Gray Wolf

The gray wolf or grey wolf Canis lupus, also known as the timber wolf  or western wolf, is a canid native to the wilderness and remote areas of North America and Eurasia. It is the largest extant member of its family, with males averaging 43–45 kg 95–99 lb, and females 36

38.5 kg 79–85 lb. Like the red wolf, it is distinguished from other Canisspecies by its larger size and less pointed features, particularly on the ears and muzzle. Its winter fur is long and bushy, and predominantly a mottled gray in color, although nearly pure white, red, or brown to black also occur. As of 2005, 37subspecies of C. lupus are recognised by MSW3.

The gray wolf is the second most specialised member of the genus Canis, after the Ethiopian wolf, as demonstrated by itsmorphological adaptations to hunting large prey, its more gregarious nature, and its highly advanced expressive behavior. It is nonetheless closely related enough to smaller Canis species, such as the eastern wolf, coyote, andgolden jackal to produce fertile hybrids. It is the only species of Canis to have a range encompassing both the Old andNew Worlds, and originated in Eurasia during the Pleistocene, colonizing North America on at least three separate occasions during the Rancholabrean. It is a social animal, travelling in nuclear families consisting of a mated pair, accompanied by the pair's adult offspring. 

The gray wolf is typically an apex predator throughout its range, with onlyhumans and tigers  posing a serious threat to it. It feeds primarily on large ungulates, though it also eats smaller animals, livestock, carrion, and garbage.The gray wolf is one of the world's best known and well researched animals, with probably more books written about it than any other wildlife species.] It has a long history of association with humans, having been despised and hunted in mostpastoral communities because of its attacks on livestock, while conversely being respected in some agrarian and hunter-gatherer societies. 

Although the fear of wolves is pervasive in many human societies, the majority of recorded attacks on people have been attributed to animals suffering from rabies. Non-rabid wolves have attacked and killed people, mainly children, but this is rare, as wolves are relatively few, live away from people, and have developed a fear of humans from hunters and shepherds.

Canis lupus was recorded by Carl Linnaeus in his publication Systema Naturae in 1758. The Latin classification translates into English as dog wolf. Thesubspecies of Canis lupus are listed in Mammal Species of the World. The nominate subspecies is the Eurasian wolf (Canis lupus lupus), also known as the common wolf. As of 2005  37 subspecies of C. lupus are recognised by MSW3, however the classification of several as either species or subspecies has recently been challenged.