The Gray Wolf“Canis lupus”Shelby OrrShelby DoddKatharine BenningfieldSamantha Sedlock

Taxonomy

Domain: Eukarya

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Family: Canidae

Genus: Canis

Species: lupus

Cladogram

Life Cycles of the Gray Wolf

Life Span: 6 -10 years Mating Season: January and February 9 week gestation period One litter per year Pups are born blind and deaf in litters of 5-7 All wolves in the pack assist in raising wolf pups

and group feeding strengthen social bonds

Habitat

Tundra Deserts Mountains Grasslands Temperate forests Why do they need to live in THESE places??

Social Structure

Two Breeding Wolves Beta Wolf Omega Wolf Size of Pack

Howling

Lone Wolf Chorus Wolf Growling

•Communication between the pack•Declaration of territory•Howl herd up to 10 miles away•Most often during twilight hours

Diet

Carnivores (meat eating) Primarily feed on medium to large sized

unregulates - “hoofed animals” As predators, gray wolves help maintain

balance in the food web. Regulate populations of their prey animals.

Trophic Hierachy

Tertiary Consumers

Secondary Consumer

Primary Consumers

Primary Producers

Wolves

Plants

Hunting Wolf pairs strategize when attacking large prey Kill large prey by tearing at their throat,

severing the windpipe. Pack status is reinforced during feeding.

Habitat Change

How are they effected if they change habitats? Can they be domesticated?

Environmental Changes

Global Warming Increase frequency and intensity of forest fires Wolves are at the top of the food chain Winters are shorter

Habitat Destruction Yellow stone is being preserved

In the 1900’s Wolves and Bison were over hunted and disappeared from the Yellow Stone Area

Preserving the Wild

The Eeeeend