Tundra Wolf
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| Tundra Wolf | ||||||||||||||||
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| Canis lupus albus Kerr, 1792 |
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 Tundra wolf range
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The Tundra Wolf (Canis lupus albus) is a subspecies of Grey Wolf that can be found throughout northern Europe and Asia, primarily in the northern arctic and boreal regions of Russia. Although they were eliminated from some of the Arctic islands north of Siberia, they have been recently seen on Wrangle Island.[1]
[edit] Physical features
Consistent with Bergmann's Rule, tundra wolves are among the largest of grey wolf subspecies. They can attain a body length of 2 meters (7 feet) and usually an average weight of 45-57 kilograms (100-125 pounds), though there are some unconfirmed reports of animals reaching weights of 100 kilograms (220 pounds). [2]
Most tundra wolves have a grey color, with mixes of black, rust and silver gray.[1]
Due to the high latitude of their environment (71 degrees), they breed much later in the year than most other wolves,usually in late March through April.[3]
[edit] History
Tundra wolves are especially vulnerable to the fur trade, as their pelages are more luxuriant than forest dwelling wolves, sometimes selling for twice as much.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Subspecies of the Wolf. Liz Harper. International Wolf Centre. Retrieved on 2007-05-24.
- ^ Russia Wolf Hunt
- ^ http://www.wolf.org/wolves/learn/basic/wolfbasic.asp
- ^ Lopez, Barry (1978). Of wolves and men, pp.320. ISBN 0743249364.
