The Varieties of Wolves

Wolves are found all over the world and come in many different varieties, but according to the International Wolf Center, there are only two species of wolves; the red and grey wolf. These two basic species are broken down into many other subspecies. All the subspecies have their own classification.

  1. North American Grey Wolf

    • Originally, the North American Grey Wolf has 24 different subspecies, but was grouped together to make five different subspecies in 1995. The grey wolf was listed as an endangered species in 1973 by the Endangered Species Act. Abundant throughout the northern continent of the America's, the grey wolf dwindled rapidly because it was perceived as a threat to livestock and humans, as well as hunted for sport throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Even though this variety of wolf is called grey, it can be white, black or brown in color depending on the terrain it lives. Most of these grey wolves look larger because of the long fur, but males can exceed 175 lbs. and measure up to 32 inches at the shoulder.

    Red Wolf

    • The Red Wolf is the rarest variety of wolf found throughout the world and is still considered an endangered species. Some scientists believe the Red Wolf is a subspecies of the grey wolf, according to Cosmosmith.com. The Red Wolf is found throughout the northeastern part of the United States and in the extreme eastern part of Canada. Within the last 100 years, the number of Red Wolf roaming this terrain has decreased to the point of extinction because of the destruction of its habitat and hybridization with coyotes in the area. Red Wolves only weigh between 40 and 80 lbs., but generally do not exceed 16 inches of height at the shoulder.

    Ethiopian Wolf

    • The Ethiopian Wolf is also a rare variety of wolf and is found about 10,000 feet above sea level in the mountain regions of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Recent reports show that only 450 adults still exist in this region of the world. The wolf looks similar to a red fox and at one time scientists classified it as a fox, but studies have shown that it is a descendant of the Grey Wolf. The wolf has a long muzzle and long legs with red coat and white coloring from the throat to the underparts of it. The tail is generally black in color. The Ethiopian Wolf only weighs in at about 42 lbs. for the males and 31 lbs. for the females.

    Eurasian Wolf

    • The Eurasian Wolf is known as the Common Wolf in most places in Europe and Asia. The wolf is primarily brown in color and evolved around 150,000 years ago, making it one of the oldest varieties of wolves in the world, besides the wolves found in the Asian continent. In modern times, the Eurasian Wolf lived mostly in Central Asia, but once roamed all over Europe, Russia, Asia and the Baltic states. A Eurasian Wolf is smaller than the North American Grey Wolf with males weighing anywhere between 70 to 130 lbs.

    Arctic Wolf

    • The Arctic Wolf is white, grey or black in color and roams the Canadian Arctic, as well as parts of Greenland. It is one of the most common varieties of wolf still found in its natural habitat because it rarely comes in contact with humans. Arctic Wolves measure between 3 to 6 feet in length and can weigh up to 175 lbs. depending on the sex of the wolf. The size of the Arctic Wolf is still considered smaller than the North American Grey Wolf. One unique feature of the Arctic Wolf is the small ears, which maintains the animal's body heat in these cold environments.