The Tibetan wolf(Canis lupus chanco), also known as the woolly wolf, is a Gray wolf subspecies native to
Asia from Turkestan throughout Tibet to Mongolia, northern China and the Indian subcontinent.The Canis lupus chanco was identified as a subspecies of the gray wolf in 1863 by British zoologist Jhon Edward Gray. It is also known as the Canis lupus chance, Canis lupsu laniger, the Tibetan wolf, Mongolian wolf, and Chinese wolf. For a long time, the Tibetan wolf and the Himalayan wolf were recognized as one and the same. However, recent genetic studies suggest the Himalayan wolf to be a distinct species, the Canis himalayensis.
HABITAT[]
The Tibetan wolf can be found in central China, the Manschurai, the jungles and deserts of Mongolia, North Sikkim, Tibet, south-western Russia, the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal and Bhutan.
APPEARANCE[]
The size of the Tibetan wolves can vary from 58 to 65 inches (from nose to end of tail) and from 27 to 30 inches high, weighing from 65 to 70 pounds. Compared to the common European wolf, they are slightly larger, with shorter legs. Their skull is similar with a longer thinner muzzle. This "wooly wolf" has a long shaggy coat which seasonally varies in color, usually a blend of white, yellow, brown, grey, and black.
DIET[]
The Tibetan wolf is an amazing hunter with excellent survival skills. It is known to hunt both during the day and at night either alone or in packs. Its preferred prey includes deer, blue sheep, and other large mammals. When food becomes scarce, it will feed on smaller animals like marmots, hares, ground squirrel, and mice. When hunting, the wolf can reach speeds up to 40 mph.
ENDANGERED?[]
Yes. Endangered, Schedule I, (1991).
