Introduction

Varieties of Wolves
Varieties of Wolves
Wolf Habitats
Physical Characteristics
Threats to Wolves
Wolf Conservation
References

Scientists classify wolves into three different species: The grey wolf, the red wolf, and the Ethiopian wolf. Of these the grey wolf is the most common, having several different sub-species. There was once considered to be over 30 different sub-species of grey wolf, many of them extinct, but more recently wolf biologists have discovered that most of these were really the same. As such, there are now considered to be only 12 living sub-species of grey wolf.

Subspecies of Grey Wolf

Arctic Wolf (Canis lupus arctos)
Length: 90 - 150cm
Weight: 45 - 80kg
Location: The Arctic

 
 		  

Arctic wolves
Eurasian wolf   Eurasian Wolf (Canis lupus lupus)
Length: 130 - 210cm
Weight: 16 - 60kg
Location: Europe, Asia

Indian Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes)
Length: 100 - 150cm
Weight: 18 - 27kg
Location: India

  Indian wolves

Eastern timber wolf

   Eastern Timber Wolf (Canis lupus lycaon)
Length: 150 - 180cm
Weight: 30 - 35kg
Location: North America

Tundra Wolf (Canis lupus albus)
Length: Up to 200cm
Weight: 45 - 57kg
Location: Northern Europe, Northern Asia

   Tundra wolf

Russian wolf

   Russian Wolf (Canis lupus communis)
Length: 150 - 180cm
Weight: 23 - 80kg
Location: Russia

Caspian Sea Wolf (Canis lupus cubanensis)
Location: Russia

   Caspian Sea wolf

Great Plains wolves

   Great Plains Wolf (Canis lupus nubilus)
Length: 137 - 198cm
Weight: 27 - 50kg
Location: North America
 

Arabian Wolf (Canis lupus arabs)
Length: 114 - 140cm
Weight: 20 - 25kg
Location: Israel, Oman, Yemen, Jordan, Saudi Arabia. 

  Arabian wolf

Italian wolf

   Italian Wolf (Canis lupus italicus)
Length: 130 -180cm
Weight: 30 - 50kg
Location: Italy, Switzerland

Rocky Mountain Wolf(Canis lupus occidentalis)
Length: 150 - 210cm
Weight: 45 - 80kg
Location: North America

   Rocky Mountain wolf
Mexican wolf  

Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi)
Length: 150 - 170cm
Weight: 22 - 40kg
Location: Southwestern US, Mexico
 

Red Wolf

Red Wolf (Canis Rufus Rufus)
Length: 125 - 155cm
Weight: 18 - 41kg
Location: Eastern USA (Reintroduced)

   Red wolf

Ethiopian Wolf
 

Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis)
Length: 133cm
Weight: 13 - 18kg
Location: Eastern Africa

  

Extinct Sub-Species
Canis rufus gregoryi
Canis rufus floridanus
Canis lupus hattai
Canis lupus hodophilax