wolves

The wolf, or the gray wolf, or the common wolf, is a species of predatory mammals from the canine family. Along with the coyote, the common jackal and several other species, it constitutes the genus of wolves. In addition, as shown by the results of studying the DNA sequence and gene drift, is the direct ancestor of the domestic dog; sometimes classified as a subspecies of the wolf. The wolf is one of the largest modern animals in its family: the length of its body (excluding the tail) can reach 160 cm, the length of the tail - up to 52 cm, the height at the withers - up to 90 cm; body weight can be up to 90-102 kg.
Once upon a time, the wolf was much more widespread in Eurasia and North America. At present, its range and the total number of animals have decreased markedly, mainly as a result of human activities: changes in natural landscapes, urbanization and mass extermination. In many regions of the world, the wolf is on the verge of complete extinction, although in the north of Eurasia and America its population is still stable. Despite the fact that the wolf population continues to decline, it is still hunted in many places as a potential danger to humans and livestock, or for entertainment.
As one of the key predators, wolves play a very important role in the balance of ecosystems in biomes such as temperate forests, taiga, tundra, steppes and mountain systems. In total, there are about 32 subspecies of wolves, differing in size and shades of fur. On the territory of the Russian Federation, common and tundra wolves are most often found.