A wolf is a large wild canine that resembles a dog. Wolves are of the Canidae family and assigned a specific name; Canis lupus. Other names include; grey/gray wolf, western wolf, and timber wolf. They have typically grey fur but others have pure white, red or brown and in some instances a mixture of both. Male wolf weighs up to 99 pounds while the female wolf up to 85 pounds. There is an acute disparity on the lifespan of a wolf but it ranges between 6 to 8 years. Wolves are found in remote regions of Eurasia and North America.
Behavior and Communication
Wolves are social beings, organized in family units called packs. Packs are founded by a union of unrelated mature male and female wolves called mated pair. The pair is the alpha. An average pack has 5 to 11 member and consist of the mated pair and pups who eventually disperse due to competition for food or after attaining sexual maturity. A wolf pack normally play hostile to strangers but in rare circumstances packs temporarily combine forces. Wolves use their distinct howls, a strong sense of smell, and visual signals including; facial expressions, tail positions, and piloerections to communicate.
Ecology: Habitat, Diet, Enemies, and Competitors …show more content…
They reside from dens which are built by the female wolves for the pups especially in the summer. Wolves feed on large ungulates and occasionally on smaller animals or large insects, with fruits and vegetables as supplements. However, wolves may feed on carrions or even cannibalize in dire situations. Wolves compete with other animals like coyotes, bears, jackals, foxes, dholes, hyenas, and cougars for food which may escalate to the killing of each other’s young ones. Humans and tigers are the main predators of