Wolves are thought to date back 300,000 years. They are canines, and said to be the ancestor of dog. They are spread all across the world in many different subspecies. The biggest wolves on earth live in Alaska.

Scientific Name – Canis lupus

Classification – Canis

Gender Names – Male – dog; Female – bitch; Baby – pup, whelp

Collective Noun – Pack, rout

Length/Size – 60-91cm (24-36in)

Weight – 25-40kg (55-88lbs)

Top Speed – 75km/h (46mph)

Life Expectancy – 10-12years; up to 17 in captivity

Mating Season – Vary between subspecies and ranges

Gestation Period – 62 – 75days

Special Features – The whole body is covered with thick, warm fur

Social Structure – Social animal that lives in pack with each pack consisting of 5-11 individuals including parents, juveniles and older offspring

Natural Habitat – Deserts, grasslands, forests and arctic tundras

World Population – About 200,000

Conservation Status – Least Concern

Diet – Deer, Elk, Moose

Predators – Human