| The Body of a Wolf |
|
Wolves look much like large German shepherd dogs. But a wolf has
longer legs, bigger feet, a wider head, and a long bushy tail.
Most adult male wolves weigh from 75 to 120 pounds (34 to 54
kilograms). they measure from 5 to 6 1/2 feet (1.5 to 2
meters) long, including the tail, and are about 2 1/2 feet (76
centimeters) tall at the shoulder. Female wolves are smaller than
the males.
The fur of the wolf varies in color from pure white on the Artic plains to jet black in the sub arctic forests. Most wolves have gray fur. Wolves of the northern and Arctic regions grow long, thick winter coats that protect them from the bitter cold. A wolf has excellent vision, a keen sense of smell, and fine hearing. These three senses help the animal locate prey. A wolf can see and smell a deer more than a mile (1.6 kilometers) away, A wolf has 42 teeth, including four fangs at the front of the mouth that are used to wound, grab, and kill prey. The fangs may measure up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) long from root to tip. The small front teeth are used to nibble and pull at skin. The sharp side teeth cut easily through tough muscle. The flat back teeth crush thick bone so it can be swallowed, The wolf has a large stomach and can eat as much as 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of food at one time. However, a wolf can go without food for two weeks or longer. |
