Large Wolf Species

Gray wolves are the biggest wolves in the world. However, there are many different subspecies of gray wolves that vary in size and characteristics. These wolves are often named based on where they are found and the distinct characteristics they have. While all of the largest wolves are a type of gray wolf, they vary enough to be broken down into different subspecies.

  1. Alaskan Tundra Wolf

    • The Alaskan tundra wolf is a huge wolf that is 50 to 64 inches in length when measured from nose to tip of the tail. Males weigh 85 to 170 pounds, while females weigh 80 to 120 pounds. This subspecies of the gray wolf can be found in the tundra regions along the Arctic coast of Alaska. They were recognized as a subspecies in 1912 by zoologist Gerrit Smith Miller.

    Arctic Wolf

    • Arctic wolves are the biggest wolves in the world. Like the name implies, arctic wolves live in the arctic, or basically areas above 67 degrees north latitude. From nose to tail, they can be anywhere from 3 to 5 feet in length. The height from shoulder to the ground is normally 25 to 31 inches. Full-grown males weigh about 175 pounds, with females weighing slightly less. Arctic wolves live in places where few humans inhabit, meaning they are the only wolf believed to still inhabit their original living range.

    European Gray Wolf

    • European gray wolves once lived throughout Europe and Asia, but now are mostly found in Central Asia. They were the first discovered subspecies of gray wolves, identified in 1758. They have big bodies, reaching as high as 39 inches tall from ground to shoulder. From nose to the end of the tail, they can be anywhere from 45 to 65 inches long. The average weight is 70 to 130 pounds. Females are on average 20 percent smaller than males.

    Eastern Timber Wolves

    • Eastern timber wolves were once found all over the United States, including Florida. They now live in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River regions of Canada and in some areas of the northern U.S. This breed can weigh between 50 and 100 pounds, with the average male weighing about 75 pounds and females 60 pounds. They are 25 to 36 inches in height, and have a length of up to 5½ feet. These wolves were identified in 1775, the first subspecies of gray wolves in North America.