Wolves are dangerous and ferocious predators that have been living on our planet for more than a million years. They are the distant ancestors of modern dogs. The tundra wolf is one of the many varieties of these animals.
Types of wolves
The genus of wolves includes many animals - jackals, coyotes, dogs (wild and domestic), foxes, arctic foxes and, in fact, wolves, which are considered the largest group of predators in their habitat zone. In Russia, there are several subspecies of these predators.
Central Russian Forest Wolf. Familiar with childhood as a hero of Russian folk tales. This is a fairly large animal, reaching a length of 160 cm and weighing 45 kg. Often individuals come across in 70–80 kg. It lives mainly in the forest, forest-steppe zone of the European part of the country and in Siberia.
Tundra wolf. Its main difference is the light, almost white color of the coat, which allows masking among the snows of the tundra and forest-tundra, where these animals live.
The steppe wolf is a poorly studied subspecies, famous for its rusty gray, sometimes even brown color. It is slightly smaller in size than the Central Russian wolf, and is found mainly in the steppes of the southern regions of Russia.
On the territory of Transbaikalia and the Primorsky Territory, one of the smallest subspecies of these predators lives - the Mongolian wolf. Its maximum weight does not exceed 50 kg. The hard and rather coarse coat of this wolf has a dirty gray color with a touch of ocher.
The Caucasian wolf population occupies a small territory of the foothills of the North Caucasus. These are animals with shorter hair. They have a gray color, but much darker than other species and subspecies of wolves.
Tundra Wolf - Description
The population of these predators in the tundra and forest-tundra zones is quite numerous. Wolves have a lean body structure and quite significant sizes.
The height at the withers is 90–100 cm. They are characterized by a long and thick hairline, characterized by a light, sometimes completely white color. Such wool perfectly protects from the most severe frosts, and also makes the predator less visible on white snow. In addition, an excellent scent and sharp vision, which help to hunt successfully, helps to survive in the
Far North . Massive teeth can easily deal with any prey, crushing even strong bones.
Habitat
The main habitat of these predators is the coast of the Arctic Ocean, tundra and forest-tundra. The tundra wolf manages to exist in this region for more than one hundred thousand years, despite the harsh climatic conditions, severe frosts, icy winds and snowdrifts. Near the ocean, the predator feeds on the bodies of seals thrown out by the waves, as well as fish. In areas of the mainland, the wolf is served as food for lemmings, birds, hares, arctic foxes. Often he ravages nests by eating eggs and chicks.
Lifestyle
Like all other wolf species, the tundra wolf is a public animal. There is a strict hierarchy in every pack. Rule, as a rule, stronger and more aggressive individuals. The situation in the pack is well indicated by the way the wolf holds its tail. With the leader, he is in an elevated state, while among the members of the pack, who are at the lower level of the hierarchy, the tail is lowered or completely tightened. The connection with the packmates of the wolves is very close. They communicate with each other in the language of facial expressions and body movements, which helps them to act together.
The tundra wolf is able to express its feelings with the help of a tail. In a raised position with a slightly curved tip, it means confidence. Friendliness is expressed by the lowered tail, the tip of which is looking up. In an angry state, the wolf holds his ears up, turning them forward, and grins his teeth. In case of danger, the ears are pulled back and the tongue protrudes slightly with a grin. The members of the pack easily understand by such signs how to behave.
Wolves are not always ferocious. After a hearty dinner, having slept enough, they can enjoy frolic, playing with relatives.
Born hunters
These animals were born for hunting. The main weapon is powerful and sharp teeth, capable of gnawing even the femur of a caught deer. The tundra wolf hunts absolutely silently. They move almost without touching the heel of the earth. When you have to chase a deer, its speed can develop up to 60 kilometers per hour. A special tread of the wolf, when the hind paw is placed exactly after the front, allows him to move quickly enough even in the deepest snow. In the process of hunting, the predator determines the location of prey with the help of a nose, which can catch the smell of any animal at a distance of up to two kilometers. Thanks to acute sense of smell, the wolf can pursue its prey in the wake.
These animals are unpretentious in food - they can eat everything that can be caught. Their diet is different at different times of the year. In summer, it is based on hares, birds, beetles, frogs and even plant foods in the form of forest fruits and lichens. In autumn and winter, packs of wolves migrate after reindeer, which often become the prey of these predators. Wolves attack mainly young animals or weakened animals. Healthy and strong deer can stand up for themselves. It is difficult to resist the wolf against horns and powerful hooves.
At one time, the wolf is able to eat up to 14 kilograms of meat. He needs to satisfy his hunger thoroughly, because in search of the next victim he may have to scour several days, because only 10% of hunting trips are successful. The leader is the first to start the meal, the rest of the pack at this time shrink at a distance and patiently wait for their turn until he is fed up.
Progeny
Very warm fur of a white or light gray color is not the only thing that distinguishes a tundra wolf from a usual forest one. The laws of the tundra are very severe - it is difficult to feed many mouths here, so only a female leader can have offspring in a wolf pack. Puppies from other she-wolves are destroyed immediately at birth. The period of pregnancy in wolves lasts 75 days. Wolves are born blind, usually no more than five in a litter. One and a half months they eat mother’s milk and semi-digested meat, which the male belches them. Not only parents take care of the kids, but also other members of the pack.
After 2-3 months, the wolf cubs are already able to run after the flock, and the family leaves its lair. Young wolves are next to their parents for several years, mastering all the wisdom of hunting, after which they leave and acquire their own packs.
In some places, wolves cause serious damage to reindeer husbandry, so hunters often have to regulate their numbers.