The red wolf is an animal of controversial origin and recognition, on which dissimilar positions have been raised, such as that it is a subspecies of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) or that it is a different species from the one that it has been assigned the scientific name of Canis rufus. Given that this last option is the one recognized by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the one that, in addition, appears in the Comparative Database of Taxogenomics (CDT) [1], we will speak of this wolf as a different species and not as a subspecies, since, in some cases, different subspecies are also suggested for the red wolf.
In this article on our site you will learn all the characteristics of the red wolf, its habitat, its customs and much more. Keep reading to get to know this canid in depth!
Red Wolf Characteristics
The red wolf is closely related to the wolf species Canis lupus, although the former is smaller. These wolves usually have dimensions between 1 and 1.3 meters long, with tails of 30 to 50 cm and a height of 60 to almost 80 cm. Males are slightly larger than females. The weight has a range that goes from 20 to 40 kg. On the other hand, they have long legs and ears, the latter of which are also pointed.
It is a beautiful animal, with distinctive colors and short fur. The upper part of the body is a mixture of tan, ochre, gray or black, but the back or back area is usually darker. Around and below the snout to the chest it has a white pattern, while on the tail there is a coloration tending to black. In summer it is normal for the coat to shed and in winter it tends more toward a reddish color
Red wolf subspecies
The red wolf, as we mentioned at the beginning, has been a controversial animal from a taxonomic point of view, since it was raised, on the one hand, that it was a subspecies of the gray wolf, on the other, that it corresponded to a subspecies of coyote, and the idea of being a hybrid between wolves and coyotes was even suggested. However, all these positions, due to genetic studies, were not accepted and until now their identity as a different species has been established.
Something similar has happened with the proposal of the existence of subspecies of the red wolf, because there are reports [1] [2]of specifically three, which are:
- Canis rufus floridanus
- Canis rufus gregoryi
- Canis rufus rufus
This same report cites others [3] [4] that indicate that the first two subspecies mentioned are extinct. However, in other studies used for the writing of this sheet, the existence of subspecies is not indicated, even some [5] explicitly mention that the red wolf it has no subspecies. For all these reasons, to this day its taxonomy is still not completely clear.
Red Wolf Habitat
Initially it was estimated that the red wolf was only restricted to the southeastern United States, but later it was shown that it was also distributed towards the north, even reaching the extreme eastern Canada Regarding the type of habitat of the species, there is not enough information, according to the IUCN, since, at the beginning investigations on it, the population had decreased considerably.
It is estimated that they developed in various types of habitats. The habitat used by the last population in the wild was Prairie marshes located in specific areas of Louisiana and Texas. However, there is coincidence that the largest population lived in large fluvial forests and swamp areas In this sense, it follows that the red wolf is a generalist of habitats, capable of developing in various types of ecosystems.
The only wild population of the red wolf is a reintroduced one that inhabits farmland and forest mosaics with pine trees and evergreen understory in North Carolina.
Red Wolf Feeding
This species of wolf is a carnivorous animal, just like the rest of the canids. It tends to hunt in the same area for about 7 to 10 days and then change areas. Now, what exactly does the red wolf eat? Among their favorite prey, we find:
- rodents
- raccoons
- deer
- rabbits
- pigs
- rats
- birds
- otters
It is also common for him to include carroña in his diet. This wolf can also include certain types of fruits in its diet, although its main source of food is of animal origin.
If you want to know more, don't miss this other article where we explain how wolves hunt.
Customs of the Red Wolf
It is an animal mainly nocturnal, which is used to live in herdsand establishes a territory as their home, where they develop exclusively, so they do not allow the presence of other groups of the species. Generally, a couple founds a pack, which is made up of them, like the alphas, and their descendants. However, occasionally larger groups may be established. Within the pack, these wolves tend to live peacefully, however, the same does not happen if there is the presence of a stranger, with whom they are confronted, which is a common trait among canids.
These wolves establish a complex communication system between them, which is based on chemical signals, behavioral and tactile aspects, and the emission of various types of sounds. They also tend to delimit their territory with olfactory signals.
Red Wolf Play
The red wolf reproduces in a very similar way to that of other wolf species. They have a hierarchical role, which is represented by the couple that founds the pack and is known as the alpha. This is the only one that has the privilege to reproduce, the other individuals of reproductive age must withdraw from the group and form their own family to have offspring.
The red wolf breeds between January and March, having a gestation time that lasts from 60 to 63 days and a number of pups that are between 3 and 6, which are born in spring, although there are cases of females that give birth to up to 12 pups. Before giving birth, the female locates a burrow, which can be a hollow log, accumulations of sand or near a stream in the area, to give birth and raise her pups
All members of a red wolf pack participate in the care and protection of the pups. Thus, they even help bring food for the little ones and watch over them for at least the first year of life.
In the wild, a red wolf usually lives about 4 years, as it is very rare for them to die from natural causes. However, in captivity their life expectancy increases considerably, reaching up to 15 years.
Red Wolf Conservation Status
Due to conflicts with animal breeders, red wolves were nearly extinct from their ranges. However, a program was developed for their recovery and a group of these animals was captured to later reintroduce them in a specific region and carry out the corresponding follow-up on their viability.
Currently, the red wolf is considered by the IUCN critically endangered Among the threats, in addition to direct hunting, the which is prohibited in the United States, hybridization with coyotes is an aspect that significantly harms the stability of the species, since it can make it disappear because this is one of the consequences that occurs in some cases of hybridization.
Learn about all the types of wolves and their characteristics to expand your knowledge, discover how wonderful these animals are and become aware of how important it is to protect them.
