Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) — A gray wolf stands outdoors near a forest edge in El Paso, Colorado.

Creator: [Bobby McCabe](https://www.flickr.com/people/163058217@N06), [Wikimedia Commons source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canis_lupus._2021._El_Paso,_CO,_US._Robert_McCabe_(1)_(52582886470).jpg), CC BY 2.0. Licence: [CC BY 2.0 deed](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en).

Licence: CC BY 2.0

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Species record

Gray Wolf

Canis lupus

Explore the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) species record in The Ark Is Earth, including classification, habitat, distribution, conservation information, and sources.

Summary

The gray wolf is a large wild canid found across parts of Asia, Europe, and North America. It lives in varied landscapes, from forests and tundra to grasslands and deserts, and commonly preys on hoofed mammals; prey use varies by region.

Classification in this archive

Kingdom: Animals
Phylum: Chordates
Subphylum: Vertebrates
Class: Mammals
Order: Carnivorans
Family: Canidae
Genus: Canis

Habitat and distribution

Selected documented locations — not a complete species range.

Habitat: boreal forest, temperate forest, tundra, grassland, rocky mountains and desert
Selected regions: Asia, Europe, North America

Conservation status

The Ark records: Least Concern.

IUCN Red List — Gray Wolf (2026 global assessment)Accessed 2026-10-01

Did you know?

Wolf coats can be white, gray, brown, or black.
Long legs and keen senses help wolves travel and find prey.

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Sources and attribution

Conservation
IUCN Red List — Gray Wolf (2026 global assessment)
Accessed 2026-10-01
General
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service — Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)
Accessed 2026-10-01