| Gray wolves usually live in packs, led by an "alpha pair." The pack includes some of the alpha pair's offspring and may include some unrelated wolves. A pack's territory can be as large as 13,000 square km. Howling probably helps advertise who "owns" a particular piece of territory. When pups are born, the mother stays near them for the first three weeks, and her mate and others in the pack bring food to her. The pups are weaned when they about nine weeks old. As adults, they may travel as far as 72 km a day with their pack and run as fast as 70 km per hour.
Also known as:
Wolf, Timber Wolf, Tundra Wolf, Lobo, Prairie Wolf, Mexican Wolf, Arctic Wolf
Length:
Average:
1,100 mm males; 1,050 kg, females
Range:
1,000-1,300 mm males; 870-1,170 mm females
Weight:
Average:
55 kg males; 45 kg females
Range:
30-80 kg males; 23-55 kg females
References:
Linnaeus, C., 1758. Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classis, ordines, genera, species cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tenth Edition. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, 1:39, 824 pp.
Links:
Mammal Species of the World
Click here for The American Society of Mammalogists species account
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