| Subspecies |
Classification |
Status |
Historic Range |
| Arabian Wolf |
Canis lupus Arabs |
Critically endangered, declining |
Israel, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman |
| A
very small subspecies. Typically blended brown or completely brown with
a thin coat. Hunted regularly as a nuisance animal, though rarely
encountered. |
| Arctic Wolf |
Canis lupus arctos |
Stable |
Canadian Arctic, Greenland |
| An
average-sized subspecies. Almost exclusively white or creamy white with
a thick coat. Hunted legally, though rarely encountered. |
| Caspian Sea Wolf |
Canis lupus cubanensis |
Endangered, declining |
Between the Caspian and Black seas |
| A smaller subspecies. Hunted as a nuisance animal. |
| Dingo |
Canis lupus dingo |
Vulnerable
(pure breed) |
Australia & southeast Asia |
| Hunted as a nuisance animal. Pure breed declining from interbreeding with the Domestic Dog. |
| Domestic Dog |
Canis lupus familiaris |
Stable |
Worldwide |
| Typically,
a smaller subspecies, with 20% smaller brains, more feeble immune
system, and poorer sense of smell. Maintained as pets, although some
small feral populations do exist. Raised for their meat in some parts of the world. |
| Eastern Timber Wolf |
Canis lupus lycaon |
At risk |
Southeastern Canada, Eastern United States |
| A
larger subspecies. Full canine color spectrum represented, though
blended pelages predominate. First subspecies to be recognized in North
America. Hunted legally in parts of Canada. |
| Egyptian Wolf |
Canis lupus lupaster |
Critically endangered, unknown |
Far Northern Africa |
| A smaller subspecies. Usually a grizzled or tinged gray or brown. Lanky. Very rarely encountered. |
| Eurasian Wolf |
Canis lupus lupus |
Stable |
Western Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, China, Mongolia, Himalaya Mountains |
| An
average-sized subspecies. Generally short, blended gray fur. Largest
range among wolf subspecies. Most common wolf subspecies in Europe and
Asia. Population roughly 100,000. Hunted legally in some places,
protected in others. |
| Great Plains Wolf |
Canis lupus nubilus |
Stable |
Southern
Rocky Mountains, Midwestern United States, Eastern and Northeastern
Canada, far Southwestern Canada, and Southeastern Alaska |
| An
average-sized subspecies. Usually gray, black, buff, or reddish. The
most common subspecies in the contiguous U.S. Hunted legally in parts
of Canada. |
| Hokkaido Wolf |
Canis lupus hattai |
Extinct |
Japanese island of Hokkaido |
| A smaller subspecies. Became extinct in 1889 as a result of poisoning campaigns. |
| Honshu Wolf |
Canis lupus hodophilax |
Extinct |
Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu |
| A very small subspecies. Became extinct in 1905 from a combination of rabies and human eradication efforts. |
| Indian Wolf |
Canis lupus pallipes |
Endangered, declining |
Israel, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India |
| A very small subspecies. Typically tawny, buff, or reddish with a very short, dense coat. Hunted as a nuisance animal. |
| Italian Wolf |
Canis lupus italicus |
Endangered |
Italian peninsula |
| An average-sized subspecies. Full canine color spectrum represented. Occupy comparatively smaller territories. Protected. |
| Mackenzie Valley Wolf |
Canis lupus occidentalis |
Stable |
Alaska, Northern Rockies, Western and Central Canada |
| A
very large subspecies. Usually black or a blended gray or brown, but
full color spectrum represented. This subspecies was reintroduced to
Yellowstone National Park and Idaho starting in 1995. Hunted legally in
Alaska and parts of Canada. Protected in the contiguous states. |
| Mexican Wolf |
Canis lupus baileyi |
Critically endangered |
Central Mexico, Western Texas, Southern New Mexico and Arizona |
| A
smaller subspecies. Usually tawny brown or rusty in color. Reintroduced
to Arizona starting in 1998. Current wild population 35-50. Current
captive population 300. Protected. |
| Russian Wolf |
Canis lupus communis |
Stable, declining |
Central Russia |
| A very large subspecies. Hunted legally. |
| Tundra Wolf |
Canis lupus albus |
Stable |
Northern Russia, Siberia |
| A larger subspecies. Typically creamy white or gray, though full spectrum is represented. Hunted legally. |
