Primarily demersal, inhabiting shallow to moderately deep cold waters. Gill membranes attached to the isthmus, gill openings widely separated. Most species have strong canines and molars for digging out and crushing clams and other hard-shelled prey. One or two trunk lateral lines of superficial neuromasts, difficult to discern in preserved material. Mechanosensory canals of head well developed, pores with age becoming overgrown: nasal 2, occipital 3-5, interorbital 1-2, postorbital 4-5, suborbital 7-9, preopercular 4, mandibular 3-4. Scales cycloid, minute and non-overlapping, or absent. Pectoral fins large and rounded, with 18-24 rays. Caudal fin separated from dorsal and anal fins by a short peduncle in Anarhichas, median fins confluent and tapering to a point in Anarrhichthys. Anal fin with 42-55 soft rays in Anarhichas and 0-1 spine and 180-233 soft rays in Anarrhichthys. Dorsal fin long, starting at the head, and composed of 69-88 flexible spines in Anarhichas and 218-250 in Anarrhichthys. Body mostly compressed and moderately elongate except one species Anarrhichthys ocellatus, is extremely elongate and for its shape goes by the common name wolf-eel. This is necessary for coordinating group social activities and much more.Distribution: North Atlantic and North Pacific. A wolf has a large brain capacity and the skull capacity gives adequate space for the advanced cerebral cortex (the brain). This houses extensive strong cheek muscles that are important for holding onto their prey as they kill it and consume it. Wolves have very long skulls which are typical of carnivorous animals. The interlocked foreleg bones, narrow collarbones, and the adapted wrist bones give the wolf its superior speed and strength. The bones are strong and this gives them power to bring down large prey like deer, moose, elks or caribou. The wolf’s skeleton is adapted to its lifestyle. A wolf has four toes on its hind feet and five toes on its fore feet. A wolf makes its legs much longer so it can run with great speed and catch the faster prey. Legs and FeetĪ wolf’s toes spread whenever they step in snow which helps them avoid sinking. Their tail’s position and the state of their fur are used to send specific massages to other wolves and animals in the area. Wolves use their tails to communicate with each other. The bottom layer is shorter which serves to keep the wolf warm. The top layer is longer and it is used to keep a wolf dry.
Body, Fur and TailĪ wolf’s body is very strong and powerful, making it easier to kill large prey like a deer or elk. They have great eyesight, a strong sense of smell, and acute hearing. The wolf’s tongue is very rough and is used to clean the meat off the bones.Ī wolf moves its ears from one side to the other to determine the source of sound. The front teeth are used to pull the skin. At times, wolves use the back teeth for crushing the bones and meat into tiny pieces. They use the sharp teeth to grab, wound and kill their prey. Actually, wolves can smell and see deer from a mile away.Ī wolf also has total of 42 teeth which includes four canines. This means it can actually smell 100 times better than a human. Head and MuzzleĪ wolf has 200 million smelling cells inside its nose. The average weight is in the range of 60 to 100 pounds. The weight of a wolf can vary in North American wolves ranging from 40 pounds to 175 pounds. The male wolf is generally 15 to 20% larger than the female. The tail can be as long as 20 inches, but in most cases, it is shorter than 13 inches. This type of wolf stands about 26 inches to 38 inches at its shoulder and has a length between 40 and 58 inches from its head to the base of its tail. The gray wolf is the largest member of the Canid family.
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