually use ungulates for food. This includes deer, elk, wild boar, and other representatives of the fauna. Smaller animals, like a hare, are also eaten. Such a wolf would not mind eating rodents. It is not uncommon for gray wolves to attack pets. When the harvest time comes, predators occupy the fields where gourds grow. They quench their thirst with watermelon and melon. In our country, gray wolves are ubiquitous.
5. Red look. Previously, it was considered an independent nosological unit. But with the advent of the possibility of DNA testing, it was found that such wolves are hybrids of a gray wolf and a coyote. The weight of a mother wolf can reach 41 kg. In length, representatives of this species can grow up to 1 meta 30 centimeters. The body has a more slender character than that of other types of wolves. There are very long legs. The diet consists mainly of rodents and small animals. Such wolves rarely attack a large animal. Mushrooms and berries play a secondary role in nutrition. Can eat carrion. In the last century, this species was completely exterminated. Only 14 specimens remained in captivity. All measures aimed at restoring the population are being carried out.
6. Tundra wolf. This subspecies is the least studied. In appearance, there is a great resemblance to the polar wolf, but representatives of this subspecies are more modest in size. Body weight can reach 49 kg. Mostly individuals with a gray-white color are found, although pure white wolves also come across. The animal has very large teeth. This subspecies is distributed almost throughout the tundra.
7. Steppe wolf. These animals are small in size. This subspecies has been little studied in comparison with other analogues. It lives in the Kazakh steppes and in the southern territories of our country.
8. Eurasian wolf. In appearance, it is similar to the North American subspecies, but differs in denser and shorter fur. A mature male can reach a weight of 73 kg with a height of 76 cm. A monochromatic color is predominantly characteristic and includes a wide variety of shades. In its diet, it mainly uses large prey and animals with medium sizes. Under certain circumstances, it can be used as food for small rodents.
9. Polar wolf. It is closely related to the European wolf. The length of individual representatives can reach 1.5 meters, and the mass reaches 85 kg. The body is covered with light fur, which is quite dense in structure. This subspecies is well adapted to living in extreme conditions. Found throughout the Arctic. Its life expectancy can reach up to 17 years.

reproduction

Puberty in animals occurs in the second year of life (females). As for males, the ability to fertilize them appears only by 3 years. Marriage games include various courtship. It happens mutually. In the struggle for a new pair, males enter into fierce fights. Wolves leave the pack to mate. The female carries the fetus for 65 days. The number of puppies in a litter can vary, but is always odd. Usually the female brings 3-13 cubs. A newborn wolf cub is born completely blind. He begins to see only by the end of the second week.

Those puppies that are weaker than the rest are rejected by the female herself. This is done so that the remaining cubs get more milk. In nutrition, puppies use the meat burp of their parents. It includes undercooked meat. Having matured a little, the wolf cubs begin to eat the prey brought by the wolves. All members of the pack take part in feeding the puppies. Closer to autumn, wolf cubs themselves take part in the hunt.

natural enemies

It is not difficult to guess that the main enemy of wolves is man. People at all times mercilessly shot them. In addition, traps are placed on them everywhere. Naturally, this negatively affects the population.

Recently, there has been a fashion for keeping wolves at home. The wolf is easy to train, but he will only execute commands if he is interested in it himself. Anyone who decides to have a wolf in their home should always remember that this is an extremely unsafe event. The wolf is not a dog and must be treated with extreme caution. Be especially careful if there are children in the house.

Video: wolf (Canis lupus)

One of the most mysterious and amazing animals on the planet is the wolf. The ferocious predator demonstrates masterful skills during the hunt, and loyalty and care in the pack. People still cannot unravel the mystery of this beautiful animal. Next, we suggest reading more exciting and interesting facts about wolves.

1. Determining weather conditions, wolves are able to hear sound signals that sound at a distance of 9 kilometers.

2. Wolf blood, which the Vikings drank before the battle, raised morale.

3. In caves that are 20,000 years old, the first images with wolves were found.

4. Wolves are able to distinguish more than 200 million smells.

5. Wolf cubs are always born with blue eyes.

6. A she-wolf bears cubs for about 65 days.

7. Wolf cubs are always born blind and deaf.

8. Wolves are ground predators.

9. In ancient times, wolves lived only in deserts and tropical forests.

10. A pack of wolves can include both 2-3 individuals, and 10 times more.

11. In one sitting, a wolf, which is very hungry, is able to eat about 10 kg of meat.

12. Wolves can swim and they are able to swim 13 km.

13. The smallest representatives of the wolf family live in the Middle East.

14. Wolves communicate by howling.

15. Ravens usually live where wolves live.

16. The Aztecs were treated with wolf liver for melancholy.

17. Residents of European countries based on wolf liver created a special powder, due to which it was possible to alleviate labor pain.

18. Wolves are the first animals to be protected as endangered species.

19. Wolves prefer to eat their relatives who have fallen into a trap. Therefore, it is better for hunters to quickly pick up the wolf from the trap.

20. Representatives of wolves can have a weight of 100 kg.

21. A hybrid of a wolf and a dog is a dog of the Volkosob breed. Moreover, the wolf was crossed with a German shepherd.

22. Although wolves are not considered carriers of rabies, they can pick it up from foxes and raccoons.

23. American wolves attack people less.

24. Wolves eat prey alive because they do not have anatomical weapons, thanks to which you can quickly kill the victim.

25. Wolves treat dogs only as their own prey.

26. Previously, Ireland was called the "Land of the Wolves", because there were many wolf packs.

27. The eyes of the wolf are endowed with a reflective layer that can glow at night.

28. Wolves react more to movements than to sounds.

29. Black wolves appeared in the process of mating a domestic dog and gray wolves.

30. A deadly fight of wolves begins when several packs meet in the same territory.

31. When biting with teeth, wolves create pressure up to 450 kg/cm.

32. Wolves are mysterious animals revered by the Arabs, Romans and Indians.

33. These animals are not trainable, even in captivity.

34. Wolves are devoted companions of life to their soulmate.

35. Wolves change their partner only if their partner is dead.

36. Usually, little wolf cubs are raised by females.

37. If the female falls asleep, then the male wolf guards her.

38. In every wolf pack there is a dominant pair, with which all other wolves take an example.

39. Wolves are lovers of freedom.

40. Wolves develop fear at the sight of fabric developing in the wind.

41. The claws of wolves are able to grind off from touching the ground.

42. Wolves are very tenacious and hardy animals.

43. The activity of a wolf that does not receive food remains for 10 days.

44. Wolf cubs at birth have a weight of 500 grams.

45. In Greece, there was a belief that one who eats a wolf becomes a vampire.

46. ​​Germany is considered the first country to take up the protection of wolf packs.

47. Wolves have many facial movements.

48. The Japanese language ascribes the meaning of “great god” to the word “wolf”.

49. Howling wolves try to attract lonely females.

50. The scent and hearing of wolves is simply excellent.

51. Those representatives who live closer to the Equator will have less weight of wolves.

52. Wolves are able to run without stopping for 20 minutes.

53. In winter, wolf hair is very resistant to frost.

54. Wolves can breed when they reach the age of 2 years.

55. Newborn wolf cubs leave the den already 3 weeks after birth.

56. On average, a she-wolf gives birth to 5-6 babies.

57. Usually wolf cubs are born in the summer.

58. Wolf cubs in the first 4 months after birth can increase in size up to 30 times.

59. During the mating season, wolves are more aggressive.

60. A wolf's sense of smell is 100 times stronger than a human's.

61. Wolves are color blind.

62. A wolf who was kicked out of the pack or he left it himself is called a loner.

63. Wolves have been living on Earth for more than 100 million years.

64. Each wolf has a different character: some are self-confident and daring, others are cautious.

65. Each pack of wolves hunts only in its own territory.

66. The tail of the wolves-leaders of the pack rises very high.

67. Showing tenderness for each other, wolves rub their faces and lick their lips.

68. Most of all, wolves move in the spring.

69. Wolves are very attached to their own children.

70. In patriarchal times, wolves were compared to grooms who stole brides.

71. Wolf hunting was considered the most popular hobby of noble people.

72. Wolves are able to respond to a person who imitates a howl.

73. When a wolf is anxious, he raises his head up.

74. Wolves breed only in winter.

75. The leaders of the wolf pack must constantly confirm their status.

76. Wolves are much smarter than dogs because their brains are bigger.

77. Human wolves are not afraid of a bit.

78. Wolf howling can sound in different ranges.

79. Despite the fact that wolves are predatory animals, they also eat carrots and watermelons.

80. Arctic wolves do not attack deer until they have the hope of swallowing a mouse in their hearts.

81. Newborn wolf cubs begin to be interested in the world around them early.

82. Wolves are not in vain considered "forest nurses", they clear the territory of sick and dead animals.

83. Even when death comes, wolves will try to save their neighbor.

84. Wolves were the heroes of films and legends.

85. Wolves are able to feel their prey at a distance of 1.5 km.

86. Black wolves have a greater resistance to infectious diseases.

87. She-wolves weigh about 5-10 kg less than males.

88. Wolf cubs who are 1.5 months old can already run away from danger.

89. In the process of nutritional deficiency, wolves feed on carrion.

90. Wolves can kill foxes, but they won't eat them.

91. Red wolves breed well in captivity.

92. The gray wolf has a large and heavy head.

93. Most of the wolf's undercoat falls out in the spring, and grows in the fall.

94. In the same den, coyote wolves live for several years.

95. Coyote wolves have a life expectancy of 10 years.

96. Respect for the leader of a wolf pack is shown by special mimic movements of these animals.

97. Wolves in the den live in pairs.

98. When the teeth of a newborn wolf cub begin to erupt, the mother rubs his gums with her tongue.

99. In the process of hunting other animals, wolves use the exhausting method.

100. Keeping a wolf in a kennel will not work, because he can learn to open a lock in a short time.

The wolf is a predatory mammal. By its nature, it belongs to the canine family. In this family, the wolf is considered the largest mammal. A genus of wolves was identified, to which the jackal and coyote were also assigned.

In size, the gray wolf is quite large - in length it can reach up to 170 cm without taking into account the tail, and the tail itself can still reach a size of about 50 cm. In height, the wolf can reach a size of just under 1 meter, and weight can be up to 90 kg.

In total, 32 subspecies of the wolf can be distinguished. Representatives of these subspecies differ in coat color and size. In some regions almost white or almost black wolves can be found.

It is believed that the wolf is the ancestor of dogs, which are now universal favorites among people.

The gray wolf has a very highly developed charm. They can feel their prey from 3 kilometers away. Their nose is able to distinguish about 200 million odors. If we compare with human charm, then a person is able to distinguish only 5 million different smells.

wolf habitat

Some time ago, the wolf was distributed throughout the world. But many factors (landscape changes, mass extermination of wolves, and urbanization) have played a negative role in the life of wolves. And their number began to decrease rapidly. And today in many regions hunting for it is not prohibited, it continues to be destroyed.

Despite the fact that the wolf can harm the economy and humans, the gray wolf is still considered the orderly of the forest. Scientists believe that wolves help to heal the gene pool of nature itself, as they destroy sick and dying animals.

Today, no matter how scary it sounds, but the wolf is teetering on the verge of complete extermination. And only in the territory of America and the north of Eurasia the situation with this population is more or less stable. In Russia, the wolf cannot be found only in the Kuriles and Sakhalin. In Russia, there are gray wolves and tundra wolves, which can sometimes be almost white.

Usually the wolf is territorial. The territory where a pack of wolves lives is marked on all sides with odorous marks. Wolves live in the crevices of caves, in thickets, and sometimes they can occupy other people's holes and dig their own holes much less often. Gray wolves are tied to burrows only for the period of rearing offspring. And that's just the female. The wolf doesn't live there. When the puppies grow up, the animals leave their permanent home and can change their place of rest, always giving preference to reliable and protected places to sleep.

It has been proven that wolves can communicate with each other. They can communicate information to each other about the location of other animals, as well as the approach of people.

What do wolves eat

The basis of the nutrition of wolves is ungulates, such as deer, elk, wild boars, and so on. Sometimes they attack domestic animals, even destroying dogs. Do not neglect smaller prey, such as hares, voles, ground squirrels. They destroy nests, they can catch birds that are on the ground. A wolf is able to catch a fox, and in some cases even a sleeping bear in a den.

Very often, gray wolves catch weakened or injured animals. In difficult times, they eat fish thrown ashore, seals, and also eat insects and reptiles during famine. They can also eat plant foods, such as berries, watermelons, melons, and more.

Reproduction of gray wolves

The gray wolf is essentially a monogamous animal. This means that there is one male per female. The couple breaks up in the event of the death of one of them. Most often, wolves live in families, forming a pack. At the head of the pack is a pair of leaders - a female and a male.

Wolves breed once a year. This time falls on January - April. She-wolves also go into heat once a year. The gestation period for she-wolves is approximately two months, and the number of puppies at birth can reach up to 12 puppies. Wolf puppies are very similar to ordinary domestic dog puppies.

The first days of life, wolf cubs feed on their mother's milk, then the wolves regurgitate the digested food from their stomach, and later give their prey. In order to feed newborn puppies, the whole flock takes part in feeding. After about six months, puppies can already take part in the hunt with adult members of the pack.

Gray wolf video:

With all the efforts of the pack to feed the wolf cubs, usually only 30-45% of them survive. The female reaches sexual maturity at 2 years and the male at 3 years.

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During DNA research, it was found that there are about four genealogical lines of the wolf. African, which arose in the late Pleistocene, is considered the most ancient. All other lines belong to the Indian subcontinent. In the course of major geological and climatic changes, the Himalayan wolf line appeared. Indian separated from it about 400,000 years ago. Tibetan wolf - inhabitant of Kashmir - the latest line. Its other name is the Holarctic hoard.

The large Siberian wolf in the Pleistocene lived in Japan and on the Korean Peninsula. The Sangar Strait divided Hokkaido and Honshu during the Holocene, which caused climate change. They led to the extinction of large ungulates in this area. Lack of sufficient food has led to insular dwarfism in the Japanese wolf.

Hokkaido, due to constant food supply and genetic interchange with large Siberian wolves, was significantly larger than the Hondo Japanese wolf.

Due to the disappearance of large prey, the dire wolf died out about 8,000 years ago. This process was accelerated by competition for the remaining food with the appearance of an ordinary wolf.

In what regions does the wolf live?

Currently, the habitat of wolves has been significantly reduced. This is due to their uncontrolled extermination in the past. Most of the predators are located on the territory:

• Russia;
• Belarus;
• Ukraine;
• northern part of the Arabian Peninsula;
• Afghanistan;
• Georgia;
• China;
• Korea;
• Iran;
• Hindustan;
• Iraq;
• Azerbaijan;
• Scandinavia;
• the Baltics;
• the Balkans;
• Italy;
• Poland;
• Spain;
• Portugal.

From Mexico to Alaska, animals are common in North America. In Russia, they live everywhere, except for the taiga, the Kuril Islands and Sakhalin. In Japan, predators are completely extinct.

Wolves are able to live in different areas, but they give preference to places with a weak forest area. They often live close to humans. In the taiga, they accompany him and settle in the territory cleared by people from the forest.

In the mountains, predators live up to alpine meadows, where the areas have a weak ruggedness.

The wolf is a territorial animal. In the cold season, flocks live settled. The boundaries of the territory in which they live are marked with odorous marks. In winter, the area occupied by predators is up to 44 km2. However, with the approach of spring, the flock breaks up in pairs. The strongest representatives remain on their territory, and loners lead a nomadic life. Wolves often accompany herds of livestock and deer.

To breed offspring, animals arrange dens. Most often they are natural shelters - thickets of shrubs, depressions in the rocks. In some cases, wolves occupy the burrows of other animals - badgers, arctic foxes, marmots. It is extremely rare that they dig them on their own. The she-wolf is most attached to the den during the period of litter rearing. The male does not use it. Puppies grow up in well-hidden places: on hills, in ravines, near the banks of lakes covered with thick reeds, in dense bushes. Wolves never hunt near their lair. After the puppies get stronger for long transitions, the animals leave their shelter. For recreation, they are looking for new, but well-protected places every time. Wolf cubs outwardly resemble dog puppies, have a brown coat color.

How long does a wolf live?

Since wolves belong to the canine family, they live about the same as dogs. But the way of life of wolves in the wild is very harsh and wolves die from disease, injury or lack of food, before their time. In the wild, on average, wolves live 10-15 years. But with good care and proper nutrition, they can live up to 20 years.

What does a wolf eat?

The wolf is a predator that hunts down prey. The main types of animals it feeds on are:

• antelopes;
• roe deer;
• moose;
• wild boars;
• deer.

Single wolves catch mouse-like rodents, ground squirrels and hares. In summer, waterfowl, representatives of black grouse, and domestic geese become prey. In rare cases, the wolf attacks sleeping bears, raccoon dogs, foxes. Predators often attack injured or weakened animals.

Wolves often return to the remains of the animals they have captured. Also, in times of famine, predators do not disdain carrion: carcasses thrown onto the coastline, seals, and dead cattle.

In addition to meat, animals eat melons, watermelons, mushrooms, fruits, berries. More often than not, it is caused by thirst, not hunger. Wolves need frequent, plentiful drinking, which is sometimes difficult to find.

Cannibalism is a phenomenon found in the pack. Sick, wounded animals are often eaten by stronger relatives.

Wolves are most active at night. They communicate through vocal signals. The range of sound waves that a wolf is capable of emitting is many times greater than the capabilities of most animals. The only exceptions are bats and humans. Animals are able to bark, squeal, yelp, growl, grumble, whimper, howl. Absolutely every sound made by an animal has a wide range of variations.

Experts note that wolves react to the sounds given by relatives consciously. Thanks to the sounds, the flock transmits various messages to its members, indicate the location of the game. At first, wolves listen to the information received from their relatives, and then throw their heads back and howl in a vibrating voice. First, their voice is low, and then goes to high notes, picked up by the human ear.

Only the leader of the pack can signal the attack. This sound resembles the growl of an angry dog.

You can hear the howling of wolves at dusk or at dawn, but not every day. At first, the leader howls strongly, and then the rest of the pack members. Howling most often ends with a joint shrill bark. Wolf songs are a sign of the social life of wolves. They have an emotional basis and enhance the cohesion of animals. In addition, the howl allows you to find the lost members of the pack and communicate with representatives of other groups.

Wolves have a highly developed sense of smell. The sense of smell allows predators to detect prey at a great distance. Wolves can distinguish approximately 199 million scents. Through the sense of smell, animals receive most of the information. Marking, sniffing partners, transmitting and receiving information through smell play an important role in the life of predators. Feces, urine and saliva serve as sources for obtaining the necessary information from wolves. Cal indicates that the animal belongs to a particular species, about its gender. The number of tags increases significantly during the rut and the formation of new pairs. At the same time, the males leave their mark on top of the female's mark. Such behavior strengthens couples, enhances sexual activity.

Experts concluded that in 89% of cases, wolves detect their prey by smell, and not by hearing.

In the process of evolution, wolves have developed a number of physiological features that allow them to travel long distances in search of food. Animals easily run a path of several kilometers at a speed of about 9 km / h. During the chase, it increases to 66. At the same time, canines are able to jump up to 4 meters without stopping the run.

Physiological characteristics:

• sloping back;
• streamlined chest;
• strong legs;
• webbing between the fingers allows you to reduce the load on the surface. Thanks to this, the wolf can quickly move across the snowy ground.
• Predators, when moving, rely solely on the fingers, and not on the entire foot. This method of movement makes it possible to balance the mass.
• The hind legs are shorter than the front. They lack the fifth additional toe on the side of the metatarsus.
• Dull claws and bristly fur prevent falls from slippery surfaces.
• Special blood vessels keep the paws warm from the cold.
• There are scent glands between the toes. When moving, the predator leaves traces of the smell. They make it possible to navigate the terrain and inform the members of the pack about the leader's movement.
• The low thermal conductivity of the fur allows the animal to live even in harsh climates.

When a pack attacks a prey, wolves slaughter several animals at the same time. At the same time, they tear their throats or rip open their belly. First of all, predators eat the most valuable in the carcass, and leave the rest in reserve.

The wolf is a highly developed creature. He uses special tactics when hunting. Hunting for cattle, they wait for him in ambush. Some of the predators are waiting in the bushes, while the rest of the pack drives the prey there. When pursuing large ungulates, for example, an elk, they starve it out. Several wolves run after the prey, the rest of the pack minces behind. When the predators participating in the chase get tired, they are replaced by relatives full of energy.

Relations in the flock are altruistic in nature. Each animal completely subordinates its interests to common needs. Otherwise, the predator community would not have survived. Not only physical data, but also psychological characteristics affect the rank of the animal. This is explained by the fact that the leader must take over the organization of the hunt, share the food obtained among relatives. The older wolves are responsible for the younger ones. Juveniles unquestioningly obey the requirements of older relatives.

There are seven ranks in the pack. Management of community members occurs without power influence. A clear organization, distribution of roles, complete freedom of choice to be or not to be in the pack - all this makes the wolf family a highly organized, well-coordinated mechanism. The social status of wolves is related to the age and sex of the animals. However, these indicators serve only to fulfill the set goals. Having caught the prey, the wolves will never hunt again as long as they have food.

Division in the pack:

• The dominant role is occupied by the leader. He bears full responsibility for the rest of his relatives. Its main tasks are a clear distribution of roles in the family, organization of actions, protection, choice of habitat, management of hunting. The leader has the right to start eating first, but this rule can be violated by him. In some cases, an adult animal shares prey with puppies. This situation often occurs when there is a shortage of food. Puppies are the future of the pack and the leader must take care of them.

The pack never disputes the right to the first bite of food. A weakened leader will not be able to ensure the safety of his relatives.

The leader has no right to protection. In times of danger, only he decides how to act, the pack always listens to him.

• Warriors are the backbone of the pack. They provide food and security for their relatives. With an external threat, only warriors enter the battle. This rank can be occupied by wolves of both sexes. However, the female with puppies never participates in the protection and production of food.

The senior warrior can replace the leader if he dies or for some reason cannot lead the pack. He, along with the main wolf, organizes protection and hunting.

• An adult female with experience in raising wolf cubs is a mother. Her main function is to take care of the puppies of the pack. A whelping female does not automatically occupy this rank. When attacking a flock, it is the mother who takes all weak relatives to a safe place while the warriors repel the attack.

The older female never competes with the main warrior, however, if necessary, she takes the place of the leader. When the head of the pack dies, the most worthy animal begins to play its role. At the same time, there are no duels to identify the best contender for the status of leader.

During the feeding and education of puppies, all mothers of the pack are under special care.

Reproduction occupies a special place in the life of animals. Once a year, the flock breaks into pairs to reproduce offspring. All members of the flock can breed. The main condition for this is the awareness of one's role in the pack. Those wolves who did not get a couple help their relatives to raise their young and hunt. Pairs are always created for life. If one of the pair dies, then the surviving wolf never again looks for a partner.

• A guardian is an animal that controls cubs. There are two sub-ranks. Breeder - a young wolf, unable to become a warrior at the present time due to age, or young from a previous litter. These animals are completely subordinate to the mother, carry out her orders. So they learn to deal with wolf cubs. Caretaker is the first stage of training that allows you to acquire the skills necessary for life.
• Uncle is a male with no family. Helps raise juveniles.
• The signalman is the eyes of the pack. It is he who notifies her of the impending threat. The information received is analyzed by more experienced wolves. Only after that a decision is made on further actions.
• The puppy is not responsible. Its main task is complete obedience. Adult animals show him special care and guardianship.
• A disabled person is an elderly individual who has the right to protection and food. Wolves always take care of their old relatives.

wolf breeding

A couple once formed is never separated. If one of the partners dies, the second one never looks for a new one. Wolves always live in large families of up to 42 individuals.

There is a clear hierarchy in the pack. At the head of the community are alpha animals, followed by adult members of the family, lone wolves. The lowest rank is puppies. The pack often takes in other wolves. When the puppies reach the age of three, they leave their family and look for a mate outside of it. Animals from the same litter never mate.

The marriage period is the most stressful time. It falls most often in the winter and spring months. The dominant pair defends itself from encroachments on itself by other animals. Free females are surrounded by males. The fight for their attention begins. Fights often end in death.

As soon as a pair is formed, she begins to search for a lair. All necessary preparations are carried out before the onset of estrus. This time helps the couple to get closer.

A she-wolf bears offspring for about 64 days. Usually 3-12 puppies are born. They are born blind. Only after two weeks do their eyes open. After some time, the parents, along with the rest of the pack, feed the puppies with their belching from recently swallowed meat. When the young grow up, they are already caught prey for food. At the end of summer, puppies are already beginning to try their hand at hunting. At this time, pereyarki join the flock - last year's litter, driven away for the breeding season. In this form, the family lives until a new estrus in wolves. Then the perennials can already participate in reproduction. More than half of the litter dies in the first year of life.

Females reach sexual maturity at two years, males at three. The average life expectancy of predators is 16 years. The first signs of aging appear as early as 11 years old.

The offspring of wolves appears only in the warm season. This allows you to get enough food for puppies. In this, wolves differ from dogs, which have estrus twice a year.

People considered wolves to be dangerous animals. Therefore, they were mercilessly exterminated. However, predators play an important role in the ecosystem. They destroy sick weakened animals, thereby preventing an epidemic.

How much does a wolf weigh?

Wolves are the largest members of the canine family. Their size and weight varies greatly in the species composition of these predators. In length, depending on the species, the wolf can be less than a meter, and can reach two. And the weight ranges from 20 kg to 100.

Types of wolves

Experts have seven separate types of predators. In addition, the gray wolf has about seventeen varieties.

Arctic

It is the rarest subspecies of the common gray wolf. Habitat - Greenland, northern Canada and Alaska. The predator has preserved its natural habitat thanks to the rare appearance of a person in a harsh area covered with eternal snow.

The polar wolf is a large animal with a powerful physique. Males reach a size at the withers up to 99 cm. Weight can reach 98 kg. Predators show sexual dimorphism. Females are smaller than males by about 16 percent.

Predators have thick light fur with a slight red tinge. The tail is fluffy, the legs are long, the ears are short.

Animals are perfectly adapted to the long absence of the sun during the polar night. In search of prey, they travel considerable distances across the snow-covered plains. An adult wolf is able to eat eleven kilograms of meat at one time. There is no trace of what was caught during the hunt. Even bones are eaten. Predators never chew meat, but swallow it in pieces.

Like other wolves, the polar one can only survive in a pack. Most often, the group consists of 12 individuals. It is led by a male and a female. The rest of the community members are puppies from past litters and newly born. In some cases, the pack accepts a lone wolf, but at the same time he obeys the leaders.

Only the alpha female breeds in the group. When cubs from other she-wolves appear, they are immediately killed. Such severity is explained by extremely difficult living conditions, in which it is difficult to feed a large number of wolf cubs.

The survival of animals depends entirely on the size of the hunting grounds. Therefore, wolves protect their borders. With the onset of winter cold, a group of predators migrates to the south, where it is easier to get their own food. Most often they follow the reindeer.

The polar wolf eats absolutely everything that he manages to find. In summer, its diet includes beetles, frogs, birds, lichens, fruits and berries. In winter, predators eat mainly the meat of hares, lemmings, musk oxen, and deer.

The polar wolf pursues its prey by using ambushes and changing riders. The best hunting time is spring. In warm weather, the crust thaws, it becomes difficult for deer to move in such conditions, and the predator easily catches up with them.

Healthy and strong herbivores are never in danger. The flock attacks only deer or sick animals. Having attacked the herd, predators break it. In this way, they isolate the chosen victim and kill. When the herd manages to regroup and surround its offspring in a dense ring, the wolves have to retreat. Wolves manage to achieve a positive result only in 11% of their attacks.

Female predators reach puberty by the age of three. In males, this period begins at two. Some time before giving birth, the she-wolf begins to prepare the den. Predators cannot dig a hole in the ice, so caves or depressions in rocks serve as a place for the appearance of puppies.

Pregnancy lasts 74 days. There are no more than three wolf cubs in a litter. The appearance of more puppies is extremely rare. Puppies that are born are blind and helpless. Their weight does not exceed four hundred grams. For a month they do not leave the den. Only when fully grown do they begin to leave it. All this time the female feeds them with milk.

Caring for offspring lies not only on the she-wolf, but on the whole pack. When the mother leaves the den to hunt, the young look after the puppies. Even with scarce food supplies, adult wolves always feed babies. Thus, it is possible to maintain the population size. Due to the harsh climate, wolves are not in danger from humans. There are no hunters in the Arctic.

Upon reaching puberty, young animals leave the pack and try to create their own. They look for unoccupied territory and mark its boundaries.

The polar wolf is listed in the Red Book. Hunting for it is prohibited.

Ruffed

It bears its name because of the long fur that covers its neck and shoulders. The hair in this area resembles the mane of horses. Aguarachai is found in Northern Argentina, Uruguay, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil. However, its main habitat is South America.

The coat of the guar is red, the ears are large, the muzzle is elongated. Outwardly, the wolf looks light and lean. The mass of the animal does not exceed 24 kg.

The aguarachai has the longest legs of any other wolf species. A similar structure of the limbs allows the predator to find prey in tall grass. The wolf hunts alone. It feeds on reptiles, birds, pacu, agouti, plants, fruits. Often attacks sheep and poultry when in groups.

Guars live in pairs. Very rarely contact with their relatives. There are up to three cubs in a litter. They have black fur. The female gives birth to puppies in winter.

The species is listed in the Red Book. Today there is no threat of extinction. However, the animal is still very rare.

Japanese

In the international classification, two subspecies of these animals are distinguished:

• Hokkaido or Ezo. These predators lived on the island of Hokkaido. Outwardly, they resembled an ordinary wolf.
• Khonshu or Khondos.

The Meiji government has placed a reward on anyone who brings the head of a predator. This marked the beginning of the complete destruction of the subspecies. In 1889, the Japanese wolf completely disappeared.

Leary

Scientific studies have shown that wolves do not live in South America. Since 2009, an attempt has been made to spread the legend about the supposedly existing subspecies of predators. It is currently impossible to confirm or refute the information received. Therefore, Leary Wolf remains more of a fiction.

Newfoundland

The species officially became extinct in 1911. There lived a predator on the eastern shores of Canada. The color was light with a dark stripe along the spine. Feeds on rodents and caribou.

Because of his thick fur, he was constantly hunted. In addition, since 1900, there was a shortage of food, which led to a sharp decline in the number of caribou. All these factors led to the complete extinction of the Newfoundland wolf.

Ethiopian

The phenotype of this predator is similar to the fox. The species is on the verge of extinction. Because of the amazingly beautiful fur, the animal is constantly hunted.

Mackensensky

The most common wolf species in North America. Animals can reach a weight of up to 79 kg. Height at the withers - 89 cm. Feeds on deer, wapiti, musk oxen and elk, bison.

The Alaskan wolf has been relocated to Yellowstone Park. He adapted well there. Its number increased by 1290 individuals. Some of the predators eventually left the protected areas and settled in the border zone. In these places they are hunted.

An amazing animal is found in the mountains of Asia. It is extremely difficult to say exactly who it is by appearance alone. His body is folded like that of a jackal, his behavior is wolf-like, and his beautiful fur resembles that of a fox.

Red or mountain wolf is a smart and beautiful predator. The mass of the animal reaches 22 kg, the length of the body does not exceed a meter. The color is bright, the tail is long and hangs almost to the ground, the fur is fluffy and thick. The muzzle is shortened, the ears are large, rounded, set high.

Depending on the habitat, the red or mountain wolf has a different coat color. However, in most cases it is reddish. In the cold season, the fur becomes thick, dense and soft. By summer, the coat coarsens and becomes darker. Wolf cubs are brown at birth.

There are 10 subspecies of predators. Differing from each other in body size, color and density of fur.

Red or mountain wolf lives in various areas. However, its numbers are small. Experts cannot say for sure whether he currently lives in Russia. Mostly red or mountain wolf lives in Asia.

The predator lives in gorges and rocks, where snow constantly lies. On the plains and in the forests appears only in search of food or when moving from one territory to another. It is extremely rare for an animal to attack livestock.

Predators hunt in packs. Its size does not exceed 13 individuals. At the same time, there is no clear leader in it. They forage for food most often during daylight hours. The red or mountain wolf feeds on deer, antelopes, lizards and rodents. A large flock can kill a bull and a leopard. With a shortage of food, a red or mountain wolf does not disdain carrion.

Despite the fact that the predator's diet mainly includes meat, it does not neglect plant foods. Mountain rhubarb is always present in a den with newborn puppies. Experts believe that it is fed to young animals by belching the inflorescences of the plant treated with gastric juice.

The red or mountain wolf attacks the victim from behind. It never grabs the throat of its prey, unlike the rest of the canids.

The animal is secretive. It always hides from people. The lair is arranged in well-defended places. Burrows never dig. They swim and jump well. They have sensitive hearing.

Due to the secretive lifestyle, the biology of the predator has not been fully studied. Experts can only say with confidence that the red or mountain wolf creates pairs with one female. The male is responsible for raising the puppies. In captivity, the predator mates in winter. Pregnancy lasts 59 days. There are no more than 9 puppies in a litter.

In a warm climate, young are born throughout the year. The born puppy is outwardly similar to an ordinary wolf or a German shepherd. Only after 13 days his eyes open. After half a year, the puppy begins to weigh like an adult. At two years, puberty occurs.

Ginger

Outwardly, the red wolf resembles a gray one. However, it is slightly smaller in size, its body is more slender, its coat is shorter, and its ears and legs are longer. The body reaches a size of 129 cm, height up to 79, weight no more than 39 kg. The color of the red wolf is not monophonic. The muzzle and legs are reddish, the back is black.

Predators live in the prairies, wetlands and mountainous areas. Flocks consist of animals of different ages. Aggression in groups is completely absent.

The red wolf eats not only meat, but also plant foods. Rabbits, raccoons, rodents most often become the prey of a predator. Very rare deer. Often animals eat carrion and berries. The red wolf sometimes becomes the prey of the lynx and alligators.

The breeding season lasts from January to March. She-wolves bring up to 7 puppies. Cases have been described when a female gave birth to 11 wolf cubs. Animals equip their lair under fallen trees or along the banks of reservoirs. At half a year, puppies become independent. A wolf lives in captivity for about 13 years, in natural conditions - 4 years.

The red wolf is the rarest canine. It is listed in the Red Book.

Marsupial

The last representatives of the subspecies lived until 1936 in Tasmania. The marsupial wolf had a body length of about a meter, a tail of 49 cm. Males aged could reach two meters in length.

The predator's skull resembled a dog's, but a thin tail at the end and a thick tail at the base, bent hind limbs spoke of its marsupial nature. The coat was coarse, short, very thick. The back had a brownish tint. It had darker stripes on it. The belly was light, the muzzle gray. Ears erect, short, rounded.

The marsupial wolf had a kind of bag on the stomach, formed by a skin fold that opened back.

Initially, the animal lived on grassy plains and in sparse forests. However, with the advent of man, his habitat has changed. He moved to the mountains, where he made his lair in caves and under fallen trees. The marsupial wolf was a nocturnal predator, but sometimes went out to bask in the sun. The predator hunted alone, extremely rarely in pairs.

The marsupial wolf fed on lizards, birds, echidnas. After human settlement in Australia, the animal began to attack livestock. The marsupial wolf often ate animals caught in traps. The predator left the caught and half-eaten game and never returned to it. The marsupial wolf had a piercing, guttural, deaf, coughing bark.

The thylacine is a marsupial. The wolves had a bag on their stomach formed by a skin fold. In it, the cubs were fed and nurtured. After three months, the puppies began to leave the pouch, but returned to it until they were nine months old.

The marsupial wolf did not reproduce under artificial conditions and lived up to 9 years.

Forest

Depending on the habitat, the phenotype of wolves changes. The colder the climate, the more massive and large animals living in these conditions. On average, the proportions of a gray wolf are as follows:

• weight 33-63 kg;
• body length 104-161 cm;
• height at the withers 67-87 cm.

These indicators make the common wolf the largest in the family.

One-year-old animals weigh 19-31 kg. In the third year of life 34-46 kg. The peak of development of the wolf reaches three years. In Alaska, animals reach a weight of 76 kg; in temperate latitudes, the figure varies between 51-61 kg.

Outwardly, the wolf looks like a sharp-eared large dog. His legs are high and powerful. The paw, unlike the dog's, is more elongated. The wolf's footprint is up to 13 cm long and 7 cm wide. The paw print is more prominent, unlike dogs. It is easy to distinguish it by the two middle fingers extended forward. The trail of traces resembles a flat line.

Description of the appearance of the wolf:

• broad-browed head;
• on the sides of the elongated wide muzzle are "whiskers";
• high, heavy, large skull;
• expanding to the bottom, wide nasal openings;
• the thick long tail is always omitted. By his movement and position, one can judge the mood of the wolf and the position in the pack.
• The structure of the jaw speaks about the lifestyle of the animal. Carnivorous teeth, which include the lower first molars and upper fourth premolars, participate in the section of the caught game. The fangs help the wolf to drag and hold the prey. With the loss of teeth, the animal is doomed to death.
• The fur is long, thick, consists of two layers. Thanks to him, the wolf looks much larger than it actually is. The outer hair, which is the first layer of wool, protects the animal from dirt and water. The undercoat - the second layer - is a waterproof fluff that allows you to keep warm. Closer to summer, molting occurs. During this period, the fluff exfoliates in small lumps. To speed up the process, animals rub their skins against various objects: tree trunks, stones.
• The wolf puppy has a dark, uniform coat, which brightens after a while. Fur color can have mixed shades in representatives of the same population. The undercoat of wolves is always gray, only the color of the guard hair differs.

Many people think that the color of the coat is used for camouflage. However, experts say that the color of the fur increases the individual characteristics of each individual.

• The eyes of animals up to 17 weeks of age are blue, then they acquire an orange tint. It is extremely rare that the eye color of adult wolves remains blue.

• Thanks to long scientific experiments, a hybrid of a wolf and a dog was bred. Breeds such as the Sarlosa and the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog are considered recognized all over the world.
• During the Middle Ages, the predator was considered a servant of the dark forces. Many legends, traditions and fairy tales were composed using his image. The most popular is the werewolf or werewolf.
• Wolves almost never attack humans. If this happens, then the animal is most likely sick with rabies.
• Many coats of arms of the European nobility were decorated with the image of a wolf. High-ranking officials believed that their family appeared thanks to werewolves.
• In order for the battle to be successful, the Vikings put on the skins of predators before it began, and also drank their blood.
• Wolf land. This is what Ireland was called in the 17th century because of the numerous wolf packs that lived on its lands.
• Under favorable weather conditions, a predator is able to hear a sound on a plain at a distance of 17 km.
• The wolf is extremely difficult to tame. The dream of having a predator in your house that will guard the territory is not feasible. Wolves are afraid of people, so they will hide from strangers rather than defend their territory.
• "Lupus" in translation means "red wolf". Doctors in the past believed that this autoimmune disease appears after a bite from a predator.
• The animal is an excellent swimmer. It is able to cover a distance of 14 km thanks to small membranes located between the fingers.
• Hitler really liked wolves. He gave many of his military headquarters code names associated with the name of the predator.
• The dire wolf is a prehistoric animal whose main prey was mammoths.
• The crow is often referred to as the "wolf bird". This name was given to him due to his habit of following a predator. The bird eats the remains of the caught prey, and also uses canines as protection.
• The Aztecs pierced the chest of a dying man with a sharp wolf bone. It was believed that death could be prevented in this way.
• Powder from the liver of a predator was used in medieval Europe during childbirth.
• Eating wolf meat can turn you into a vampire. This is exactly what the Greeks thought.
• The Cherokee have never hunted this predator. They believed that the weapon with which the animal was killed would "go bad." They were also afraid of revenge from the brothers of the dead wolf.
• The predator has well-developed facial expressions. He uses it to communicate with relatives.
• "Great god" is the translation of the word wolf from Japanese.

In India, primitive traps in the form of a pit with pointed sticks at the bottom are used to capture a predator.

The wolf is a predatory animal belonging to the canine (canine) family. In science, there are also such names as an ordinary wolf and a gray wolf.

The wolf is considered the largest member of the canine family. Its length reaches 1.5 meters without a tail, and up to 2 meters with a tail.

The height of a wolf from the ground to the seventh vertebra can be 0.9 meters, and its weight can reach 90 kilograms.

General characteristics of the species

According to some studies, the probability of the origin of a dog from a wolf has been established. In ancient times, wolves were often tamed by people, as a result of which a new species was formed, which is currently the pet of many people.

Not so long ago, the places where wolves live were vast (Asia, Europe, Amirica, etc.), the total number of individuals of this species was at the proper level. At present, the spread of the wolf has slowed down, and, one might say, went in the opposite direction.

This is primarily due to the decrease in forest areas where the wolf lives directly. In addition, the wolf is a tasty prey for poachers, which also affected their numbers.

In the main habitats of the wolf, hunting for it is prohibited, but at present there are still lands where hunting for wolves continues legally.

The wolf is, in a sense, the orderly of the forest. It relieves forest areas from sick and weak animals, which has an excellent effect on the general state of the gene pool.

Two types of wolves live in Russia: tundra and ordinary. Their total number is 32 subspecies.

Origin of the word "Wolf"

This word comes from the verb "drag". After the wolf kills its prey, it can grab onto it with its teeth and drag (drag) to the location of its offspring. Hence the name.

species evolution

The wolf began its evolution in ancient times in North America. There lived animals that were outwardly similar to the coyote, and were called Canis Lepophagus. This animal lived together with another species of the canine family - borophags. They inhabited the same territory as Canis Lepophagus, and their rivalry interfered with the normal existence of both species.

Over time, the borophages died out, which made it possible for the ancestor of the wolf to develop intensively and enter a new stage of evolution. Thus, the brain and body of Canis Lepophagus subsequently increased in size, and its development began at a rapid pace.

Approximately 1.8 million years ago, the ancestor of the wolf became minimally similar to the current wolf. Paleontologists discovered its remains in Eurasia, and gave the name Canis Priscolatrans.

The latter received the maximum similarity with the modern wolf a little later, having passed one more stage of evolution. This new subspecies has been named Canis Mosbachensis. Its existence continued for a long time.

Approximately 500 thousand years ago, the modern wolf appeared, the evolution of which continues to the present.

Description of the modern wolf

The size of the wolf and its appearance depend on the climate in which it lives. Equally important is the diversity of the animal world that surrounds it.

If there are a very small number of potential victims of the wolf where he lives, then this will affect his health, and, accordingly, his appearance and size.

The average height of an ordinary wolf at the withers is in the range of 65-90 cm. The average weight of a wolf has a large difference and can range from 30 to 90 kg. According to some reports, there are individuals and more than 90 kg.

One of the subspecies of the wolf - the Arabian wolf, weighs no more than 10-15 kg. This is the smallest wolf in the world.

Usually female wolves are smaller than males by about 20%.

The path from birth to maturity takes an average of 3 years.

The difference between a wolf and a dog

The wolf differs from the dog in stronger and higher legs. At the same time, the paw of the wolf itself is also much larger than that of the dog. The skull of the wolf is wider, the muzzle is also wider, and more extended forward. On the sides of the head, the wolf has a lot of hair, and the eyes have a narrow arrangement.

The nose of the wolf is extended forward, and its lower part is slightly expanded.

The wolf has approximately 42 teeth: 20 teeth in the upper jaw and 22 teeth in the lower. Both jaws have two fangs.

The wool of the wolf is very thick and has a certain stiffness, which allows him to protect himself from inclement weather, dampness and humidity. In addition, the abundance of wool helps to cope with the winter cold.

Closer to summer, the wolf sheds excess hair, so it becomes too hot for the beast in summer.

Subspecies of the wolf have a different color, which depends on the habitat of the predator. For example, a wolf that lives in the forest has a gray-brown color, in the tundra it is white, in the desert it is gray-red.

All these differences between a wolf and a dog are clearly visible in the photo below.

wolf eyes

Mostly wolves have yellow eyes. In very rare cases, the eye color of a wolf can be green, blue-green, or hazel.

Although little wolf cubs have blue eyes for 2-3 months after birth, which then gradually changes to yellow.

wolf sense of smell

The wolf's sense of smell has incredible power. The wolf can smell the smell of its victim, being at a distance of 3 km from it.

At the same time, the wolf's nose is able to distinguish millions of different smells. Therefore, the wolf's sense of smell is its main reference point.

What do wolves eat?

The diet of the modern wolf includes large mammalian species (elk, deer, bison, etc.). However, the wolf is not too lazy to chase smaller species, such as hare, roe deer, and various rodents.

And yet, most of the wolf's diet comes from dying and sick animals, as well as carrion.

These are ready-made food sources that do not require much work to get them, so wolves use this very willingly.

Useful information about the wolf

On average, a wolf lives for about 10 years;

Wolves do not live alone, they are always with their pack. At the same time, there is a male and a female in the flock, which are the parents of the entire flock;

The wolf is a predatory animal, and their main prey is large mammals, which they hunt in an organized way with the whole flock;

These predators are currently in danger. Their total number has greatly decreased in recent years, due to illegal hunting by poachers, and a decrease in forest areas;

An average wolf in a running state can reach a speed of 45 km / h;

The stamina of the wolf is very high. He can chase his prey for a long time (from 12 hours or more);

There are situations (very rarely) when a wolf leaves the pack, or other members of the pack drive him out due to illness;

The wolf is the largest member of its family.

wolf photo