Wolf

Wolf is another kind of dog like fox that include a wild dog that live on the jungle. Possibly no animal has so misunderstood feared, hated and persecuted throughout history as the wolf. The gray wolf, also called the timber wolf, is the largest of about 41 wild species within the dog family, Canidae, of the order Carnivore. With the exception of the red wolf of southestern Texas and southern Lousiana, all living wolf are considered as single species, Canis lupus. The red wolf, C. rufus, is similar to but smaller than the gray wolf and is intermediate in many characteristics between gray wolves and coyotes; indeed, it has been suggested that the red wolf originated as a fertile cross between gray wolves and coyotes.

 wolf

The size of wolves varies with geographic locally. Adults range from about 127 to 164 cm (5 to 6.5 in) high at the shoulder, and from 18 to 80 kg (40 to 175 lb) in weight. The red wolf is at the lower end of this range, seldom exceeding 30 kg (66 lb) in weight. Coat colors vary from pure which is predominant in the far north, through mottled gray to brown or black. Grizzled gray is the most common color. The red wolf is usually a reddish tan.

Wolf can live in a variety of habitats, ranging from Arctic tundra to forest and prairie, if suitable prey is present. They are absent from deserts and the highest mountains. At one time the wolf occured throughout most of the Northern Hemisphere north of 20^o north latituds, or approximately from the Arctic to South Central Mexico. Attempts to exterminate the animal have reduced this range considerably. In the Old World wolves still exist in the Soviet Union, China, northern India, Eastern Europe, and in very small numbers, Western Europe. Most new world wolf populations are in Canada and contiguous states only Minnesota are in Canada and Alaska. A small population exist in Mexico. Of the 48 contiguous states only Minnesota currently has a wolf population large enough to maintain itself.