Newfoundland wolf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newfoundland wolf |
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| Stuffed specimen | |
| Conservation status | |
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Extinct
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Canis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: |
†C. l. beothucus
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| Trinomial name | |
| Canis lupus beothucus Allen & Barbour, 1937
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_%26_MSW3_(2005).png) |
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| Historical and present range of gray wolf subspecies in North America | |
The Newfoundland wolf (Canis lupus beothucus) was a type of grey wolf that used to live only on the island of Newfoundland. Sadly, it was thought to have become extinct around 1911.
Contents
What the Newfoundland Wolf Looked Like
This wolf was known for being a medium-sized animal. It had a slender skull and often a white fur coat. However, some Newfoundland wolves had dark fur, a condition called melanism. This means they had more dark pigment in their fur.
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Scientists could tell the Newfoundland wolf apart from other wolves. They looked at the special angles of its teeth inside its mouth. This helped them identify it as a unique subspecies.
How Scientists Classify Animals
The Newfoundland wolf is officially recognized as a subspecies of Canis lupus, which is the scientific name for the grey wolf. This classification comes from a major book called Mammal Species of the World (2005), which helps scientists organize all known mammals.
In 1912, a scientist named Gerrit S. Miller Jr. studied wolves in North America. He suggested there were three main types of wolves in certain areas: the timber-wolf, the plains-wolf, and the tundra-wolf.
Recent Discoveries and Sightings
Even though the Newfoundland wolf was thought to be extinct, there have been some interesting discoveries. In 2019, a wolf was shot on Newfoundland island because people thought it was a coyote.
However, DNA tests showed that this wolf, and another one found later, were actually Labrador wolves. Labrador wolves are a different type of wolf that usually live in nearby Labrador. It's very rare to see them on Newfoundland island. This shows that wolves are still present in the region, even if the original Newfoundland wolf is gone.
See also
In Spanish: Lobo de Terranova para niños
