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Wolves

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Wolves in Ireland. Wolves were once an integral part of the Irish countryside and culture. The last wild wolf in Ireland is said to have been killed in 1786, several years after they were believed to have been wiped out in Great Britain.[1][2] Folklore and mythology[edit] Wolves feature prominently in Irish Mythology. Airitech was a mysterious creature whose three daughters were werewolf like creatures, eventually killed by Cas Corach.[3] The Irish word for wolf is Mac Tire meaning literally the Son of the Country(side) and association with human transformation linger, and whilst some consider this is imported[4] there are many references in Irish mythology to lycanthropes[5] and changing to other animal forms.[6] The Morrígan was said to take on the form of a red-furred wolf, particularly in her battle with the hero Cú Chulainn.[7] Mac Cecht killed a wolf feeding on a still living woman on a battlefield.[8] Cormac mac Airt was said to have been raised by wolves, and that he could understand their speech.

Eurasian wolf. The Eurasian wolf (Canis lupus lupus), also known as the European, common,[2] or forest wolf,[3] is a subspecies of gray wolf which has the largest range among wolf subspecies and is the most common in Europe and Asia, ranging through Mongolia, China, Russia, Scandinavia, Western Europe, Caucasus, the Himalayan Mountains and Balkans. Compared to their North American cousins, Eurasian wolves tend to have longer, more highly placed ears, narrower heads, more slender loins and coarser, tawnier coloured fur.[4] Compared to Indian wolves, Eurasian wolves are larger, and have longer, broader skulls.[5] In Europe, wolves rarely form large packs like in North America, as their lives are more strongly influenced by human activities.[6] Because of this, Eurasian wolves tend to be more adaptable than North American wolves in the face of human expansion.[7] Taxonomy[edit] Italian wolf[edit] Physical description[edit] Eurasian Wolf Skull of a European wolf Build[edit] Size[edit] Fur[edit] Behaviour[edit]

Gray wolf. The gray wolf or grey wolf (Canis lupus) is a canid native to the wilderness and remote areas of North America, Eurasia, and North Africa. It is the largest member of its family, with males averaging 43–45 kg (95–99 lb), and females 36–38.5 kg (79–85 lb).[3] It is similar in general appearance and proportions to a German shepherd,[4] or sled dog, but has a larger head, narrower chest, longer legs, straighter tail, and bigger paws.[5] Its winter fur is long and bushy, and predominantly a mottled gray in colour, although nearly pure white, red, or brown to black also occur.[4] Etymology The English word "wolf" stems from the Old English wulf, which is itself thought to be derived from the Proto-Germanic *wulfaz, from the Proto-Indo-European root *wlqwos/*lukwos.[21] Old English literature contains several instances of Anglo-Saxon kings and warriors taking on wulf as a prefix or suffix in their names.

Evolution and taxonomy Origins Ancestry Subspeciation Colonization of North America Subspecies. Eurasian wolf. Arctic wolf. Contrary to its mainland counterparts, the Arctic wolf has never been seriously hunted or pursued, as the high Arctic holds few human settlements. As a result, the Arctic wolf is relatively unafraid of people, and can be coaxed to approach people in some areas.[4] It has occasionally acted aggressively toward humans. Otto Sverdrup wrote that during the Fram expidition, a pair of wolves attacked one of his team-mates, who defended himself with a skiing pole.[5] In 1977, a pair of scientists were approached by six wolves on Ellesmere Island, with one animal leaping at one of the scientists and grazing a cheek.

A number of incidents involving aggressive wolves have occurred in Alert, Nunavut, where the wolves have lived in close proximity to the local weather station for decades and become habituated to humans.[6] References[edit] ^ Jump up to: a b Mech, L. Further reading[edit] L. External links[edit] International Wolf Center – Arctic Wolf Information.