Alaskan tundra wolf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alaskan tundra wolf |
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| C. l. tundrarum, Lobo Park, Antequera, Spain | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Canis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
C. l. tundrarum
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| Trinomial name | |
| Canis lupus tundrarum Miller, 1912
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| Historical and present range of gray wolf subspecies in North America | |
The Alaskan tundra wolf (Canis lupus tundrarum) is a type of gray wolf found in North America. It is also known as the barren-ground wolf. This wolf lives in the cold, open areas of the Arctic coastal tundra region.
It was first named in 1912 by a scientist named Gerrit Smith Miller. He noticed that its skull and teeth were similar to the Great Plains wolf. However, the Alaskan tundra wolf has a narrower snout (called a rostrum) and the roof of its mouth (called a palate) is also narrower.
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About the Alaskan Tundra Wolf
The Alaskan tundra wolf is a large wolf. It has a mostly white fur coat. It looks a lot like another wolf, the C. l. pambasileus, but the Alaskan tundra wolf is usually lighter in color.
What is a Subspecies?
A subspecies is like a special group within a species. Members of a subspecies are very similar to others in their species. But they have small differences, often because they live in different places. The Alaskan tundra wolf is a recognized subspecies of the Canis lupus, which is the scientific name for the gray wolf. This was officially noted in a book called Mammal Species of the World in 2005.
Where Do These Wolves Live?
These wolves are native to the "barren grounds." This term describes the open, treeless lands of the Arctic. They are well-adapted to living in this cold environment.
Images for kids
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An Alaskan tundra wolf at Lobo Park in Spain.
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A map showing where gray wolf subspecies live in North America.
See Also
- Tundra wolf
