For example, they have furry paws for warmth and to provide a better grip on ice. The Arctic wolf has several adaptations, which allow it to survive in the icy territory it calls home. The wolves follow their prey south, returning to the north the following spring. As the soil is poor, food for herbivores is also limited, and as the winter comes, the wolf's prey, large grazers such as musk ox and caribou are driven south to seek out better food. The ground is rarely unfrozen, and when a thaw occurs, it affects only the top few centimetres of soil. The air temperature in its hunting grounds does not rise above -30☌ in April, and this combines with wind chill to cause temperatures of -100☌ or less. It has to be, as it inhabits some of the most hostile terrain on earth. Juvenile wolves are at the bottom end of the pecking order, but as they get older, their status increases, whilst weakness caused by old age demotes previously dominant animals.Īlso known as the polar wolf or white wolf, the arctic wolf is a highly resilient animal. Dominant animals will also make their inferiors cringe or lie on their backs to show respect. Lesser wolves will always hold their tails at a lesser angle than the dominant male. They are treated with respect by other members of the pack. The breeding male, known as the alpha male is dominant over the pack with his mate (the alpha female) as a near equal. Packs are made up of a breeding pair, their cubs and their unmated offspring. Wolves can go without food for several days, but when they do succeed, can eat up to 45kg of meat at one sitting. If one wolf latches on to a victim, the others will rush to its aid until their combined weight brings it down. If the musk oxen do panic, the wolves immediately try to isolate a young or weak animal. Only around one in ten of these attacks will result in a kill. Very often the wolves will be unsuccessful. They prowl round the herd, hoping to panic them. Musk oxen have large horns and because of their size have a great weight advantage over the wolves.
A herd of musk oxen will automatically form a defensive circle with their calves in the middle if they sense the approach of wolves. For example, a fully-grown musk ox or caribou would be far too large for any single wolf to tackle. They live in packs and have to co-operate in order to survive.
Wolves are the largest wild members of the dog family.
0 kommentar(er)
