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Mammal. The Arctic wolf is a subspecies of the gray wolf (Canis lupus). Arctic wolves inhabit some of the most inhospitable terrain in the world where the air temperature rarely rises above -30 degrees C (-22 F) and the ground is permanently frozen. They are one of the few species of mammals who can tolerate these harsh conditions. Arctic wolves are usually smaller than gray wolves, and also have smaller ears, slightly shorter muzzles, and shorter legs to reduce exposure to the frigid air. They live alone or in packs of about 6 wolves and are usually all white with a very thick, insulating coat. |
| Scientific
Name |
Lifespan |
| Canis lupus arctos |
7 years, 20 in captivity |
| Diet |
| Carnivore. Musk oxen, Peary caribou, Arctic foxes, ptarmigan, lemmings, seals, nesting birds, and Arctic hares. |
| Predators and
Threats |
| Polar bears, other wolves, humans. |
| Habitat |
| Arctic: along the northern edge of the North American continent and northward to the North Pole, as well as along the eastern and northern shores of Greenland. |
