Alaskan tundra wolf
| Alaskan tundra wolf |
|---|
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| Scientific Classification |
| Trinomial Name |
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Canis lupus tundrarum |
The Alaskan tundra wolf is a subspecies of the Gray wolf known by the scientific name Canis lupus tundrarum . They are found throughout Northern Europe and Asia from Northern Finland to the Kamchatka Peninsula, from the far north of Russia into the Arctic. They are large wolves that can reach 7 feet in length from nose to end of tail, and weigh as much as 220 pounds. Their size make them a very capable predators, and they primarily prey on large mammals like deer, wapiti, moose, caribou, bison, musk ox and mountain sheep. An adult Tundra Wolf may eat up to 20 pounds in one feeding due to the infrequency of large kills.[2]
Body Design
The Alaskan tundra wolf measures from 50-64 inches from the nose to the end of the tail. The average weight for males is 85-176 pounds, and for females it's 80-120 pounds. Their coats are usually either white, or bright grey, but sometimes a rare one is born with a black or brown coat.[3] Along with their coats being beautiful, they're also long, thick, and have dense underfur. Because of that, they are prized animals to hunt, and the pelts go for $115 at the minimum.[2]
Life Cycle
The Alaskan Tundra Wolves mate around February. The gestation period is from 62 days to about 75 days. When it's time for the female to give birth, she returns to her den and gives birth to about 4 pups, and the pack will assist raising the pups until they are mature enough to fend for themselves, and the pack usually consists of five to ten adults, and children don't add to the count.[2]
Ecology
The wolves can only be found along the Arctic coast of Northern Alaska. Their diet is composed of large animals (deer, moose, sheep, etc.) But catching larger animals is a task not easily done, so when a wolf catches a large meal, he'll eat up to about 20 pounds so he can stay full until his next catch.[2] But if the wolf doesn't find any large animals to feed on, he can not only eat smaller animals, but also vegetation. Though, wolves can't survive off of squirrels and leaves forever. Sooner or later, he must catch a larger organism.[3] Now, being wolves, they don't have many natural predators. Besides man, the only time other organisms kill them is because the wolves are trying to kill them. Like, when a pack of wolves attack a moose, deer, or elk with large horns. The animal will attempt to either flee, or take out the wolves, but they don't purposely go out and attack wolves. And it's the same if the wolves try to feed on the animals young.[2]
Distinguishing features and diet specifics
Rounded ears, very large feet, and a massive head and jaw are features that distinguish the Alaskan Tundra wolf from other wolves. It also shows a beautiful silvery white coat, but sometimes (in a 6%-8% chance) can have a brown or black coat. Also, they're only found in the tundra areas like Northern Alaska, and the far northern area of Russia.[2]
Video
A short documentary on the Tundra wolf.
