Northwestern wolf
{{short description|Subspecies of mammal}}
{{Distinguish|Interior Alaskan wolf}}
{{Subspeciesbox
| name = Northwestern wolf
Canis lupus occidentalis
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Late Pleistocene|Holocene}}
| image = Canis lupus occidentalis.jpg
| image_caption = C. l. occidentalis at the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center at West Yellowstone, Montana.
| status = T4
| status_system = TNC
| genus = Canis
| species = lupus
| species_link = Gray wolf
| subspecies = occidentalis
| authority = Richardson, 1829
| synonyms_ref = {{MSW3 Wozencraft|id=14000738}}
| synonyms =
- ater (Richardson, 1829){{MSW3 Wozencraft | pages = | id =14000738}}
- sticte (Richardson, 1829)
- Canis occidentalis (Richardson, 1829)
}}
The northwestern wolf (Canis lupus occidentalis), also known as the Mackenzie Valley wolf,Mech, L. David (1970), [https://books.google.com/books?id=KOQZrXvczGMC&dq=Mackenzie+Valley+wolf&pg=PT478 The wolf: The Ecology and Behaviour of an Endangered Species], Natural History Press, {{ISBN|978-0-307-81913-0}} Alaskan timber wolf, or Canadian timber wolf, is a subspecies of gray wolf in western North America. Arguably the largest gray wolf subspecies in the world, it ranges from Alaska, the upper Mackenzie River Valley; southward throughout the western Canadian provinces, aside from prairie landscapes in its southern portions, as well as the Northwestern United States.Mech, L. David (1981), The wolf: The Ecology and Behaviour of an Endangered Species, University of Minnesota Press, p. 352, {{ISBN|0-8166-1026-6}}
Taxonomy
This wolf is recognized as a subspecies of Canis lupus in the taxonomic authority Mammal Species of the World (2005). The subspecies was first written of by Scottish naturalist Sir John Richardson in 1829. He chose to give it the name occidentalis in reference to its geographic location rather than label it by its color, as it was too variable to warrant such.Richardson, J. (1829) [https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/89003#page/118/mode/1up Fauna boreali-americana, or, The zoology of the northern parts of British America], London : J. Murray [etc.], pp. 60–65
According to one source, phylogenetic analyses of North American gray wolves show that there are three clades corresponding to C. l. occidentalis, C. l. nubilus and C. l. baileyi, each one representing a separate invasion into North America from distinct Eurasian ancestors. C. l. occidentalis, the most northwestern subspecies, is descended from the last gray wolves to colonize North America. It likely crossed into North America through the Bering land bridge after the last ice age, displacing C. l. nubilus populations as it advanced, a process which has continued until present times. Along with C. l. nubilus, C. l. occidentalis is the most widespread member of the four gray wolf subspecies in North America, with at least six different synonyms.{{cite journal |title=An account of the taxonomy of North American wolves from morphological and genetic analyses |vauthors=Chambers SM, Fain SR, Fazio B, Amaral M |year=2012 |journal=North American Fauna |volume=77 |pages=1–67 |doi=10.3996/nafa.77.0001|quote=The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.|doi-access=free }}
John Campbell Merriam named the wolves of the La Brea Tar Pits Canis milleri and Canis occidentalis furlongi, though further studies suggest that C. milleri was a synonym of C. o. furlongi.{{Cite book |last=Merriam |first=John Campbell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2IcyAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA247hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiMsqvR8o2NAxV6EEQIHU_hAHkQ6AF6BAgOEAM#v=onepage&q&f=false |title=The Fauna of Rancho La Brea |date=1911 |publisher=The University Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=The La Brea Tar Pits, Los Angeles |url=https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/quaternary/labrea.php |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=ucmp.berkeley.edu}} However, MSW3 recognizes neither of these proposed taxons at all, and instead classifies "occidentalis" as a subspecies.{{Cite web |title=Mammal Species of the World - Browse: lupus |url=https://www.departments.bucknell.edu/biology/resources/msw3/browse.asp?s=y&id=14000738 |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=www.departments.bucknell.edu}}
Description
Northwestern wolves are one of the largest subspecies of wolves. In British Columbia, Canada, five adult females averaged 42.5 kg or 93.6 lbs with a range of 85 lbs to 100 lbs (38.6 - 45.4 kg) and ten adult males averaged 112.2 lbs or 51.7 kg with a range of 105 lbs to 135 lbs (47.6 - 61.2 kg), with a weight range for all adults of 38.6 kg to 61.2 kg (85 – 135 lbs).[http://www.forwolves.org/ralph/wpages/1996idahowolves.htm Table listing the 1996 Northwestern wolves introduced into Idaho] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607050619/http://www.forwolves.org/ralph/wpages/1996idahowolves.htm |date=2019-06-07 }}. Forwolves.org (2002-11-01). Retrieved on 2012-12-29. In Yellowstone National Park, adult females were average about 40 kg (90 lbs) and adult males average about 50 kg (110 lbs), with a mean adult body mass in winter of {{convert|46.4|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/ys-24-1-yellowstone-wolf-facts.htm |title=YS 24-1 Yellowstone Wolf Facts |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=2017-11-30}}Metz, M. C., Vucetich, J. A., Smith, D. W., Stahler, D. R., & Peterson, R. O. (2011). Effect of sociality and season on gray wolf (Canis lupus) foraging behavior: implications for estimating summer kill rate. PLoS One, 6(3), e17332. More recent studies have reported the average range of height and weight in the north-west of the United States, both sexes were between {{convert|68|and|91.5|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall at the shoulder. Here the weight of males was reported at between {{convert|45|and|72|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, while the females were reported at {{convert|36|to|60|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.{{Cite book|title=Canids of the World|last=Castellò|first=Josè R.|publisher=Princeton University Press Princeton and Oxford|year=2018|isbn=978-0-691-17685-7|location=Princeton, New Jersey|pages=88}}
The Northwestern wolf is also one of the longest wolf subspecies, as its length usually ranges from 5 to 6 ft (152–183 cm) and can reach as long as 7 ft (213 cm).{{Cite web|url=https://amazing-animals-planet.com/post/how-big-is-a-northwestern-wolf|title= How big is a northwestern wolf|date=2022-01-01|website=amazing-animals-planet.com|access-date=2022-08-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://a-z-animals.com/blog/the-10-largest-wolves-in-the-world/|title= The 10 Largest Wolves in the World|last=Sather|first=Patrick|date=2022-05-23|website=a-z-animals.com|access-date=2022-08-01}}
In comparison, the mean adult weights of its nearest rivals in size, the Eurasian wolf (C. l. lupus) and the Interior Alaskan wolf (C. l. pambasileus), was reported as {{convert|39|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and {{convert|40|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, respectively.Heptner, V. G. & Naumov, N. P. (1998) [https://archive.org/stream/mammalsofsov211998gept#page/184/mode/2up Mammals of the Soviet Union Vol.II Part 1a, SIRENIA AND CARNIVORA (Sea cows; wolves and Bears)], Science Publishers, Inc. USA., pp. 184–187, {{ISBN|1-886106-81-9}}{{cite web|url=http://www.env.gov.yk.ca/animals-habitat/mammals/documents/Grey_wolf.pdf|title=Gray wolf (in the Yukon)|date=2017|website=Environment Yukon|publisher=Government of Canada|access-date=2017-11-30}} Sir John Richardson described the northwestern wolf as having a more robust build than the Eurasian wolf, with a larger, rounder head and a thicker, more obtuse muzzle. Its ears are also shorter, and its fur bushier.
Reintroduction
File:Journal.pone.0112884.g001 a.png
{{Further|History of wolves in Yellowstone}}
In Yellowstone National Park, artificially relocated northwestern wolves have been well-documented feeding on elk. They usually stampede the herd using pack teamwork to separate the younger elk from the adults. They also will charge young calves separated from their parents. Winter-weakened or sick elk also play an important part of Yellowstone wolf diets, and it is estimated that over 50 percent of winter-weakened or sick elk in Yellowstone are killed by wolves. Of these, about 12 percent of carcasses were scavenged by other predators, including ravens, bald eagles, black bears, grizzly bears, and coyotes.{{cite web|title=Yellowstone Elk|url=https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/elk.htm|publisher=National Park Service}} In the same national park, wolves also prey on bison, though such attacks usually involve sick animals or calves because healthy, adult bison can easily kill wolves with their hooves.{{cite web|title=Wolf -Bison Interactions in Yellowstone National Park|url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1084&context=usgsnpwrc|publisher=University of Nebraska}}
Wolves are present in Canadian and British safari parks including Longleat,{{Cite web |title=Longleat{{!}}Wolf Wood |url=https://www.longleat.co.uk/safari/wolf-wood |access-date=2022-08-06 |website=www.longleat.co.uk}} Woburn,[http://www.woburnsafari.co.uk/discover/meet-the-animals/mammals/canadian-timber-wolf/ Canadian Timber Wolf] and Parc Omega.{{Cite web |url=http://parcomega.ca/en/our-animals/the-forest/grey-wolf/ |title=Grey wolf- Parc Oméga |access-date=2017-01-23 |archive-date=2019-06-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606204142/http://parcomega.ca/en/our-animals/the-forest/grey-wolf/ |url-status=dead }}
References
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External links
{{Wikispecies|Canis lupus occidentalis}}
{{Commons category|Canis lupus occidentalis|position=left}}
{{Canidae extinct nav|W.}}
{{grey wolf subspecies}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q3116028}}
Category:Subspecies of Canis lupus
Category:Carnivorans of North America
Category:Mammals of the United States
Category:Wolves in the United States