Wolf Information
Jul 10, 2011 19:39:25 GMT -5
Post by Courtney on Jul 10, 2011 19:39:25 GMT -5
General Wolf Info
Below is a complete list of all the species of wolves and their separate information. First I will provide information about wolves as a whole, then move on to the different wolf breeds(some breeds have less info due to their rarity). You can use this to pick the species of your wolf. All wolf breeds are allowed here. If there is not a breed here that you are thinking about using, then just tell me and I'll post its statistics. Note:: You can have a mixed breed, but incorporate characteristics from both or all species in your character form. Also, please keep in mind that the below stats are just a general basis for most wolves. There is no definite limit in the wild for a wolf build. However, please use discretion when deciding the physical attributes of your wolf.
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Wolves are slender, powerfully built animals with large, deeply descending ribcages and sloping backs. Their abdomens are pulled in, and their necks heavily muscled. Their limbs are long and robust, with comparatively small paws. The front paws have five toes each, while the back paws have four. The forelimbs are seemingly pressed into the chest, with the elbows pointed inward, and the feet outward. Females tend to have narrower muzzles and foreheads, thinner necks, slightly shorter legs and less massive shoulders than males. Wolves are very strong for their size, possessing sufficient strength to turn over a frozen horse or moose carcass. They are also capable of running at speeds of 34–38 miles per hour, and can continue running for more than 20 minutes, though not necessarily at that speed. In cold climates, wolves can reduce the flow of blood near their skin to conserve body heat. The warmth of the footpads is regulated independently of the rest of the body, and is maintained at just above tissue-freezing point where the pads come in contact with ice and snow.
As a whole, wolves' heads are large and heavy, with wide foreheads, strong jaws and long, blunt muzzles. The ears are relatively small and triangular. Wolves usually carry their heads at the same level as their backs, raising their heads only when alert.
The teeth are heavy and large, being better suited to bone crushing than those of other canids, though not as specialised as those found in hyenas. The canine teeth are robust and relatively short. The animal can develop a crushing pressure that is sufficient to break open most bones.
Their sense of smell is able to detect carrion upwind no farther than 2–3 km. Captive wolves are known to be able to detect what foods their handlers have eaten by smell. Their auditory perception is very sharp, being able to hear up to a frequency greater than that of foxes. Their hearing is sharp enough to register the fall of leaves in the autumn period. Their night vision is the most advanced of the Canidae.
Grey/Timber
Height
Adult greys are on average 41–63 inches in length, and 26–34 inches in shoulder height. The tail measures 11–20 inches in length.
Weight
Weight varies very much from wolf to wolf in the species, so there is a wide difference between the numbers. An adult can weigh between 50-175 pounds, average being about 100. Females in any given wolf population typically weigh 5–10 lbs less than the males.
Pelt Colors
Coat color ranges from almost pure white through various shades of blond, cream, and ochre to grays, browns, and blacks. Differences in coat color between sexes are largely absent, though females may have redder tones. Black colored wolves rarely occur.
Eye Colors
In adult wolves, yellow eyes are exceedingly common. But brown, orange, and pale green can be seen. All pups have blue irises.
Reproduction
Breeding occurs in January to the beginning of March, with northern populations breeding later in the season than southern populations. After mating occurs, the female digs a den in which to raise her young. The den is often dug with an entrance that slopes down and then up again to a higher area to avoid flooding. The gestation period lasts between 60 and 63 days, litter size ranges from five to fourteen, with the average size being seven pups.
Female pups reach maturity at two years of age, while males will not reach full maturity until three years of age.
Lifespan
Gray wolves may live thirteen years in the wild, though average lifespan is 5 to 8 years. As adults they usually die from old age or from injuries received while hunting or fighting with other wolves.
Other Info
Gray wolves have very dense and fluffy winter fur, with short underfur and long, coarse guard hairs. Most of the underfur and some of the guard hairs are shed in the spring and grow back in the autumn period. The longest hairs occur on the back, particularly on the front quarters and neck. Especially long hairs are found on the shoulders, and almost form a crest on the upper part of the neck. The hairs on the cheeks are elongated and form tufts. The ears are covered in short hairs which strongly project from the fur. Short, elastic and closely adjacent hairs are present on the limbs from the elbows down to the calcaneal tendons.
The winter fur is highly resistant to cold; wolves in northern climates can rest comfortably in open areas at -40° by placing their muzzles between the rear legs and covering their faces with their tail. Wolf fur provides excellent insulation, and, as with wolverines, it does not collect ice when warm breath is condensed against it. In warm climates, the fur is coarser and scarcer than in northern wolves.
Female wolves tend to have smoother furred limbs than males, and generally develop the smoothest overall coats as they age. Older wolves generally have more white hairs in the tip of the tail, along the nose and on the forehead.
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Mexican/Lobo
Height
The Mexican Wolf is the smallest Gray Wolf subspecies present in North America. It reaches an overall length no greater than 4–5.5 ft and a maximum height of about 26-32 inches.
Weight
Weight ranges from 50–90 lb. In stature, it resembles some European wolves, though its head is usually broader, its neck thicker, its ears longer and its tail shorter.
Pelt Colors
Brown mixes are the most common colors for the Mexican Gray wolf, but they can still be diversely colored animals, most with dark gray, brown, cinnamon and buff over light underparts. The tail is generally dark-tipped.
Eye Colors
Lobo wolves can have yellow, brown, orange, and pale green eyes. Puppies always are born with blue eyes.
Reproduction Facts
Females only mate once a year. The mating season for the Mexican wolf is usually Mid February until Mid March. Gestation lasts about 63 days. Litter size ranges from 4 to 7 pups.
Lifespan
Wild wolves can live from 8 to 10 years of age.
Other Info
The Mexican wolves also have an impressive head with a short, thick muzzle and a large nose pad. Their deep chest contours, thick necks, heavy forequarters and long forelegs give them a heavier appearance in the shoulders than in the hindquarters.
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Red
Height
Red wolves have a head and body length of 44-65 inches including a tail of 12–17 inches. They stand about 26-31 inches at the shoulder.
Weight
Body weight can range from 35 to 90 lb but averages at about 54 lb. Male red wolves are approximately 10% larger than females.
Pelt Colors
The red wolf pup begins life with a slate or dark gray pelt with auburn-tinged fur visible on its head. As it matures, this color changes color to a mixture of buff, tawny, cinnamon and brown along the body and a black tipped tail; it often has black guard hairs too and sometimes presents with black or dark bars on its forelegs. The pelt molts once annually in the winter. Its muzzle is white furred around the lips.
Eye Colors
Most red wolves have golden to yellow eyes. Some wolves have brown eyes and even green eyes. Puppies are always born with blue eyes.
Reproduction Facts
The red wolf has one estrous cycle per year and the female typically becomes sexually mature by its second year. They generally mate in the late winter; January - April. The gestation period is about 60-63 days. Litters can produce 1-11 pups but average is about five.
Lifespan
An average life is 6-7 years in the wild. The maximum Age possible is up to 13 years.
Other Info
The red wolf is generally intermediate in size between the coyote and the gray wolf. However, the disproportionately long legs and large ears are two obvious features that separate red wolves from coyotes and gray wolves. Its overall appearance is more slender and graceful than that of a gray wolf. The red wolf is one of the world's rarest mammals. When they lived in the wild, there was apparently little overlap between the gray wolf, which inhabited all other areas of the United States outside of the red wolf's range. Red wolves have tall, pointed ears and long legs with big feet.
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Arctic/Polar
Height
Arctic wolves can reach 25-31 inches at the shoulder. Head and body length is usually 3-5 ft, including the tail.
Weight
Adult males can get up to 175 lb., with the female being much lighter.
Pelt Colors
Arctic wolves tend to be white with brown irises. White fur gives them camouflage in a snowy environment, and the darker irises give added protection to the eyes in a high glare environment. They do offer some aspects of yellow, red, gray, and black in places though.
Eye Colors
Brown is a highly common color due to their environment. Other colors may be seen, however. Pups have blue eyes.
Reproduction Facts
Males reach maturity at 3 years, females around 2 years. Mating takes place most often in March. The pregnancies last about 63-75 days, with the birth in late may to early June. The mother gives birth to 2 or 5 pups, though there may be as many as 12. It is generally thought that the lower number is due to the scarcity of prey in the Arctic. Pups are born blind and deaf, and weigh about one pound.
Lifespan
A wolf can survive up to 17 years, although this is rare.
Other Info
The Arctic Wolf can survive in sub-zero temperatures for years, in absolute darkness for five months per year, and without food for weeks. To help reduce heat loss, they have more-rounded ears, a shorter muzzle and shorter legs than other gray wolf subspecies. They also have hair between the pads of their feet and long, thick fur to keep them warm in temperatures that can drop to -70° Fahrenheit.
Due to the extreme cold where the Arctic Wolf lives, they have two thick layers of fur. The outer layer actually gets thicker as the winter months come along. They first layer helps to form a waterproof barrier for the skin. As a result their body temperature can stay warm enough even when it is bitter cold. These wolves have smaller ears than other species. They also help them to regular their overall body temperature. Since the ground is permanently frozen they have padded paws that are designed to offer them a good grip when they walk.
The stockier shape of their bodies, short legs, muzzle and small ears are designed so that Arctic wolves can keep heat in and cold out. Year-round white-grey coats and slightly shorter noses and ears distinguish these wolves from other races of the gray wolf.
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Ethiopian
Height
Head and body length can range from 33 to 40 in, with a tail of 11 to 16 inches and a shoulder height up to 25 inches.
Weight
The male thiopian wolves are significantly larger than the females, with the males weighing from 33 to 42 pounds and females weighing from 24 to 31 pounds.
Pelt Colors
Ethiopian wolf pups are born charcoal gray with a buff patch on their chest and under areas. At about 3 weeks, the coat begins to be replaced by the normal adult coloring. Adults have a reddish coat with white marking on the legs, underbelly, tail, face, and chin. The boundary between the red and white fur is quite distinct. White markings on the face include a characteristic white crescent below the eyes and a white spot on the cheeks. The chin and throat are also white. The tail is marked with an indistinct black stripe down its length and a brush of black hairs at the tip. The ears are wide and pointed and the nose, gums, and palate are black. Females are generally paler in color than males, and become more yellowish in mating season.
Eye Colors
Eye colors can range from yellow, brown, green, and some amber. Pups are born with blue eyes that change color later in life.
Reproduction Facts
Both sexes mature during their second year. Females breed no more than once annually between the months of August and November. Gestation lasts about two months(60-62 days). Litters are born between October and January, usually consisting of 2 to 6 pups. Only about 60% of dominant females breed successfully each year. Development of the young is divisible into three stages: 1) early nesting (week 1 to week 4), when the young are entirely dependent on milk; 2) mixed nutritional dependency (week 5 to week 10), when milk is supplemented by solid foods regurgitated by all pack members until pups are completely weaned; and 3) post-weaning dependency (week 10 to 6 months), when the pups subsist almost entirely on solid foods supplied by helpers.
Lifespan
Ethiopian wolves may live 8 to 10 years in the wild, although one wild individual was recorded living to 12 years.
Other Info
The Ethiopian wolf is also known as the Abyssinian wolf, Abyssinian fox, red jackal, Simien fox, or Simien jackal. It is a medium sized canid resembling the coyote in size and conformation, having long legs and a narrow pointed muzzle
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Maned
Height
The adult Maned Wolf stands 26 to 42 inches(about 3 feet) tall at the shoulder and averages 50 -59 inches in total length with a tail measuring 12 inches. Its ears are large and long; about 7 inches.
Weight
An adult can weigh between 44 to 75 pounds.
Pelt Colors
Fur of the maned wolf may be reddish brown to golden orange on the sides with long, black legs and a distinctive black mane. The coat is further marked with a whitish tuft at the tip of the tail and a white "bib" beneath the throat. It has a distinctive erect black mane. The pups are born black with white tips on the tail.
Eye Colors
Colors can be green, yellow, brown or black. Pups have blue eyes.
Reproduction Facts
The mating season ranges from November to April, with gestation lasting 50 to 75 days. In August and early September mothers give birth to 2 to 6 black-furred wolf pups, each weighing about 16 oz. These pups are fully grown in about one year. Males do not help raise the pups.
Lifespan
These wolves have been known to live approximately 12 to 15 years.
Other Info
They move by simultaneously lifting both legs on one side of its body in a rocking motion. This is called ambling. Two middle toe pads allow the foot to spread making it easier to walk on the marshy ground. Maned wolves do not form packs like other wolves. Maned Wolves live in monogamous pairs (having one partner for life) and only interact during the breeding season. It is neither a fox nor a true wolf, but rather a distinct species of its own.
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Mackenzie Valley
Height
They measure 32 to 36 inches shoulder height and 5 to 7 feet in length, from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail.
Weight
Average males weigh between 100 and 145 pounds with females weighing roughly 10 to 20 percent less. The heaviest on record was caught in Alaska in 1939, weighing 175 pounds.
Pelt Colors
They can range in color anywhere from white to yellowish white to grey to black or a blend of all of these.
Eye Colors
Pups are born with blue eyes. At around 8 to 16 weeks old, thier eyes change color. They can be yellow, amber, brown, or green.
Reproduction Facts
Breeding season usually occurs in February. Usually 63 days after breeding, 4 to 6 pups are born. They leave the den in 4 to 6 weeks. They become full-grown in 6 to 8 months, and sexually mature at about 22 months.
Lifespan
9 years is the average, although up to 13 is possible.
Other Info
These wolves are also known as the Canadian Timber wolf, Rocky Mountain Wolf, and Alaskan Timber Wolf. They have thick, long limbs which are proportionally built for traversing through rough terrain such as deep snow or the cliffy edges of the Rocky Mountains. Its deep chest hosts large lungs, letting the wolf breathe more efficiently at higher altitudes, and allowing it to exert huge amounts of stamina traveling up to 70 miles in one day. Its powerful neck is a very important adaptation; it has to be strong to support the wolf's large head and is crucial for bringing down prey. The Mackenzie Valley Wolf maximizes heat retention through such methods as using its bushy tail to cover its exposed nose during the winter. It sheds its undercoat during the summer months due to the hotter conditions.
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Great Plains/Buffalo
Height
A typical Great Plains wolf is between 26–38 inches in height, and 4.3–6.8 ft in length. Its tail is about 13.8–19.8 inches long. The female is roughly 80 percent the size of the male.
Weight
The wolf can weigh 57-110 pounds, sometimes depending on the genetics and sex.
Pelt Colors
They may have a coat of gray, black or buff with reddish coloring.
Eye Colors
Eye colors are typical of any grey wolf subspecies. Yellow is the most common, but brown, amber, and green can be found. Pups have blue eyes.
Reproduction Facts
The mating season begins usually in early January through late February. A pregnancy can be 63 days long, resulting in a litter of 4 to 6 pups. Wolves generally reach adult size by six to eight months of age and are usually sexually mature by 22 months.
Lifespan
The lifespan of the buffalo wolf can be between 8 to 13 years old.
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Arabian
Height
The Arabian wolf is a small, desert adapted wolf that stands at around 26 inches shoulder height, with the females of the species being a little smaller.
Weight
They average 40 lbs, with mature females weighing in at as little as 22 pounds.
Pelt Colors
Arabian wolves have short, thin fur in summer, though the hair on their back remains long even in summer. The winter coat is long, though not as long as northern subspecies. It has short, grayish colored fur all over its body.
Eye Colors
Like other wolves, the Arabian wolf's eyes are yellow, but many are found with brown eyes. Pups eyes are always blue.
Reproduction
Mating season usually lasts from October to December. Birth can be about 60 days later. The litter size can be as large as 12, but is usually only 2 or 3.
Lifespan
This wolf subspecies can survive up to 10-12 years in the wild.
Other Info
The Arabian Wolf is the smallest wolf subspecies, yet, the largest canid in Arabia. Arabian wolves do not live in large packs, instead they hunt in pairs or in groups of about three to four animals, unless it is mating season. This subspecies is unusual, as it is not known to howl. They are unique among grey wolves due to the middle two toes of their paws being fused, a trait originally thought unique to the African Wild Dog. It is distinguished from the Indian Wolf by its paler fur, smaller size and proportionally smaller head.
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Italian/Apennine
Height
The body length of the Italian Wolf is usually 39 - 55 inches, although they can become larger.
Weight
Male Italian Wolves have an average weight of 53 - 88 pounds, with females usually being 10% lighter.
Pelt Colors
Their fur color is commonly blended different shades of grey or brown, though black specimens have recently been sighted.
Eye Colors
Eye color is mostly yellow, but brown, green, and amber hues are seen. Blue eyes are only seen with their pups.
Reproduction Facts
Mating occurs in mid-March with a 2 month gestation period. The number of pups born is dependent on the mothers age, usually ranging from 2 to 8 pups. Italian Wolf pups open their eyes at the age of 11 - 12 days and are weaned at the age of 35 - 45 days. They are fully able to digest meat at 3 - 4 months.
Lifespan
Lifespan is about 8 - 10 years, although some can live to 13 years.
Other InfoBy grey wolf standards, the Italian wolf is considered a medium sized subspecies. The Italian wolf appears skinny and slender looking, with somewhat long legs.
Below is a complete list of all the species of wolves and their separate information. First I will provide information about wolves as a whole, then move on to the different wolf breeds(some breeds have less info due to their rarity). You can use this to pick the species of your wolf. All wolf breeds are allowed here. If there is not a breed here that you are thinking about using, then just tell me and I'll post its statistics. Note:: You can have a mixed breed, but incorporate characteristics from both or all species in your character form. Also, please keep in mind that the below stats are just a general basis for most wolves. There is no definite limit in the wild for a wolf build. However, please use discretion when deciding the physical attributes of your wolf.
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Wolves are slender, powerfully built animals with large, deeply descending ribcages and sloping backs. Their abdomens are pulled in, and their necks heavily muscled. Their limbs are long and robust, with comparatively small paws. The front paws have five toes each, while the back paws have four. The forelimbs are seemingly pressed into the chest, with the elbows pointed inward, and the feet outward. Females tend to have narrower muzzles and foreheads, thinner necks, slightly shorter legs and less massive shoulders than males. Wolves are very strong for their size, possessing sufficient strength to turn over a frozen horse or moose carcass. They are also capable of running at speeds of 34–38 miles per hour, and can continue running for more than 20 minutes, though not necessarily at that speed. In cold climates, wolves can reduce the flow of blood near their skin to conserve body heat. The warmth of the footpads is regulated independently of the rest of the body, and is maintained at just above tissue-freezing point where the pads come in contact with ice and snow.
As a whole, wolves' heads are large and heavy, with wide foreheads, strong jaws and long, blunt muzzles. The ears are relatively small and triangular. Wolves usually carry their heads at the same level as their backs, raising their heads only when alert.
The teeth are heavy and large, being better suited to bone crushing than those of other canids, though not as specialised as those found in hyenas. The canine teeth are robust and relatively short. The animal can develop a crushing pressure that is sufficient to break open most bones.
Their sense of smell is able to detect carrion upwind no farther than 2–3 km. Captive wolves are known to be able to detect what foods their handlers have eaten by smell. Their auditory perception is very sharp, being able to hear up to a frequency greater than that of foxes. Their hearing is sharp enough to register the fall of leaves in the autumn period. Their night vision is the most advanced of the Canidae.
Grey/Timber
Height
Adult greys are on average 41–63 inches in length, and 26–34 inches in shoulder height. The tail measures 11–20 inches in length.
Weight
Weight varies very much from wolf to wolf in the species, so there is a wide difference between the numbers. An adult can weigh between 50-175 pounds, average being about 100. Females in any given wolf population typically weigh 5–10 lbs less than the males.
Pelt Colors
Coat color ranges from almost pure white through various shades of blond, cream, and ochre to grays, browns, and blacks. Differences in coat color between sexes are largely absent, though females may have redder tones. Black colored wolves rarely occur.
Eye Colors
In adult wolves, yellow eyes are exceedingly common. But brown, orange, and pale green can be seen. All pups have blue irises.
Reproduction
Breeding occurs in January to the beginning of March, with northern populations breeding later in the season than southern populations. After mating occurs, the female digs a den in which to raise her young. The den is often dug with an entrance that slopes down and then up again to a higher area to avoid flooding. The gestation period lasts between 60 and 63 days, litter size ranges from five to fourteen, with the average size being seven pups.
Female pups reach maturity at two years of age, while males will not reach full maturity until three years of age.
Lifespan
Gray wolves may live thirteen years in the wild, though average lifespan is 5 to 8 years. As adults they usually die from old age or from injuries received while hunting or fighting with other wolves.
Other Info
Gray wolves have very dense and fluffy winter fur, with short underfur and long, coarse guard hairs. Most of the underfur and some of the guard hairs are shed in the spring and grow back in the autumn period. The longest hairs occur on the back, particularly on the front quarters and neck. Especially long hairs are found on the shoulders, and almost form a crest on the upper part of the neck. The hairs on the cheeks are elongated and form tufts. The ears are covered in short hairs which strongly project from the fur. Short, elastic and closely adjacent hairs are present on the limbs from the elbows down to the calcaneal tendons.
The winter fur is highly resistant to cold; wolves in northern climates can rest comfortably in open areas at -40° by placing their muzzles between the rear legs and covering their faces with their tail. Wolf fur provides excellent insulation, and, as with wolverines, it does not collect ice when warm breath is condensed against it. In warm climates, the fur is coarser and scarcer than in northern wolves.
Female wolves tend to have smoother furred limbs than males, and generally develop the smoothest overall coats as they age. Older wolves generally have more white hairs in the tip of the tail, along the nose and on the forehead.
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Mexican/Lobo
Height
The Mexican Wolf is the smallest Gray Wolf subspecies present in North America. It reaches an overall length no greater than 4–5.5 ft and a maximum height of about 26-32 inches.
Weight
Weight ranges from 50–90 lb. In stature, it resembles some European wolves, though its head is usually broader, its neck thicker, its ears longer and its tail shorter.
Pelt Colors
Brown mixes are the most common colors for the Mexican Gray wolf, but they can still be diversely colored animals, most with dark gray, brown, cinnamon and buff over light underparts. The tail is generally dark-tipped.
Eye Colors
Lobo wolves can have yellow, brown, orange, and pale green eyes. Puppies always are born with blue eyes.
Reproduction Facts
Females only mate once a year. The mating season for the Mexican wolf is usually Mid February until Mid March. Gestation lasts about 63 days. Litter size ranges from 4 to 7 pups.
Lifespan
Wild wolves can live from 8 to 10 years of age.
Other Info
The Mexican wolves also have an impressive head with a short, thick muzzle and a large nose pad. Their deep chest contours, thick necks, heavy forequarters and long forelegs give them a heavier appearance in the shoulders than in the hindquarters.
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Red
Height
Red wolves have a head and body length of 44-65 inches including a tail of 12–17 inches. They stand about 26-31 inches at the shoulder.
Weight
Body weight can range from 35 to 90 lb but averages at about 54 lb. Male red wolves are approximately 10% larger than females.
Pelt Colors
The red wolf pup begins life with a slate or dark gray pelt with auburn-tinged fur visible on its head. As it matures, this color changes color to a mixture of buff, tawny, cinnamon and brown along the body and a black tipped tail; it often has black guard hairs too and sometimes presents with black or dark bars on its forelegs. The pelt molts once annually in the winter. Its muzzle is white furred around the lips.
Eye Colors
Most red wolves have golden to yellow eyes. Some wolves have brown eyes and even green eyes. Puppies are always born with blue eyes.
Reproduction Facts
The red wolf has one estrous cycle per year and the female typically becomes sexually mature by its second year. They generally mate in the late winter; January - April. The gestation period is about 60-63 days. Litters can produce 1-11 pups but average is about five.
Lifespan
An average life is 6-7 years in the wild. The maximum Age possible is up to 13 years.
Other Info
The red wolf is generally intermediate in size between the coyote and the gray wolf. However, the disproportionately long legs and large ears are two obvious features that separate red wolves from coyotes and gray wolves. Its overall appearance is more slender and graceful than that of a gray wolf. The red wolf is one of the world's rarest mammals. When they lived in the wild, there was apparently little overlap between the gray wolf, which inhabited all other areas of the United States outside of the red wolf's range. Red wolves have tall, pointed ears and long legs with big feet.
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Arctic/Polar
Height
Arctic wolves can reach 25-31 inches at the shoulder. Head and body length is usually 3-5 ft, including the tail.
Weight
Adult males can get up to 175 lb., with the female being much lighter.
Pelt Colors
Arctic wolves tend to be white with brown irises. White fur gives them camouflage in a snowy environment, and the darker irises give added protection to the eyes in a high glare environment. They do offer some aspects of yellow, red, gray, and black in places though.
Eye Colors
Brown is a highly common color due to their environment. Other colors may be seen, however. Pups have blue eyes.
Reproduction Facts
Males reach maturity at 3 years, females around 2 years. Mating takes place most often in March. The pregnancies last about 63-75 days, with the birth in late may to early June. The mother gives birth to 2 or 5 pups, though there may be as many as 12. It is generally thought that the lower number is due to the scarcity of prey in the Arctic. Pups are born blind and deaf, and weigh about one pound.
Lifespan
A wolf can survive up to 17 years, although this is rare.
Other Info
The Arctic Wolf can survive in sub-zero temperatures for years, in absolute darkness for five months per year, and without food for weeks. To help reduce heat loss, they have more-rounded ears, a shorter muzzle and shorter legs than other gray wolf subspecies. They also have hair between the pads of their feet and long, thick fur to keep them warm in temperatures that can drop to -70° Fahrenheit.
Due to the extreme cold where the Arctic Wolf lives, they have two thick layers of fur. The outer layer actually gets thicker as the winter months come along. They first layer helps to form a waterproof barrier for the skin. As a result their body temperature can stay warm enough even when it is bitter cold. These wolves have smaller ears than other species. They also help them to regular their overall body temperature. Since the ground is permanently frozen they have padded paws that are designed to offer them a good grip when they walk.
The stockier shape of their bodies, short legs, muzzle and small ears are designed so that Arctic wolves can keep heat in and cold out. Year-round white-grey coats and slightly shorter noses and ears distinguish these wolves from other races of the gray wolf.
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Ethiopian
Height
Head and body length can range from 33 to 40 in, with a tail of 11 to 16 inches and a shoulder height up to 25 inches.
Weight
The male thiopian wolves are significantly larger than the females, with the males weighing from 33 to 42 pounds and females weighing from 24 to 31 pounds.
Pelt Colors
Ethiopian wolf pups are born charcoal gray with a buff patch on their chest and under areas. At about 3 weeks, the coat begins to be replaced by the normal adult coloring. Adults have a reddish coat with white marking on the legs, underbelly, tail, face, and chin. The boundary between the red and white fur is quite distinct. White markings on the face include a characteristic white crescent below the eyes and a white spot on the cheeks. The chin and throat are also white. The tail is marked with an indistinct black stripe down its length and a brush of black hairs at the tip. The ears are wide and pointed and the nose, gums, and palate are black. Females are generally paler in color than males, and become more yellowish in mating season.
Eye Colors
Eye colors can range from yellow, brown, green, and some amber. Pups are born with blue eyes that change color later in life.
Reproduction Facts
Both sexes mature during their second year. Females breed no more than once annually between the months of August and November. Gestation lasts about two months(60-62 days). Litters are born between October and January, usually consisting of 2 to 6 pups. Only about 60% of dominant females breed successfully each year. Development of the young is divisible into three stages: 1) early nesting (week 1 to week 4), when the young are entirely dependent on milk; 2) mixed nutritional dependency (week 5 to week 10), when milk is supplemented by solid foods regurgitated by all pack members until pups are completely weaned; and 3) post-weaning dependency (week 10 to 6 months), when the pups subsist almost entirely on solid foods supplied by helpers.
Lifespan
Ethiopian wolves may live 8 to 10 years in the wild, although one wild individual was recorded living to 12 years.
Other Info
The Ethiopian wolf is also known as the Abyssinian wolf, Abyssinian fox, red jackal, Simien fox, or Simien jackal. It is a medium sized canid resembling the coyote in size and conformation, having long legs and a narrow pointed muzzle
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Maned
Height
The adult Maned Wolf stands 26 to 42 inches(about 3 feet) tall at the shoulder and averages 50 -59 inches in total length with a tail measuring 12 inches. Its ears are large and long; about 7 inches.
Weight
An adult can weigh between 44 to 75 pounds.
Pelt Colors
Fur of the maned wolf may be reddish brown to golden orange on the sides with long, black legs and a distinctive black mane. The coat is further marked with a whitish tuft at the tip of the tail and a white "bib" beneath the throat. It has a distinctive erect black mane. The pups are born black with white tips on the tail.
Eye Colors
Colors can be green, yellow, brown or black. Pups have blue eyes.
Reproduction Facts
The mating season ranges from November to April, with gestation lasting 50 to 75 days. In August and early September mothers give birth to 2 to 6 black-furred wolf pups, each weighing about 16 oz. These pups are fully grown in about one year. Males do not help raise the pups.
Lifespan
These wolves have been known to live approximately 12 to 15 years.
Other Info
They move by simultaneously lifting both legs on one side of its body in a rocking motion. This is called ambling. Two middle toe pads allow the foot to spread making it easier to walk on the marshy ground. Maned wolves do not form packs like other wolves. Maned Wolves live in monogamous pairs (having one partner for life) and only interact during the breeding season. It is neither a fox nor a true wolf, but rather a distinct species of its own.
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Mackenzie Valley
Height
They measure 32 to 36 inches shoulder height and 5 to 7 feet in length, from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail.
Weight
Average males weigh between 100 and 145 pounds with females weighing roughly 10 to 20 percent less. The heaviest on record was caught in Alaska in 1939, weighing 175 pounds.
Pelt Colors
They can range in color anywhere from white to yellowish white to grey to black or a blend of all of these.
Eye Colors
Pups are born with blue eyes. At around 8 to 16 weeks old, thier eyes change color. They can be yellow, amber, brown, or green.
Reproduction Facts
Breeding season usually occurs in February. Usually 63 days after breeding, 4 to 6 pups are born. They leave the den in 4 to 6 weeks. They become full-grown in 6 to 8 months, and sexually mature at about 22 months.
Lifespan
9 years is the average, although up to 13 is possible.
Other Info
These wolves are also known as the Canadian Timber wolf, Rocky Mountain Wolf, and Alaskan Timber Wolf. They have thick, long limbs which are proportionally built for traversing through rough terrain such as deep snow or the cliffy edges of the Rocky Mountains. Its deep chest hosts large lungs, letting the wolf breathe more efficiently at higher altitudes, and allowing it to exert huge amounts of stamina traveling up to 70 miles in one day. Its powerful neck is a very important adaptation; it has to be strong to support the wolf's large head and is crucial for bringing down prey. The Mackenzie Valley Wolf maximizes heat retention through such methods as using its bushy tail to cover its exposed nose during the winter. It sheds its undercoat during the summer months due to the hotter conditions.
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Great Plains/Buffalo
Height
A typical Great Plains wolf is between 26–38 inches in height, and 4.3–6.8 ft in length. Its tail is about 13.8–19.8 inches long. The female is roughly 80 percent the size of the male.
Weight
The wolf can weigh 57-110 pounds, sometimes depending on the genetics and sex.
Pelt Colors
They may have a coat of gray, black or buff with reddish coloring.
Eye Colors
Eye colors are typical of any grey wolf subspecies. Yellow is the most common, but brown, amber, and green can be found. Pups have blue eyes.
Reproduction Facts
The mating season begins usually in early January through late February. A pregnancy can be 63 days long, resulting in a litter of 4 to 6 pups. Wolves generally reach adult size by six to eight months of age and are usually sexually mature by 22 months.
Lifespan
The lifespan of the buffalo wolf can be between 8 to 13 years old.
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Arabian
Height
The Arabian wolf is a small, desert adapted wolf that stands at around 26 inches shoulder height, with the females of the species being a little smaller.
Weight
They average 40 lbs, with mature females weighing in at as little as 22 pounds.
Pelt Colors
Arabian wolves have short, thin fur in summer, though the hair on their back remains long even in summer. The winter coat is long, though not as long as northern subspecies. It has short, grayish colored fur all over its body.
Eye Colors
Like other wolves, the Arabian wolf's eyes are yellow, but many are found with brown eyes. Pups eyes are always blue.
Reproduction
Mating season usually lasts from October to December. Birth can be about 60 days later. The litter size can be as large as 12, but is usually only 2 or 3.
Lifespan
This wolf subspecies can survive up to 10-12 years in the wild.
Other Info
The Arabian Wolf is the smallest wolf subspecies, yet, the largest canid in Arabia. Arabian wolves do not live in large packs, instead they hunt in pairs or in groups of about three to four animals, unless it is mating season. This subspecies is unusual, as it is not known to howl. They are unique among grey wolves due to the middle two toes of their paws being fused, a trait originally thought unique to the African Wild Dog. It is distinguished from the Indian Wolf by its paler fur, smaller size and proportionally smaller head.
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Italian/Apennine
Height
The body length of the Italian Wolf is usually 39 - 55 inches, although they can become larger.
Weight
Male Italian Wolves have an average weight of 53 - 88 pounds, with females usually being 10% lighter.
Pelt Colors
Their fur color is commonly blended different shades of grey or brown, though black specimens have recently been sighted.
Eye Colors
Eye color is mostly yellow, but brown, green, and amber hues are seen. Blue eyes are only seen with their pups.
Reproduction Facts
Mating occurs in mid-March with a 2 month gestation period. The number of pups born is dependent on the mothers age, usually ranging from 2 to 8 pups. Italian Wolf pups open their eyes at the age of 11 - 12 days and are weaned at the age of 35 - 45 days. They are fully able to digest meat at 3 - 4 months.
Lifespan
Lifespan is about 8 - 10 years, although some can live to 13 years.
Other InfoBy grey wolf standards, the Italian wolf is considered a medium sized subspecies. The Italian wolf appears skinny and slender looking, with somewhat long legs.