Basic Information on Wolf Species
Many people do not realize that there are several wolf species. If you have ever seen one of these magnificent animals you may not have realized it either. Each species is going to have its own characteristics. After reading this article you are going to have a better understanding of wolves and the various species that exist.
As of right now, there are only four wolf species. These include the North American Gray Wolf, the North American Red Wolf, the Eurasian Gray Wolf and the Ethiopian Wolf. Each of these species has their own sub species that should be accounted for as well. The North American Gray Wolf has the largest amount of sub species that actually exist. The lowest of the subspecies families is the Red Wolf species. Many of the wolves underneath of it have actually become extinct.
There are some interesting facts related to the different wolf species. The gray wolf does not have to be completely gray. It can have tan, black or white in its fur as well. The arctic wolf is a member of the gray family and it is actually totally white. The Mexican wolf can be white or black rather than gray. The red wolf did have three subspecies, as previously mentioned, but they were made extinct by humans as they hunted them. Some of the red wolves that have remained were even kept by scientists that wanted to study them and breed them in captivity. Today, there are only 14 pure red wolves left. This is amazing when you think about the fact that there use to be 400. The red wolf is usually smaller than the gray wolf and it is not always red as the name implies either. It can be a brown or cinnamon color but it is not red.
The Eurasian Gray Wolf and the Ethiopian Wolf do not live in North America. You are not going to find one in Minnesota or Mississippi like you can the other wolf species. There is not much information known about these species of wolves as they are both rare and difficult to find. There is not even much information related to how many of them exist or if they are close to being extinct.
It is sad to think about the wolf species and how far they have declined over the years. It is important to understand this wonderful animal so that steps can be taken to help preserve them. They are a member of the canine family and they are closely related to the dog. If you think about how much mating and cross breading has taken place with dogs over the years you can probably see how it may be difficult to keep a pure breed of anything. However, we are not even attempting to breed the wolves because some of them are difficult to find. Because of that, we are unable to take the steps necessary to keep them alive and well.
Taking the time to research the different wolf species and what is know about them is the first step that can be taken to help keep them from becoming extinct. If you are interested in learning more about them and how they can be helped you can start your search online. You are going to find different organizations that are geared towards research and helping preserve the wolf species before they are all gone. It takes a special person to become involved and work to make a difference. You may find out that you are that person and you can make a difference.
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