Scientific name: Canis
lupus
The
wolf is the largest representative of the Canidae family, the sole
and unique ancestor of the dog. It is related to the fox and the
jackal.
Thanks
to its 10 cm-long muzzle, the wolf can detect the smell of prey from
a 2,5 km-distance in favourable conditions.
It
distinguishes itself from the dog through the following
characteristics: the eyes are set obliquely, farther away than in the
case of the dog. The ears are smaller and have sharp tips, always
pointing upwards. It has a shorter, thicker and stronger neck.
Wolves
have long hair that varies in colour from off-white to brown and even
coal-black. In Romania, wolves are generally grizzled-grey in colour.
The
fur is disposed in 2 protctive layers: the first layer is composed of
protective coarse guard hairs that are 6-10 cm in length, and the
undercoat, which is lost during the summer. The moulting of the fur
takes place in late spring. The wolf lives approximately 10 years.
The weight of an adult wolf in Romania varies between 35 and 60 kg.
The length of the body is 110-150 cm, and that of the tail, 30-35 cm.
The height at the withers is 50-70 cm.
Wolves
aren’t solitary animals - they usually live in packs. Most packs
are composed of the leading pair (the alpha male and alpha female)
and their offspring (up to 3 years old). Sometimes other wolves, the
relatives of the alphas, can appear.
Generally,
the favourite natural habitats of the wolf are very fragmented, fact
which leads to an increased sensitivity of the population of this
species.
Where can be found:
Groșii
Țibleșului (SiteCode ROSCI0411)
Munții
Trascăului ( SiteCode ROSPA0087)