Which group does the wolf belong to? Facts about wolves and their unique personalities
The structure of a wolf's teeth - important characteristic, which determines the lifestyle of this predator. The upper jaw has 6 incisors, 2 canines, 8 premolars and 4 molars. The lower jaw contains 2 more molars. The fourth upper premolars and the first lower molars constitute carnivorous teeth that perform main role when cutting game. The fangs with which the predator holds and drags the prey also play an important role. A wolf's teeth can withstand a load of more than 10 megapascals and are both its main weapon and means of defense. Their loss is disastrous for the wolf and leads to hunger and loss of capacity. The tail is quite long, thick and, unlike a dog's, is always lowered; hunters call it “log”. The tail is the expressive “language” of the wolf. By its position and movement one can judge the mood of the wolf, if he is calm or afraid, his position in the pack. Wolves' fur is thick, quite long and consists of two layers, which is why sometimes the animal looks larger than it actually is. The first layer of wool consists of hard guard hairs that repel water and dirt. The second layer, called the undercoat, contains waterproof down that keeps the animal warm. Late spring or early summer fluff flakes off from the body in clumps (molting), while animals rub against stones or tree branches to facilitate this process. There are significant differences in coloration between wolf subspecies, often according to environment. Forest wolves are gray-brown. Tundra - light, almost white. Desert - grayish-reddish. In the highlands Central Asia Wolves are bright ocher in color. In addition, there are pure white, red or almost black individuals. In wolf cubs, the color is uniform, dark and lightens with age, and the blue iris of the eyes usually becomes golden yellow or orange after 8-16 weeks of life. In rare cases, wolves have blue eyes for their entire lives. Within the same population, coat color can also vary among individuals or have mixed shades. The differences relate only to the outer layer of the coat - the undercoat is always gray. It is often believed that the color of the coat is intended to blend the animal with its environment, that is, it acts as camouflage; however, this is not entirely true: some scientists point out that mixed colors enhance the individuality of a particular individual. Wolf tracks are distinguishable from dog tracks in several ways: the side fingers (index and little fingers) are set back more than the middle fingers (middle and ring fingers), if you draw a straight line from the tip of the little finger to the tip index finger then the back ends of the middle fingers will only slightly extend beyond this line, while the dog will have about a third of the length of the pads of the middle fingers behind the line. Also, the wolf keeps its paw “in a ball”, so the print is more prominent, and therefore the wolf’s footprint is somewhat smaller than the footprint of a dog of the same size. In addition, the track of a wolf’s tracks is much straighter than the track of a dog’s tracks, which serves as a reliable “identification mark.” The track of a seasoned wolf has a length of 9.5 - 10.5 cm, a width of 6-7 cm, a she-wolf - 8.5-9.5 cm and 5-6 cm.
They are active mainly at night. Wolves often make their presence known with a loud howl, which is very different among seasoned males, she-wolves and young animals. Of the external senses, the wolf has the best developed hearing, a little worse - the sense of smell; vision is much weaker. Well developed higher nervous activity In wolves, it is combined with strength, agility, speed and other physical characteristics that increase the chances of this predator in the struggle for existence. If necessary, the wolf reaches speeds of up to 55-60 km/h and is capable of traveling up to 60-80 km per night. And it accelerates to a gallop in a few seconds, covering 4 meters, after which it rushes at full speed. When attacking a herd, wolves often kill several animals, tearing out their throats or ripping open their bellies. Wolves keep uneaten meat in reserve. There have been cases of wolf attacks on humans. Mentally, the wolf is highly developed. This is expressed in the ability to navigate the environment and avoid danger, as well as in hunting methods. There are known cases when a pack of wolves was divided, and one part remained in ambush, while the other caught prey. In a pack chasing an elk or deer, often some wolves run on the heels of the victim, while others run across them or cowardly slowly and, having rested, replace the leaders until they starve the victim out. Cases of almost human intelligence in wolves have also been observed. For example, there was a case when hunters in a helicopter drove wolves into a grove. At first they could not be found, but then, when the hunters got off the helicopter and entered the grove on foot, it turned out that the wolves stood on their hind legs and pressed themselves against the tree trunks, clasping them with their front paws, so it was extremely difficult to notice them from the helicopter.
Wherever does the gray wolf live? It can be found in Europe and Asia, North America and on the coast of the North Arctic Ocean. He can live like in the taiga and coniferous forests(which everyone knows) and in the icy tundra and deserts. In Hindustan the wolf lives up to about 16′ northern latitude. The lifestyle of many subspecies is different, in addition, they differ in size and color.
APPEARANCE, PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS, FEATURES
The wolf is the largest animal in its family: its body is 160 cm long (including tail); at the withers the height reaches 90 cm; weighs about 60 kg.
Body gray wolf It is distinguished by its strength, muscularity, and broad chest. The legs are high, with tightly clenched toes. The head is forehead-shaped and at the same time graceful. The ears are not large. The dark stripes on the head are picturesquely combined with almost pure white cheeks and light spots above the eyes. The tail is not very long, hanging almost straight. The long, thick fur reaches 8 cm. The undercoat consists of hard, long, black guard hairs at the ends that repel water and ensure its waterproofness. Common wolf has completely different colors, varying depending on the area. There are even white individuals found in the Arctic. Other color options are various variations of white with brown, gray, cinnamon, black, sometimes completely black. North American wolves boast three different color schemes color The first is a mixture of gray, black and cinnamon, the top is brown. The second is a mixture of black and dark brown. The third is gray and brown.
LIFESTYLE OF THE GRAY WOLF
Habitat
The wolf lives in a wide variety of landscapes, but prefers steppes, semi-deserts, tundra, forest-steppe, avoiding dense forest areas. In the mountains it is distributed from the foothills to the area of alpine meadows, sticking to open, slightly rugged areas. Can settle close to human habitation. In the taiga zone it spread after humans, as the taiga was cut down.
The wolf is a fairly territorial creature. Breeding pairs, and often flocks, live sedentary in certain areas, the boundaries of which are indicated by odorous marks. The diameter of the area occupied by the flock in winter is usually 30-60 kilometers. In spring and summer, when the flock breaks up, the territory occupied by it is divided into several fragments. The best of them is captured and held by the main pair, the rest of the wolves switch to a semi-vagrant lifestyle. In open steppes and tundra, wolves often wander after moving herds of livestock or domestic reindeer.
Sociality, habits, other features of life
Wolves live in packs - family groups of 3 to 40 animals. At the head of the pack are the leader, the strongest and smartest male of the pack, and his girlfriend. Single and young wolves unite around them. The leader enjoys unquestioned authority in the pack. Those wolves who do not like the power of the leader are expelled from the pack, or leave on their own in the hope of creating their own pack. Each flock has its own territory, which the animals carefully guard from uninvited guests.
Famous wolf howl, heard far around, is one way to make it clear that the area is occupied.
Nutrition, methods of obtaining food
The wolf's main prey is large ungulates. These could be moose, reindeer or other deer, roe deer, wild boar. Wolves also hunt smaller mammals: hares, ground squirrels, other rodents, and birds. In times of famine, this formidable predator will not disdain such “undignified” food as insects or carrion. IN winter time wolves hunt elk, deer or roe deer in a pack. Wolves master different hunting techniques: they starve the victim, attack from ambush, replace each other in a grueling pursuit, try to single out a weak or sick animal from the herd and attack. However, only one out of ten wolf hunts ends successfully. The leader and his female are the first to get their fill, choosing the best pieces of the carcass.
Reproduction, growth, lifespan
During mating season skirmishes and serious fights occur in the pack, sometimes with fatal results. After the formation of a pair, the “young” are removed from the flock. Pregnancy lasts about two months, then the she-wolf gives birth to three to ten blind cubs. The entire pack helps feed the young offspring, bringing selected pieces of meat to the den where the she-wolf and her cubs are located.
Dens are built for breeding; They usually serve as natural shelters - crevices in rocks, thickets of bushes, and the like. Sometimes wolves occupy the holes of badgers, marmots, arctic foxes and other animals, less often they dig them themselves. The female is most attached to the den while raising offspring; the male does not use it. Young animals are bred in sheltered places: in the forest belt - mainly in dense bushes, on manes among marshy swamps; in the steppes - along ravines overgrown with bushes, gullies and dry reed beds near lakes; in the tundra - on the hills. It is characteristic that wolves never hunt close to their home, but at a distance of 7-10 km and further. After the wolf cubs grow up, the animals stop using a permanent den, but settle down to rest in different but reliable places. Small wolf cubs of a brownish color, very similar to ordinary domestic dog puppies.
INTERESTING FACTS!
Did you know that:
A wolf pack can consist of two or three wolves or contain dozens of individuals.
A hungry wolf is able to consume about 10 kg of meat in one sitting.
All newborns have wolf eyes blue color, and at the age of 8 months the eyes of these wonderful predators become yellow.
On at the moment There are countless images of wolves in the world. However, the oldest ones were found in Europe. Their age is 20,000 years.
With wonderful weather conditions the wolf is able to hear at a distance of up to 9 kilometers in forested areas and up to 16 kilometers on the plains
GRAY WOLF AND MAN
Harm or benefit?
For humans, the wolf has always been enemy number one: the beast attacked livestock and posed a danger to people, so the wolf was exterminated everywhere. Wolves are not nearly as numerous now as they once were in the past. Meanwhile, the wolf, being large predator, plays an important role in the ecological balance: it regulates the number of large ungulates, preys mainly on sick and weak animals in the herd, thereby promoting the survival of the strongest. We should not forget about this and needlessly scold the “evil” and “predatory” wolf - there are no “unnecessary” and “useless” animals in nature.
DISTRIBUTION AREA, NUMBER, PROTECTION
In historical times, among terrestrial mammals, the wolf's range occupied the second largest area after the human range, covering most of the Northern Hemisphere; has now decreased greatly. In Europe, the wolf is preserved in Spain, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Scandinavia, the Balkans, and the Baltic states. In Asia, it inhabits Korea, partly China and the Hindustan Peninsula, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, the north of the Arabian Peninsula; extinct in Japan (subspecies Canis lupus hodophilax). In North America it is found from Alaska to Mexico. In Russia it is absent only on some islands: (Sakhalin, Kuril Islands).
RELATED SPECIES OF THE GRAY WOLF (Canis lupus)
The gray wolf has a relative living in eastern North America, the red wolf (Canis lupus rufus). It is somewhat smaller and truly red in color. Unfortunately, this species is now on the verge of complete extinction due to excessive persecution by humans and is listed in the Red Book.
The common wolf (or gray wolf) is a large beast of prey from the canine family. The body length of an adult wolf can reach 180 cm (including tail), and the height at the withers is 90 cm. The weight of a wolf ranges from 30 to 50 kg, some of the largest animals can weigh up to 80 kilograms. Female wolves are usually smaller than male wolves.
The wolf's muzzle is elongated, its teeth are sharp and strong. The paws are quite long, the claws are not very sharp, as they wear off while running. The coat is usually light gray, sometimes with a black, white or reddish tint; there are wolves with completely black and completely white fur. As a wolf ages, its coat color can change greatly.
Spreading
Wolves live throughout almost the entire territory of Eurasia and North America. Animals are well adapted to life in different conditions. They feel good in the tundra, forest, steppe, taiga and mountains.
Currently, the number of wolves has greatly decreased, and in many regions these animals are endangered.
Lifestyle
Wolves are pack animals. Members of the pack are relatives and lone wolves who have joined them. A flock can be both large and small. A small one can consist of three to six wolves, and a large one can number twenty to forty individuals.
Life in a flock has its own laws and orders; there is a strict hierarchy. Each pack has a leader - a strong wolf, to whom all the others obey. The leader leads the pack on the hunt and resolves all conflicts that arise between relatives. Weak wolves must unquestioningly obey the strong ones.
Wolves have a very developed sign language. Their tail position or posture speaks volumes. So, a raised tail means that this is the leader of the pack, and a tucked tail means that this wolf is the weakest in the pack.
Wolves are big fans of choral singing" Their howls are both important messages for their relatives and simply a pleasant pastime. With the help of howls, wolves can transmit to their relatives important information, being several kilometers apart from each other. For example, reporting the approach of game or a person.
Wolves love to howl just like that at dawn or at night. The leader is the first to speak, and the rest of the wolves begin to sing along with him.
In addition to howling, wolves can make other sounds - growl, howl, bark, yelp. All these sounds also have a certain meaning.
Wolves have a very sensitive sense of smell, they smell 100 times better than humans.
Nutrition
Wolves are predators. As a rule, they hunt sick or weak animals. That is why wolves are called orderlies.
A variety of animals can become game for wolves - moose, wild boars, rams, goats, deer, roe deer, beavers, bulls, hares, rabbits, badgers, squirrels, birds and others. But most often wolves hunt ungulates. They can also attack domestic animals. When food is scarce, wolves eat frogs, lizards and beetles.
Every day a wolf can eat about five kilograms of meat and drink a liter of water. Except meat food wolves readily eat fruits, berries, mushrooms, grass and leaves. Eating plant foods helps animals normalize digestion.
Wolves are very hardy animals; they can live without food for about two weeks.
Reproduction
Wolves create a family once for life. To breed, they dig new holes or occupy holes dug by other animals; they can also settle among rocks in small crevices.
A she-wolf's pregnancy lasts from 62 to 75 days. Wolf cubs are born in the spring. They are born defenseless - deaf, blind and toothless. The weight of newborn wolf cubs ranges from 300 g to 500 g. After about 9 days, their eyes open, and after two to three weeks their teeth begin to erupt. At three months of age, wolf cubs begin to emerge from the hole.
Adult wolves take grown-up wolf cubs with them to hunt.
Wolves are considered adult at approximately two years of age.
Life expectancy of wolves in wildlife ranges from 7 to 10 years.
Brief information about the wolf.
A short message about the wolf can be used in preparation for the lesson. A story about a wolf for children can be supplemented with interesting facts.
Report about the wolf
The wolf is a predator that lives in forests. They used to live almost all over the world, but now there are much fewer of them.
Wolf: description of the animal
Externally, wolves look like big dogs with a strong, muscular body and high legs
The size and weight of wolves depend on the area in which they live; the closer to the north, the larger the animal. Males are usually larger than females. On average, their height ranges from 60 to 85 cm, the length of the head and body is 100 – 160 cm, the length of the tail is 35 – 56 cm. The weight of females is 18 – 55 kg, for males 20 – 80 kg.
The muzzle is elongated, wide and very expressive. The tail is long, thick and carried down. Wolves' fur is thick and long, consisting of two layers, helping to keep them warm. winter time. The color of the coat varies from light to dark gray.
The wolf's mouth is armed with 42 teeth: carnassial teeth designed for tearing prey into pieces and grinding bones, and with the help of fangs the animal firmly holds and drags its victim.
Where do wolves live?
In nature, the wolf can be found in Europe (Ukraine, Belarus, Italy, Portugal, Scandinavia, etc.), in Asia (Russia, Korea, Kazakhstan, Iran, the Hindustan Peninsula, etc.), in North America (Canada and Alaska). The wolf lives in all habitats except tropical forests and arid deserts.
Being nocturnal animals, during the day wolves rest in various natural shelters, thickets and shallow caves, but they often use the holes of marmots, arctic foxes or badgers, and they themselves dig holes extremely rarely.
How long does a wolf live?
The lifespan of a wolf in the wild is from 8 to 16 years; in captivity it can reach 20 years.
What does a wolf eat?
The wolf eats everything he can catch, and everyone who is weaker than him. These are: deer, elk, roe deer, wild boar, antelope. In addition to large animals, hares, gophers, and rodents play an important role in the diet of wolves. IN summer period They eat fish, birds, frogs, geese and ducks. They often return to the remains of their own uneaten prey, mainly in times of famine. Wolves do not disdain carrion.
A wolf is a hunter capable of defeating a beast ten times heavier than itself. His only weapon is his nose and sharp teeth. A lone wolf can only handle a small deer or sheep, but a pack can easily kill a half-ton elk or bison.
The wolf runs easily and quickly; at this rhythm it can cover 80 km in 24 hours.
Wolves breeding
Female wolves mature at 2 years of age, males become sexually mature at the age of 3 years. When new pairs are formed, fierce fights break out between the males, and the weaker opponent often dies. During mating, partners leave the pack and retire.
The gestation period is from 62 to 65 days, after which 5-9, 10-13 blind wolf cubs are born.
Wolves - caring parents and very smart animals. They take care of the cubs, and other wolves from the pack help the parents.
- Wolves attack humans extremely rarely, and in most cases, aggression is shown by animals infected with rabies.
We hope the information provided about the wolf helped you. And you can leave your report about the wolf through the comment form.
Wolf and the dog are the closest relatives. In addition, these mammals belong to the same family, called canines or canines. Strictly speaking, wolves are one of the genera of this family, of which coyotes and jackals are also considered members.
The same name as this genus is given to a species that is commonly called: wolf. But one of the subspecies of this species is just. In addition, as is known, domestic dogs descended from wolves, therefore, the latter are their direct ancestors.
DNA studies have made it possible to identify several genealogical lines in wolves. More precisely, these carnivorous mammals there are four of them. According to these data, the most ancient are African wolves, which appeared on Earth several hundred thousand years ago.
And later, on the territory of modern Hindustan, three other lines of wolves began to form one after another: the Himalayan, Indian and Tibetan. From these four groups of ancestors all types of modern wolves originated, which have now spread across the territory of many continents.
The range of these fauna representatives has always been extensive. True, over the past centuries it has nevertheless decreased significantly due to the uncontrolled and excessive extermination of these animals. For example, wolves have become completely extinct in Japan.
These were mainly representatives of the Honshu and Hokkaido subspecies. The Newfoundland variety living in Canada, as well as some others, disappeared without a trace. However, wolves are now common in many countries of the Eurasian continent. In Russia they are found almost everywhere.
The only exceptions are Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands, as well as some taiga regions of our country. In the North, the range of these predators is also very extensive and extends from Alaska to Mexico.
The appearance of wolves is characterized by the following features. This is primarily a streamlined chest and a sloping back, long tail. Their paws with blunt claws are distinguished by their strength, and the front legs are longer than the hind legs. The fur of these animals is endowed with the remarkable ability to retain heat. Therefore, even in areas with a harsh climate, wolves are able to take root well and feel great.
When moving through snowy areas, a special device allows their paws to warm up. circulatory system. There are membranes between the toes of wolves; they increase the surface area of support for the legs, and, therefore, reduce the load on the soil when moving along it.
Therefore, even if the ground is covered with a significant layer of snow, the wolf is able to move quickly and easily across it. Balance when running is ensured by the habit of this animal not relying on the entire foot, but only on the toes. And bristly wolf hair, as well as rough claws, help to linger on a slippery and steep surface covered with a crust of ice.
And one more feature helps wolves survive in harsh natural conditions. On the feet, between their toes, there are glands that secrete an odorous substance. Therefore, the traces of the leader are able to provide information to the entire flock about where he went, thus they help to navigate, finding the right direction on the ground. You can see what this animal looks like photo of a wolf.
Types of wolves
In the canine family, the wolf is considered the largest member. But the exact sizes of such creatures depend on the variety and geography of their habitat, while their indicators (body length and weight) vary quite significantly. The most impressive representatives can reach a weight of about 100 kg and a height of two meters.
In total, there are about 17 species of these predatory mammals, according to the latest data.
Let's introduce some of them.
- Common wolf (gray). The body weight of these representatives of the genus of wolves reaches 80 kg, and the length is more than one and a half meters, while they have a half-meter tail. In purely external terms, such animals resemble large dogs with pointed ears.
Their legs are strong and high. The muzzle is massive, framed by sideburns. Its features are expressive and reflect the mood of the animal: from serene calm, fun and affection to fear, burning malice and anger. The fur of such an animal is two-layered, long, thick.
The vocal range is varied. It can be howling, growling, barking, squealing in the most numerous variations. These animals are widespread in Eurasia (from Spain to Hindustan) and in the northern part of the New World.
- The Arctic wolf is considered only a subspecies of the gray wolf just described. This is a rare variety. Such animals live in the regions of cold and eternal snow in Alaska and Greenland. They are also found in northern Canada.
Among the representatives of the genus, these specimens are very large; the males are especially large. Looking at such an animal from afar, you might think that it is white wolf , but upon closer examination it becomes clear that the light fur of this animal has a slightly noticeable reddish tint. But at the same time it is very thick, and fluffy on the legs and tail.
- The timber wolf is not inferior in size to the Arctic wolf, and in some cases even exceeds it. Only the height at the shoulders of these animals is about a meter. From the name it is clear that this is forest animals.
Wolves This variety is also called Central Russian, which indicates the places of their settlement, which also extend to Western, sometimes to the forest-tundra and even to the north.
The color of these animals, as well as their size, largely depend on their habitat. Northern residents are usually larger and have a lighter coat color. In areas to the south, wolves with a gray-brown tint of fur are found mainly.
- The Mackensen wolf is whitish in color and is considered the most common wolf among wolves on the North American continent. For lately Active measures were taken to breed them.
For this purpose, such animals were transported to Yellowstone Park - Reserve international level where they are the most in the best possible way took root and multiplied, which significantly contributed to the increase in their numbers. Such animals are closely related to timber wolves.
- Maned wolf. It is generally believed that wolves do not inhabit the territory South America. But this species (an inhabitant of some areas of the indicated continent) has a peculiar appearance and only vaguely resembles many of its relatives.
Such animals have red hair, and got their name because of the mane, very similar to a horse's, it grows on the shoulders and neck. These wolves have a lean figure, and their weight usually does not exceed 24 kg.
Since this animal has to move a lot through areas covered with tall grasses, looking for prey there, it has long legs. This variety considered endangered.
- Red wolf also does not look very similar in appearance to its relatives and only resembles them in behavior. Its body structure is most identical to the jackal. But its fur is just like a fox’s in color and beauty.
These are small, but very smart predators. They have a fluffy and long tail, rounded big ears and a short muzzle. These animals mainly live in Asia.
Lifestyle and habitat
The most different types landscapes can become a place for wolves to settle. However, they live much more often in forests. They are able to inhabit mountainous areas, but only in those areas where movement through various areas is not too difficult.
During periods of cold weather, wolves prefer to live in packs, and they usually do not leave pre-selected territories. And to mark their possessions, they leave odorous marks, which inform other animals that the area (their area usually reaches 44 km 2) is already occupied. They often choose shelters not far from human settlements, having adapted to carry people’s livestock.
In this way they chase herds of deer, sheep and other domestic animals. However, with the onset of the warm season, these communities of predators are divided into pairs, each of which chooses to exist separately from the pack. And only the strongest wolves remain in the inhabited territory, while the rest are forced to go look for other shelters.
Since ancient times, such animals have instilled a fair amount of fear in the human race. But what animal is a wolf, and is it really so dangerous for bipeds? Conducted research suggests that these predators almost never initiate attacks.
Therefore, if there is no direct threat from people, then their lives are not in danger. Exceptions do happen, but they are rare. And according to experts, in these cases attacks are committed only by mentally ill, hyper-aggressive individuals.
The character qualities of wolves, their energy, power, expression, as well as the ability of these predators to fight and win battles, have often evoked a feeling of admiration in humans since time immemorial. Some of the people even felt a spiritual kinship and natural connection with this animal, and therefore chose wolf totem animal.
The ancients believed that if you tune into a certain psychological wave by magical rituals, you can draw energy from such a creature and receive strength from it. These are very highly developed creatures.
There really is a lot to learn from them. When hunting and fighting, they use very interesting tactics, which many peoples of the past adopted to fight military battles.
During periods when wolves unite in packs, its members live exclusively for the common good, sacrificing their interests in everything for the society of their own kind. And be different wild wolves could not survive in the harsh conditions of the harsh natural environment. In these communities, there is a strict hierarchy, where everyone unquestioningly obeys the leader, and each member of the pack has their own responsibilities.
This society is governed without violence or restrictions on freedom. However, this structure is a well-oiled machine. A social status members are determined by the gender, age and individual abilities of each individual.
Nutrition
When attacking livestock, wolves use the following tactics, which are very common for these representatives of the fauna. First, sitting in ambush, they wait for victims to appear. Then some of the predators remain in shelter, for example, in the bushes, while other members of the group of four-legged hunters chase the prey in a given direction, thereby dooming it to certain death.
Wolves often starve other ungulates to death. Part of the pack chases the prey, and when the pursuers get tired, they are replaced by other, full of strength wolves. In this way the fate of the persecuted is decided.
That's how world of wolves, he is merciless and cruel. Often these creatures are able to satisfy the hunger even of their own kind, sick and wounded individuals. However, these animals cannot but impress with their intelligence and courage.
Such predators in a pack hunt large game: deer, wild boar, roe deer, antelope. But individuals of this tribe can catch gophers, rodents, and waterfowl. Hungry wolves do not disdain the corpses of a wide variety of animals.
From the plant menu they eat fruits, melons, mushrooms, and pick berries, but for them this is not food, but drink, that is, the juice of these crops helps them quench their thirst.
These dangerous creatures go hunting at night. And at the same time they communicate with each other by presenting a variety of sound signals. And absolutely each of them, be it grumbling, growling, squealing or barking, is endowed with a number of variations.
Reproduction and lifespan
Strict monogamy reigns among wolves. And even after the death of a partner, the other remains enviably faithful to him. And gentlemen usually win the attention of free females in cruel and bloody skirmishes with rivals.
When a union of two opposite-sex individuals is finally formed, the members of the pair actively begin to search for a family den, because they need to prepare everything in time and properly for the appearance of offspring.
Mating games, which fall during the female wolf's estrus period, usually occur in winter or spring. This mode, inherent in the wolf's nature, turns out to be very convenient in moderate conditions. climatic zone, because a couple’s offspring appear at the moment when the cold weather recedes, and before new winter far away, which means that the wolf cubs have time to grow up, get stronger and learn a lot in harsh times.
The gestation period for a female wolf lasts about two months, after which puppies are born. How they are born and how they grow is not difficult to imagine for those who have dogs at home, because it is already known that these animals are directly related. Wolf cubs are blind for the first days, and their eyes appear only after two weeks.
At this stage of their lives, the wolf cubs are completely helpless, only poking and squeaking in search of their mother’s nipple, being able only to move by crawling. And then they feed on burps offered to them by their parents, but are already raised on a meat diet.
One-month-old puppies are already much more independent, they move well and play with their brothers and sisters. Soon the new generation becomes stronger, and the wolf cubs attempt to hunt for food.
Unfortunately, the mortality rate among the wolf tribe is very high. Already in the first year of life, half of the litter dies for various reasons. But those who safely pass this period soon give birth to their offspring. A similar physiological opportunity in wolves occurs at two years of age. And males mature a year later.
Wolf – animal, comparable to a dog, including in terms of lifespan. They begin to feel old after 10 years. Such members wolf pack have the right to food, care and protection. Wolves die at about 16 years of age, although purely theoretically they are capable of living for more than twenty years.
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