Wolves are one of the most feared and misunderstood animals in the world. They have been hunted to near extinction and are now protected in many parts of the world. There are different types of wolves.
Today, we will look at the 11 largest wolves in the world.
11 Largest Wolves in the World
Below is a list of the 11 largest wolves in the world, based on average weight and height:
1. Northwestern Wolf
The Northwestern wolf is the largest subspecies of the gray wolf in North America. It is also known as the Mackenzie Valley wolf, Canadian Timber wolf, or Rocky Mountain wolf. Adult males can grow to be up to 3 feet (0.91 m) long and weigh between 175 and 200 pounds (79 and 91 kg). Females are slightly smaller, with a length of 2.5 to 2.75 feet (0.76 to 0.84 m) and a weight of 120 to 140 pounds (54 to 64 kg).
The Northwestern wolf is found in the northern Rocky Mountains and along the west coast of Canada and the United States, from Alaska to Yellowstone National Park.
2. Interior Alaskan Wolf
The Interior Alaskan wolf is a subspecies of the gray wolf that is native to Alaska and northwestern Canada. It is also known as the Yukon wolf or Alaskan tundra wolf. Adult males can grow to be up to 3 feet (0.91 m) long and weigh between 175 and 200 pounds (79 and 91 kg). Females are slightly smaller, with a length of 2.5 to 2.75 feet (0.76 to 0.84 m) and a weight of 120 to 140 pounds (54 to 64 kg).
The Interior Alaskan wolf is found in the central and northern parts of Alaska, as well as in the Yukon and Northwest Territories of Canada.
3. Himalayan Wolf
The Himalayan wolf is a subspecies of the gray wolf that is native to the Himalayan Mountains in Asia. It is also known as the Tibetan wolf or Asian highland wolf. Adult males can grow to be up to 3 feet (0.91 m) long and weigh between 175 and 200 pounds (79 and 91 kg). Females are slightly smaller, with a length of 2.5 to 2.75 feet (0.76 to 0.84 m) and a weight of 120 to 140 pounds (54 to 64 kg).
The Himalayan wolf is found in the Himalayan Mountains in Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Tibet.
4. Ethiopian Wolf
The Ethiopian wolf is a canid that is native to the Ethiopian Highlands in Africa. It is also known as the Abyssinian wolf, Simien fox, or red fox. Adult males can grow to be up to 3 feet (0.91 m) long and weigh between 175 and 200 pounds (79 and 91 kg). Females’ length is 2.5 to 2.75 feet (0.76 to 0.84 m) and a weight of 120 to 140 pounds (54 to 64 kg).
The Ethiopian wolf is found in the Ethiopian Highlands, as well as in Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia.
5. Mongolian Wolf
Mongolian wolves are found in Mongolia, central and northern China, and Russia. Their habitat has shrunken over time because of the growth of the human population and settlements, as well as Siberian tigers becoming less common (they vie for food). These wolves typically eat saiga antelope and domestic livestock.
The Mongolian wolf is a medium-sized canid that ranges in length from 3 to 5 feet. The tallest Mongolian wolves can reach heights of almost 35 inches. Weights vary considerably, but the majority weigh around 57 to 82 pounds. They are smaller in stature than European wolves and have a somewhat narrower muzzle. It’s difficult to tell them apart from the Himalayan wolf, and their taxonomy is still up for debate.
6. Arctic Wolf
Male Arctic wolves generally weigh between 75 and 110 pounds (34 to 46 kg), while females usually fall somewhere between 80 and 85 pounds (36 to 38 kg). They have been known to get as large as 175 pounds, however. These creatures are easily identifiable by their white coat color and are native to the Canadian Arctic tundra.
7. Steppe Wolf
The steppe wolf is a subspecies of the gray wolf that is native to the steppes of Eurasia. It is also known as the Russian wolf, Ukrainian wolf, or Kazakh wolf. Adult males can grow to be up to 3 feet (0.91 m) long and weigh between 175 and 200 pounds (79 and 91 kg). Females can reach 2.5 to 2.75 feet (0.76 to 0.84 m) and a weight of 120 to 140 pounds (54 to 64 kg).
The steppe wolf primarily preys on small animals such as rodents or hares. However, it will take down larger prey if necessary.
8. Great Plains Wolf
The Great Plains wolf’s fur is a blend of several colors, though many are either black or white. They weigh approximately 100 to 130 lbs and stand 30 inches tall at the shoulder. The biggest recorded Great Plains wolf weighed 150 lbs.
9. Red Wolf
The red wolf (Canis lupus rufus) is a subspecies of wolves that is a cross between the coyote and the gray wolf. Red wolves are generally around 4.5-5.25 feet long and weigh 50-85 pounds. Their slender stature, in their opinion, resembles greyhounds.
10. Eastern Wolf
The eastern wolf (Canis lupus lycaon) is a subspecies of the gray wolf that is found in central and eastern Canada. It is also known as the Algonquin wolf or spruce wolf. Adult males can grow to be up to 3 feet (0.91 m) long and weigh between 175 and 200 pounds (79 and 91 kg). The eastern wolf primarily preys on white-tailed deer, but it will also eat beavers, rabbits, and other small animals.
11. Tundra Wolf
The tundra wolf is a subspecies of the gray wolf that is found in the Arctic tundra of North America. It is also known as the white wolf or polar wolf. Adult males can grow to be up to 3 feet (0.91 m) long and weigh between 175 and 200 pounds (79 and 91 kg). The tundra wolf primarily preys on caribou, but it will also eat other small animals.
What Is the Largest Breed of Wolves?
The gray wolf, commonly known as Canis lupus, is the largest existing member of the Canidae family and resides in Europe, Asia, and North America. The gray wolf has several subspecies.
What Is the Rarest Wolf?
The Ethiopian wolf is the rarest canid in the world, and it’s related to grey wolves and coyotes that spread throughout Africa via land bridges. Only on Ethiopia’s highlands do you find Ethiopians, which are Africa’s most endangered carnivores.
How Big Do Wolves Can Grow?
Wolves typically grow to be 4.5 to 6 feet long and can weigh anywhere from 40 to 175 pounds. The biggest recorded wolf was a male Alaskan taken in 1979, which weighed in at 175 pounds.