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WOLF
The Gray Wolf (Canis lupus; also
spelled Grey Wolf, see spelling differences; also known as Timber
Wolf or Wolf) is a mammal in the order Carnivora. The Gray Wolf
shares a common ancestry with the domestic dog (Canis lupus
familiaris), as evidenced by DNA sequencing and genetic drift
studies. Gray wolves were once abundant and distributed over much
of North America, Eurasia, and the Middle East. Today, for a variety
of human-related reasons, including widespread habitat destruction
and excessive hunting, wolves inhabit only a very limited portion of
their former range. Though listed as a species of least concern for
extinction worldwide, for some regions including the Continental
United States, the species is listed as endangered or threatened.
The Gray Wolf, being a keystone predator, is an important part of
the ecosystems to which it typically belongs. The wide range of
habitats where wolves thrive reflects their adaptability as a
species, and includes temperate forests, mountains, tundra, taiga,
and grasslands. In much of the world, with the exception of Northern
regions, they are listed as endangered. They continue to be hunted
in many areas of the world for their perceived threat to livestock,
as well as for sport.
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