Gregory's wolf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gregory's wolf |
|
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
|
Extinct (1980)
|
|
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Canis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
†C. l. gregoryi
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Canis lupus gregoryi Goldman, 1937
|
|
Gregory's wolf (Canis lupus gregoryi), also called the Mississippi Valley wolf, was a type of gray wolf. It is now extinct, meaning it no longer exists anywhere in the world. Scientists officially declared it extinct in 1980. This wolf used to live in the areas near the lower Mississippi River and its surrounding waterways.
Contents
About Gregory's Wolf
Gregory's wolf was a special kind of gray wolf. When we talk about a "subspecies," it means it's a group of animals within a species that has some unique features. Think of it like different breeds of dogs, but in the wild. This wolf was named after Edward Alphonso Goldman, a scientist who described it in 1937.
What Did It Look Like?
Gregory's wolf was larger than the red wolf, another type of wolf found in North America. However, it was also more slender, meaning it wasn't as bulky. Its fur had a mix of colors, including black, gray, and white. It also had a lot of cinnamon-colored fur along its back and on top of its head. On average, these wolves weighed about 27 to 32 kilograms (60 to 70 pounds).
Where Did It Live?
This wolf made its home in the central United States. It roamed the lands around the lower Mississippi River. This area includes parts of several states, like Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri. These wolves lived in forests and wetlands near the river, where they could find food and shelter.
Why Did It Disappear?
Sadly, Gregory's wolf became extinct in 1980. Many factors can lead to an animal's extinction. For wolves, habitat loss is often a big problem. As people settled more land, the forests and wild areas where wolves lived were cleared for farms and towns. This left less space and food for the wolves. Hunting also played a role in their decline.
How Scientists Classify Animals
Scientists use a system called "taxonomy" to organize and name living things. This helps them understand how different animals are related. Gregory's wolf is recognized as a subspecies of Canis lupus, which is the scientific name for the gray wolf. This classification is recorded in important books like Mammal Species of the World. For a while, some scientists thought it might be a subspecies of the red wolf, but it was later confirmed as a gray wolf subspecies.
