Post by Kaiza on Apr 13, 2008 10:18:51 GMT -5
All About Wolves - Introduction
The wolf is one of the most beautiful creatures on earth. Unfortunately, due to human destruction of their habitat, they are fast becoming extinct. Their lifespan in the wild is about eight years, because of all the fumes in the air, traps, habitat destruction, and hunting or prey shortage. this thread tells you about the three main breeds of wolf. If there is anything you would like me to add, don't be afraid to PM me, I will add it. xD
The Grey Wolf
The grey wolf is also known as the Timber wolf. They tend to be taller and more rangy than other wolves, with a thick, normally grey and white pelt, that help them survive in their home territories. Their shoulder height ranges from about 0.6 to 0.9 meters and their weight varies between 20 and 68 kilograms.
The gray wolf is the largest wild member of the Canidae family and an ice age survivor originating during the Late Pleistocene around 300,000 years ago. Once abundant all over North America and Eurasia, the gray wolf inhabits a very small portion of its former range because of widespread destruction of its habitat. Considered as a whole, however, the gray wolf is regarded as being of least concern for extinction according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Today, wolves are protected in some areas, hunted for sport in others, or may be subject to extermination as perceived threats to livestock and pets.
The Arctic Wolf
About 0.9 to 1.8 m long and pur white in colour, arctic wolves are cousins of the larger grey wolf. Males are normally larger than females. Their shoulder heights vary from 25 to 31 inches; Arctic Wolves are bulkier than lanky Gray Wolves, often weighing over 100 pounds. Arctic Wolves have achieved life spans of over 18 years in captivity; however, in the wild, the average lifespan is only 7-10 years.
Like all wolves, Arctic wolves hunt in packs. They mainly feed on Caribou and musk oxen, but they will also eat lemmings, small mice-like creatures, Arctic Hares, seals, ptarmigan and other small animals. The Arctic Wolf is the only species of the Wolf that still can be found over the whole of its original range, largely because, in their natural habitat, they rarely encounter humans.
The Red Wolf
The Red Wolf is smaller than the grey wolf, with a silvery-red pelt. They have long ears, and normally have amber eyes. Red wolves normally have a height at the shoulders of 38–40 cm, a length of 140–165 cm, and weigh 18–36 Kg.
Red wolves inhabit forests in the southeastern United States and a larger population in central Ontario and southern Quebec. They are having the same problem with habitat's being cut down as their cousins, the grey wolves.
I hope this helped you in making your characters, and taught you a bit about wolves. Now I hope you will think more about wolves, adn what we as humans are doing to this wonderous species of mammal.
- Azazel