Russian Wolves in the Mountains

There are four types of wolves within the mountainous regions of Russia--the Eurasian wolf (Canis lupus lupus), the Tibetan wolf (Canis lupus chanco), the Caspian Sea wolf (Canis lupus campestris) and the tundra wolf (Canis lupus albus). They are all subspecies of the gray wolf (Canis lupus).

  1. Eurasian Wolf

    • Eurasian wolves bear a striking physical resemblance to North American Great Plains wolves but their coats are shorter and more dense, ranging in shades from black, creamy white, gray or red or a combination. They are large, weighing up to 130 pounds and standing up to 39 inches at the shoulders. They usually live in small packs and hunt as a unit but may seek prey alone. The wolves' daily diet mainly consists of berries, fish and small game but they will also pursue medium-sized game animals when available. Under ideal, wild conditions, a wolf's life span ranges from 7 to 10 years. The Eurasian wolf lives throughout China, Mongolia, Western Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and the Himalayan Mountains.

    Tibetan Wolf

    • Tibetan wolves stand approximately 30 inches high and weigh up to 70 pounds. They have long, shaggy fur that varies in color according to the season, in a blend of yellow, brown, white, gray and black. Excellent hunters, they will seek prey as a pack or alone. They can easily bring down large animals such as sheep and deer. They have the ability to run at speeds that reach 40 miles per hour in a short burst. Their life span can reach 10 years in the wild. The Tibetan wolf ranges through the mountains of southwestern Russia. It also occurs in the central Himalayan regions of India, Nepal and Bhutan, as well as central China, Manchuria and Tibet.

    Caspian Sea Wolf

    • The Caspian Sea wolf, also called the Caucasian wolf or steppe wolf, resided between the Caspian and Black seas in Russia. Critically endangered, it exists now only in the extreme southeastern area bordering the Caspian Sea. Widely killed as a nuisance animal, the wolves' numbers have also decreased due to the contaminated waters of the Caspian Sea, which has become a dumping ground for Russia's waste water. Caspian sea wolves usually weigh up to 88 pounds. They have short coats that display shades of gray with rust or brown and black hairs.

    Tundra Wolf

    • The tundra wolf occurs in the forests and mountainous areas of western Russia and northern Scandinavia. Its range stretches into the far north and reaches the Arctic tundra. One of the largest of the subspecies, it can measure up to 7 feet from the tip of its nose to the tip of its tail and weigh up to 120 pounds. The wolf has a double-layered coat for protection in the coldest and most extreme climates. The fur appears in shades of gray, black, rust or silver gray. They prey on large mammals, such as deer, moose and caribou.