Tibetan Wolf (''Canis lupus filchneri'')

See our RP Guide for more extensive information regarding wolves.

On this page... (hide)

  1.   1.  Common Names
  2.   2.  'Souls Range
  3.   3.  Appearance
  4.   4.  Other Characteristics
    1.   4.1  Social Structure
    2.   4.2  Diet
    3.   4.3  Range
    4.   4.4  Survival
    5.   4.5  Luperci
  5.   5.  Citations


Eurasian Wolf Subspecies Map
See also: world species map

1.  Common Names

Tibetan Wolf, Chinese Wolf, Mongolian Wolf, Korean Wolf, or Woolly Wolf. Chángú and Chankodi are local names.

2.  'Souls Range

Parts of Central China, southwest Russia, Manchuria, Tibet and the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal and Bhutan. Also occurs in the Korean peninsula.

3.  Appearance

Canis lupus chanco, from Wikimedia Commons

The Tibetan Wolf is a smaller subspecies, rarely exceeding 100 pounds(45 kg). Physically, the Tibetan wolf resembles the Common Gray Wolf, but has shorter legs and has short, pale, fulvous hairs on the ears, flanks and the outside of the legs. The skull is virtually identical to that of the Eurasian wolf, though its nose is longer and more slender. It is larger than the Indian Wolf, and lacks a black tail tip.

The Tibetian wolf has an intensely varied season coat. "In winter, the back and tail are variegated by black and white or buff countour hairs, which are most defined on the back where they form a black and white saddle running from the shoulders to the loins." Occasionally, a dark stripe of varying intensity may be present on the forelegs. The ears are drabby grey or rich ocherous. The crown and muzzle are closely tinted with black speckles, which extend below the eye on to the upper cheeks and ears, isolating a white spot. The chin is varies from blackish to almost white. Black wolves in Tibet are known locally as chanko nagpo, and are considered bolder and more aggressive than the pale coloured variety.

4.  Other Characteristics

Thought by some scientists to be the most likely ancestor of the domestic dog, on account of its small size and mandible morphology, noting that the uppermost part of the lower jaw is turned back on both the Tibetan wolf and the dog, though not so in other grey wolf subspecies.

4.1  Social Structure

Tibetan wolves do not form large packs, and typically travel in pairs or threes. They are less social and more solitary than many other species of canine.

4.2  Diet

Tibetan wolves are heavily reliant on livestock populations. Since adapting to more Luperci ways of life, they have begun producing their own livestock, keeping goats, sheep, and cattle for slaughter.

4.3  Range

Their large range overlaps various other canine species, including the Siamese Jackal, the Indian Jackal, the Himalayan Wolf, and the Indian Wolf. Nevertheless, competition between jackals and wolves and the isolation of the Himalayan Wolves (as well as an inclination not to interbreed with other subspecies) keeps the Tibetian Wolf from interbreeding with other subspecies.

4.4  Survival

Tibetan wolves suffered somewhat after the destruction of humanity; they relied heavily on human livestock, and once these populations began to die off, the wolves were at a loss. For many years, there was starvation and famine; however, as Luperci traits began to trickle in from the West, many adapted to agricultural farming, and thus began to flourish once more. These traits were heavy influences from the Steppe Wolves, who often traveled to the Tibetan Wolf's range and brought with them the Luperci virus as well as humanized culture.

4.5  Luperci

Most of these wolves are Luperci and some have adapted human ways of life as a necessity; raising livestock is an easy way to support a large family and settle down, which these wolves are finally beginning to do after many years of nomadic lifestyles. However, feral lifestyles are very common in the southeastern ranges of this canine's territory, where the affects of human-adapted lifestyles have not yet taken full hold.

5.  Citations

  1. Wikipedia.org
  2. 1onewolf.com


Categories: Fauna | Resources | Wolf