Italian Wolf (''Canis lupus italicus'')

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


Eurasian Wolf Subspecies Map
See also: world species map

1.  Common Names

Italian Wolf, Apennine Wolf

2.  'Souls Range

Italy (including Sicily and Sardinia), areas of Switzerland, and southern France.

3.  Appearance

Canis lupus italicus, from commons.wikimedia.org

The Italian wolf is smaller than the Common Gray Wolf. Males weigh between 55 - 77 pounds (25 - 35 kg), with a slight exaggerated sexual dimorphism as compared to other wolf subspecies. Italian wolves also have lower hind quarters than other European populations.

The Italian Wolf's fur color is commonly blended grey or brown; historically, black wolves were rare in these wolves; however, recently, it has become a far more common coloration. Though some object to it as a result of interbreeding with other subspecies, it is not a large controversy in their society.

Canis lupus italicus, from commons.wikimedia.org

4.  Other Characteristics

4.1  Social Structure

Wolf packs in Italy tend to be smaller than average. Packs are usually limited to a nuclear family composed of a reproducing alpha pair and one or two children from the previous breeding season, who typically remain to raise the children with their parents and depart, allowing for two new young to replace their position.

4.2  Survival

Italian wolves were a protected species prior to humanity's extinction; however, their range had been severely reduced. Once the humans were gone, they began to reclaim much of their former territory, flourishing and expanding along with the rest of Europe. Italian wolves can now claim their entire home range; they enjoy large benefits from their central location in the Mediterranean, as Rome before them.

4.3  Luperci

Although many Italian wolves are Luperci, there are numerous isolated communities which live by more feral traditions and lifestyles; this is mostly restricted to the interior and northern parts of Italy. The coastlines are populated by numerous villages and small port cities, and lifestyles in these places are entirely Luperci.

5.  Citations

  1. Wikipedia.org
  2. Scienceray.com


Categories: Fauna | Resources | Wolf