Gray Wolf

Canis lupus

The gray wolf is the largest member of the dog family and an apex predator that significantly shapes its ecosystem. Wolves are highly social animals that live and hunt in organized packs with complex hierarchies.

Mass (typical / record)

45 kg

Top speed

72 km/h

Body length

1.6 m

Diet

Carnivore

Habitats

forest, tundra, grassland

Bite force (est.): 400 PSI · IUCN: LC (Least Concern)

The ancestor of all domestic dogs, diverging ~15,000 years ago. Central to Norse mythology (Fenrir), Roman legend (Romulus and Remus), and Native American spirituality as a teacher and pathfinder.