Red Wolf

The Canidae family contains about 34 recognized species and is distributed almost worldwide. Domesticated versions aside, dogs are absent only from New Zealand, New Guinea, Madagascar and some other islands.

All dogs have the well-known, muscular, long-legged body, generally with a bushy tail. The ears are usually large, triangular in outline and erect, and the muzzle is long.

Domestic dogs belong to the Canidae family, which includes wolves (from which they are descended), foxes and jackals. Canids are excellent runners, able to sustain a high speed for considerable distances, and long pursuits are an important part of the hunting technique of many species. Some canids hunt down large prey animals in packs, while others, such as foxes, are typically solitary hunters. Males and females generally look alike, although males are often slightly larger than females. Most types of wild canid live in large family groups called packs. Dog societies are very complex, because the animals must cooperate to survive, especially during winter. The dogs hunt together and take it in turns to care for the young.

Size: 90 - 130 cm (39 - 51 in); 22 - 44 kg (45 - 89 lb).

Red wolves once roamed over mountains, forests and wetlands across the whole of the south-eastern United States. Today they are critically endangered, and limited to the south-eastern tip of Texas and south-western Louisiana. The red wolf is smaller than its more common northern relative, the grey wolf. It gets its name from the grizzled red hair on its underside; the rest of the fur is dark grey or black. Red wolves live in packs. Only the dominant male and female pair breed. Other pack members help to raise the young and find food. Red wolves hunt mainly at night, often alone. They prey on raccoons and rabbits. When hunting together, they attack white-tailed deer.