Werewolf - werewolves, a jackal and a dog.

(i) Ice'Di/Triumph



                   E N C I C L O P E D I



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    WOLF is a carnivorous predator of the canine family.
Distributed mainly in the Northern Hemisphere,
The wolf lives in limited areas of the terrain. There are three
species of wolf (gray wolf, red wolf and coyote), however this
classification is not final, as possible
local variations between these species.



    Other living members of the canid family
are a jackal and a dog.  Between all the animals of the family
crossing of dogs is possible, and very productive; in
At one time, the Eskimos crossed wolves and dogs so that they could
bring strong offspring capable of dragging
sleigh-carts. Wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus with a large mane of fur
on the neck, inhabiting the forest areas of South America, not
is a real wolf, although it belongs to the family
canine. He has very long legs and long hair sticking out on his
scruff.  "Sand wolf" -name of brown
hyena (does not belong to the canine family), living on
territory of Africa. Aardwolf also belongs to the genus of hyena.



    The most common wolf species is the gray wolf, or Canis
Lupus, inhabiting the circumpolar regions of the globe.  B
Also known in North America as the timber wolf.
This species has been practically exterminated in Western Europe (for
with the exception of rare places).   It can also be found in
Southeast Europe, Russia and Asia. In the countries of the New World the wolf
found in wild forests and tundra, from Greenland and islands
Arctic Ocean to the northern border of the United States, and
also in difficult to reach places in the western mountains of the United States
States.



    Externally, the gray wolf is very similar to the German shepherd. He has
thick, coarse fur, straight ears and a bushy tail. Wool
has a gray color with shades of black and brown, but can
be black or, especially in Arctic regions, white. Regular
The height of an average adult male wolf is 3 feet (90 cm), length H 4
ft (120 cm) without tail, weight 100 lb (45 kg). Some
wolves weigh twice the average.



    The wolf hunts mainly at night.  His victims are
birds and small mammals, as well as weak animals are more
largespecies, such as deer.   Wolf also limited
eats vegetables and rarely carrion. Wolf running speed
sometimes reaches 35 m/h (56 km/h), and the jump length is 16 feet
(4 m).  When hunting, a wolf can run at a speed of 20 m/h (32
km/h) for many hours, gradually tiring even the fastest
sacrifice.  They are capable of making long journeys across terrain, and
also migrate depending on the migration of individual flocks.


    Gray wolves hunt both alone and in groups that
are called flocks.  Usually up to five individuals live in a flock. B
extreme climatic conditions, especially in winter, flocks can
unite into large families, the number of individuals of which is sometimes
reaches 30 (very rarely - more). During the mating period
a wolf pair makes a lair, usually in a cave or hole, where
raises offspring.  Both parents provide food for the wolf cubs.
Typically, a newly created couple lives together for a long time (that is, until
death of one or both wolves).



    Thanks to the natural tendency to hunt live prey,
wolves were practically destroyed.  North American
wolves usually do not attack people without special reasons, which
can only be caused by human provocations.
However, history notes the fact of attacks by Siberian wolves on
horse riders andpeople in horse-drawn sleighs.
There are also many stories, especially in India, of how
wolves raised human cubs in their circle. None
These stories have never been documented.



    Red wolf, Canus niger - a smaller individual,
living in forested areas in the south-central United States. Color
The coat varies from red-gray to black. Behavior and
its habits are closer to the “prairie wolf”, Canus latrans, more
known as a coyote. Coyotes are the smallest size among
wolves and are widespread in the American Northwest.



                 CHARACTERISTICS



_Average length_
 (from tip of nose to end of tail)



Male: 5-6ft (150-195 cm.)

Female: 4-6 feet (135-180 cm.)



_Average height_      
(to the shoulder)



26 to 32 inches (66-81 cm)



_Average weight_         



Male: 70 to 110 pounds.
       (17, 8-49 kg)



_Average foot size_      



4x5 inches (10-12.7 cm) - width and length respectively.



_Lifespan_  



Up to 13 years in the wild, 14-15 years in a nursery.



_Wool color_



Grey, possibly black or white.



_Number of teeth_



42 teeth.



_Mating season_



Ferval - March.



_Gestation period in females_

63 days.


_Birth weight_



1 lb (445 g)



_Litter_



From 4 to 6 puppies.



_Newborn mortality_   



Variable; on average 40-60% per year.



_Flock size_



Entirely depends on the number of puppies born, the level
mortality among them and the percentage of wolves leaving the pack; from 2
up to 15 in the Great Lakes region, with higher numbers in Alaska and Canada.



_Pack territory_



25-150 sq. miles (64-384 sq. km.) in Minnesota;
300-1000 sq. miles (768-2560 sq. km.) in Alaska and Canada.



_Speed_            



On average 5 m/h (86 km/h), during hunting reaches 35 m/h (57 km/h)



_Victim_              

Deer, elk, beaver in the Lake Superior region (USA); sheep, goat,
bison



_Wolf to deer ratio_

  
1 wolf per deer population of 50-200 individuals.



_Threat of extinction_    



Destruction of housing and microclimate by deforestation; persecution
person.



                         SOURCE:



         1. Infoplease.com Encyclopedia - "wolf" entry.
           
              2. Canis lupus: meet the gray wolf.