| Tundra wolf | |
|---|---|
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| Taxidermy exhibit at theMuseum of Zoology,St. Petersburg | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Canis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | C. l. albus |
| Trinomial name | |
| Canis lupus albus Kerr, 1792 | |
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| Tundra wolf range | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Thetundra wolf (Canis lupus albus), also known as theTurukhan wolf,[3] is asubspecies of grey wolf native toEurasia'stundra andforest-tundra zones fromFinland to theKamchatka Peninsula.[3] It was first described in 1792 byRobert Kerr, who described it as living around theYenisei, and of having a highly valued pelt.[4]
It is a large subspecies, with adult males measuring 118–137 cm (46.5–54 in) in body length, and females 112–136 cm (44–53.5 in). Although often described as larger thanC. l. lupus, this is untrue, as heavier members of the latter subspecies have been recorded. Average weight is 40–49 kg (88–108 lb) for males and 36.6–41 kg (81–90 lb) for females. The highest weight recorded among 500 wolves caught in theTaymyr Peninsula and theKanin Peninsula during 1951-1961 was from an old male killed on the Taymyr at the north of theDudypta River weighing 52 kg (115 lb). The fur is very long, dense, fluffy, and soft, and is usually light grey in colour. The lower fur is lead-grey and the upper fur is reddish-grey.[5]
The tundra wolf generally rests in river valleys, thickets and forest clearings.[6] In winter it feeds almost exclusively on female or young wild and domesticreindeer, thoughhares,arctic foxes and other animals are sometimes targeted. The stomach contents of 74 wolves caught in theNenets Autonomous Okrug in the 1950s were found to consist of 93.1% reindeer remains. In the summer period, tundra wolves feed extensively on birds and small rodents, as well as newborn reindeer calves.[7]
