Wolf - meaning of word
Rozmiar: 8938 bajtów


Wolf




The Grey Wolf (''Canis lupus''), also known colloquially as just the wolf, is a mammal of the Canidae family and the ancestor of the domestic dog. Wolves once had an almost worldwide distribution, but are now limited primarily to North America, Eurasia, and the Middle East. Their preference on habitat ranges among forests, tundra, taigas, plains and mountains. In the northern hemisphere, human encroachment on their habitat and persecution of the animals themselves have drastically reduced their range. The wolf is today frequently in the line of fire in conflicts between many different interests: tourism/industry, city/country, as well as conservation/exploitation. As the wolf is an apex predator, the state of the wolf can frequently be seen as a state of the land where it lives. Wolves are still endangered after being hunted down in the 1600s. Three other canid species are known as wolves: the Red Wolf, the Ethiopian Wolf, and the extinct Dire Wolf. ==Anatomy== Wolves weigh 23 to 60 kg (50 to 130 lb), and are about 1 to 1.5 m (40 to 60 in) long with the tail being roughly a third of their body length. The males are larger than the females. The coloration runs from grey to grey brown but can vary through the canine spectrum of white, reddish, brown and black. The coat usually lacks any clear patterns except for paintings around the eyes. In areas where the ground is snow covered white wolves are far more common. Very old wolves get a greyish tint in their coat. The wolf anatomy differs on several points from the dog. Most obvious is a pre-caudal gland on the over side of the tail, close to the base, that is not present on dogs. The wolf usually has golden-yellow eyes, longer legs, larger paws and more pronounced jaws. The body of the wolf is built for long distance running, with a rather thin chest and powerful back and leg muscles. Wolves can move over great distances and the wide paws make sure deep snow hampers them less than their prey. A wolf often seems more massive than a dog of comparable weight due to the extra bulk of the coat. The coat is built up of two layers, with hard ''guard hairs'' to repel water and dirt and a thick woolly ''undercoat'' to keep it warm. The wolf changes coat two times a year, during spring and autumn. Females tend to have a thicker winter coat and keep it further into the spring than males. The wolves and most larger dogs share the same tooth configuration: The upper jaw has 6 incisors, 2 canine tooths, 8 premolars, and 4 molars. The bottom jaw has 6 incisors, 2 canines, 8 premolars, and 6 molars. The canines are by far most important, as they are used to catch and hold prey. One common reason for wolves to starve is tooth damage after being kicked by larger prey. Wolves live 6–9 years average in the wild, although in captivity on average they live 16 years. See #Mortality for more information. ==Social structure== Wolves function as social predators and hunt in pack (canine)s organised according to a strict social hierarchy and led by an alpha male and alpha female. This social structure was originally thought to allow the wolf to take prey many times its size; new theories are emerging, however, that suggest the pack strategy instead maximizes reproductive success and has less to do with hunting. The size of the pack may change over time and is controlled by factors including habitat type, individual personalities, and food supply. Generally packs contain between two and six animals, although packs with more than 20 have been recorded. The hierarchy or rank order of the pack is relatively strict, with the alphas (one male, one female) on top and the omega at the bottom. The hierarchy affects all activity in the pack, from which wolf eats first to which is allowed to breed (generally only the alpha pair). The alpha pair have the most social freedom of all the animals in a pack, but they are not "leaders" in the sense humans usually think of the term. They do not give the other wolves orders. The alphas simply have the most freedom to choose where they would like to go and what they would like to do, and the rest of the pack usually follows along. While most alpha pairs are monogamous with each other, there are exceptions. An alpha animal may preferentially mate with a lower ranking animal, especially if the other alpha is closely related (a brother or sister, for example). Wolves also do not "mate for life". The death of one alpha does not affect the status of the other alpha, who will usually just take another mate. Rank order is established and maintained through a series of ritualized fights and posturings best described as ritual bluffing. Wolves prefer psychological warfare to actual fighting and high ranking status is based more on personality or attitude than on size or strength. Rank, who holds it, and how it is enforced varies widely between packs and between individual animals. In large packs full of easygoing animals, or in a group of juvenile animals, rank order may shift almost constantly, or even be circular (animal A dominates animal B who dominates animal C who dominates animal A). Loss of rank can happen gradually or suddenly. An older wolf may simply choose to give way when an ambitious challenger presents itself, and rank will shift without bloodshed. Or the older animal may choose to fight back, with varying degrees of intensity. While an extremely high percentage of wolf aggression is non-damaging and ritualized, a high-stakes fight can result in injury. The loser of such a damaging fight is frequently chased away from the pack, or, rarely, may be killed as other, aggressively aroused wolves attempt to join in. This kind of dominance fight is more common in the winter months, when mating occurs. Usually, only the alpha pair are able to successfully rear a litter of pups. (Other wolves in a pack may breed, and may even produce pups, but usually they lack the freedom or the resources to raise the pups to maturity.) All the wolves in the pack assist in raising wolf pups. Some pups may choose to stay in the original pack to reinforce it and help rear more pups while others disperse. New packs are formed when a wolf leaves its birth pack and claims a territory. Wolves searching for other wolves with which to form packs can travel very long distances in search of suitable territories. Dispersing individuals must avoid the territories of other wolves because intruders on "owned" territories are chased away or killed. This probably explains wolf "predation" of dogs. Most dogs do not have much of a chance against a wolf protecting its territory from the unwanted intrusion. ==Hunting== The wolf is somewhat opportunistic and will eat what it comes across as long as it is reasonably fresh. Packs of wolves hunt any large herbivore in their range, while lone wolves are more prone to take and eat anything that comes across, including rodents. The hunting methods ranges from surprise attacks on smaller animals such as rabbits and rodents to long lasting chases. Wolves can chase large prey for several hours before giving up, but the success rate is rather low. ===Livestock predation=== As long as there are enough prey animals, wolves seem to avoid taking livestock. However, some ''problem animals'' can specialize in hunting livestock. Sheep are frequently the most vulnerable, while horses and cattle are at less of a risk. Wolf-secure fences and the killing of problem animals are today the only known methods to effectively stop livestock predation. In some countries (and over several centuries), shepherds and dog breeders have developed large livestock guarding dogs that can stand up to wolves preying on flocks. In the United States, as the timber wolf has been re-introduced the USDA has been looking into the use of breeds such as the Akbash, from Turkey, the Maremma from Italy, the Great Pyrenees from France and the Kuvasz from Hungary, among others. ==Communication== Wolves communicate with a wide range of sounds, from yips and growls to howls. Howls are frequently used to summon the pack to a location, announce their presence to other packs or simply to reinforce the bounds in the pack. Wolves howl more frequently when they have something to protect, such as a freshly killed prey or a border of their territory, and less frequently when avoiding conflicts with other packs. ==Reproduction== Normally, only the alpha pair of the pack breed. This kind of organization also occurs in other pack-hunting canids, such as the Dhole and the African Hunting Dog. Mating usually occurs in February to May and wolves, unlike dogs, only mate once a year. Another interesting fact about the social economy of wolves is that they are usually monogamous: the alpha pair will ordinarily mate exclusively with each other so long as they both remain alphas. There are times when one of the alphas will attempt to mate with a subordinate wolf, and if the other alpha is unable to prevent it multiple litters can be born. This has been documented in Yellowstone amongst other places and usually occurs in large packs with plenty of available prey. The gestation period is 61–63 days and the pups are born completely dependent on their mother. The wolf is sexually mature at two years old. ==Mortality== The oldest recorded free wolf was 16 years old. There have been reports of captive wolves reaching 20 years (not much unlike dogs). However the mean age of wolves is rather low. The mortality among pups is high; few survive the first winter. The most significant mortality factors for grown wolves are hunting and poaching by humans, car accidents, conflicts with other wolves, and wounds from hunting prey. All diseases that affect dogs also affect wolves, including mange and rabies, and can from time to time wipe out the wolf population in an area. Wolves adjust rather well to fluctuations in prey populations, so mass starvation is unusual. Wolves can sustain their population under a heavy pressure, as long as the alpha pairs are not killed. ==Taxonomy== ===Relation to the domestic dog=== Much debate has occurred over the relationship between the wolf and the domestic dog. Most authorities see the wolf as the dog's direct ancestor, but others have postulated descent from the Golden Jackal. Because the canids have evolved recently and different canids interbreed fairly readily, untangling the true relationships has presented difficulties. However, molecular systematics now indicate very strongly that domestic dogs and wolves are more closely related than either is to any other canid, and the domestic dog is now normally classified as a subspecies of the wolf, ''Canis lupus familiaris''. ===Classification of the grey wolf=== The classification of wolves and closely allied creatures offers many challenges. Although taxonomists have proposed many species over the years, most types clearly do not comprise true species. Indeed, only a single wolf species may exist. Scientists have proposed a host of subspecies. Many of these seem unlikely to stand. Further taxonomic clarification may well take decades. ==Human attitudes towards wolves== The relationship between people and wolves has had a very long, and troubled, history. Historically, humans have often viewed wolves as a great danger or as nuisance to be destroyed. An opposing view, held by most biologists and naturalists, postulates that wolves form a valuable part of the ecosystem by hunting down deer and such, and require protection. Often these views occur simultaneously and cause conflicts among differing groups of people, as one sees when a wildlife service or organization attempts to preserve vanishing wolves or to reintroduce wolves to a habitat, like the rare red wolf. ===Changing attitudes=== In the late 20th century an increased awareness of the beneficial nature of wolves arose, encouraged by books like ''Never Cry Wolf'' by Farley Mowat and nature documentaries as well as by classification of the species as endangered. Accordingly, while the stereotype of wolves still has influence, a significant portion of the public has gained a positive opinion of wolves as interesting, valuable and even noble animals. Thus parks with a visible wolf population have often become popular tourist attractions. For instance, visitors to Yellowstone National Park can often see wolves from the roads. Such organizations as the International Wolf Center attempt to educate people about the true nature of wolves, such action being helpful to the reintroduction process, especially in places such as Yellowstone National Park. In other parks, tourists often participate in wolf howls, trying to make wolf-like howls in hopes that the resident wolves will answer. In fact, some nature-lovers have complained that this popularity has drawbacks since tourists sometimes intrude into wolf habitats and disturb them. The large amount of research done on the wolf in the past half century has also helped to educate people and make them realize how sociologically similar humans are to wolves, and how we really have nothing to fear from these shy, majestic animals. Biologists such as L David Mech and Luigi Boitani have been major leaders in wolf research. Nature documentaries have played a role changing attitudes. For instance, the film evidence of the wolf being a very social animal who is also a devoted parent to its young enlightened and charmed many viewers to a softer side to the feared predator. ===Reintroduction=== In the United States wolves are repopulating where they were eradicated and numbers have been increasing in Alaska and Minnesota where some packs remained in the deep forests despite bounty hunting and other past eradication efforts. Not only are they slowly but surely coming back naturally from Canada, they are also being successfully Reintroduction in some states such as Idaho and Wyoming. It is curious to note that ranchers prefer reintroduction as they can kill wolves that eat their livestock and can get reimbursement for their loses, while truly wild animals are protected by law. In fact, wolf reintroduction was pushed hard by the U.S. Government, primarily by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who oversees threatened and endangered species within the United States. This includes several studies looking into the feasibility of reintroducing the wolf in places farther east, in areas like Adirondack State Park in New York and certain areas of Maine. Recent studies have shown that the wolf would have enjoyed greater protection had they been allowed to repopulate areas on their own, without human intervention. Reports by wildlife biologists working for the National Park Service who stated that they had seen, though rarely, wolves in Yellowstone National Park, and had photographic proof of their limited presence prior to the "reintroduction", were essentially suppressed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Where wolves are reintroduced after a long absence, it has a marked influence on the coyote population. As they started to fill in the niche of the top predator, they started to grow bigger. With the return of the wolf these bigger coyotes are hunted down by wolves and go back to their previous niche. In Sweden there is a long and ongoing conflict between some groups who claim that the wolf has no place in nature and that it has been reintroduced by the Swedish government with some kind of secret agenda. ===Wolves in religion and folklore=== In many ancient myths, the wolf was portrayed as brave, honourable, and intelligent. The best examples of these myths can be seen in those of the Native Americans. The wolf was also the revered totem animal of ancient Rome; see Romulus and Remus and Lupercalia. In Proto-Indo-European society, the wolf was probably associated with the warrior class (see also werewolf), and the term was subject to taboo deformation, the Latin ''lupus'' being an example of a mutated form of the original Proto-Indo-European ''*wlkwos''. Many Germanic personal names used to include "wolf" as an element (e.g. Wulfstan). In more modern western folklore, the wolf is a creature to be feared. The iconic examples of this image are the werewolf and the Big Bad Wolf. Norse mythology includes several malevolent wolves: the giant Fenrisulfr, eldest child of Loki and the giantess Angrboda, who was feared and hated by the Aesir, and his children Skoll and Hati, who devour the sun and moon at Ragnarok. Human fear of the wolf is responsible for most of the trouble the species has received, and the reason it was nearly hunted out of existence. However, in the 20th century, with the new knowledge of wolves and the growing respect for Native American folklore, the animal has been generally depicted much more positively. Despite their often negative image, wolves have variously been credited, in mythology, fiction and reality, with adopting, nursing and raising human feral children, the most famous examples being Romulus and Remus and Mowgli of ''The Jungle Book''. ==Wolf hunting== Wolves are hunting for the pelt and to control the numbers. Previously anything was used to kill wolves, including large amount of poisons. Some of the more diabolic creations of mankind have been used to kill wolves during the extermination campaigns in Europe and America. Today most of the hunting is done on the ground or from helicopters, either with shotguns or rifles. Hunting from airplanes or helicopters is usually only legal for state officials. Wolves are considered hard to hunt, and can go far after being shot. === Trapping === Wolves are frequently Trappingped, in the areas where it is legal, using snares or leg hold traps. The economic value of wolf pelts is limited, so it is mainly a recreation activity. Wolf trapping has come under heavy fire from animal rights groups and is used to attack other forms of trapping and hunting. It is alleged that trapping, using the right tools and equipment, can be considered as humane as hunting; however, unskilled trappers can create a lot of pointless suffering. ===Breeding=== Wolves are bred in a few locations. They are rather problematic animals to breed, and combined with the low value of the pelt it has driven most of the farms to change to other animals, such as fox. ==Subspecies of the wolf==
 
 
The subspecies for the grey wolf has been a very controversial issue among taxonomists. It was once believed there were as many as 50 separate subspecies. However, the last decade has seen a new and widely accepted list which has been condensed to 13 living subspecies, and 2 recently extinct subspecies. This takes into account the anatomy, distribution and migration of various wolf colonies. * Grey Wolf ''(Canis lupus)'' ** Tundra Wolf ''(Canis lupus albus)'' - Northern Russia and Finland. ** Arabian Wolf ''(Canis lupus arabs)'' - Arabia. ** Arctic Wolf ''(Canis lupus arctos)'' - The Arctic circle. ** Mexican Wolf ''(Canis lupus baileyi)'' - now only Arizona. ** Russian Wolf ''(Canis lupus communis)'' - Central Russia. ** Caspian Sea Wolf ''(Canis lupus cubanensis)'' - between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. ** Japanese Wolf ''(Canis lupus hattai)'' - Extinct. ** Japanese Wolf ''(Canis lupus hodophilax)'' - Extinct. ** Italian Wolf ''(Canis lupus italicus)'' - Italian Peninsula. ** Egyptian Wolf ''(Canis lupus lupaster)'' - Egypt and Libya. ** Eurasian Wolf ''(Canis lupus lupus)'' - from China, Mongolia, Russia and Eastern Europe to Germany. ** Eastern Timber Wolf ''(Canis lupus lycaon)'' - South East Canada and North East USA. ** Great Plains Wolf ''(Canis lupus nubilus)'' - North West USA, West and South East Canada. ** Mackenzie Valley Wolf ''(Canis lupus occidentalis)'' - Western Canada and Alaska. ** Indian Wolf ''(Canis lupus pallipes)'' - From India to the Middle East. ==See also== * Red Wolf * Dire Wolf * Maned Wolf * Thylacine * Werewolf * Wiktionary:Wolf ==External links== *[http://www.wolf.org/wolves/index.asp International Wolf Center] *[http://www.canids.org/SPPACCTS/greywolf.htm Canids.org] *[http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/companimals/guarddogs/livestockguarddogs.htm USDA site on livestock guarding dogs and predators] *[http://www.wolfpark.org Wolf Park] *[http://www.iberianature.com/material/wolf.html The Iberian Wolf] Wolves in Spain Canines ang:Wulf la:Lupus

Wolf



Is there any good data on the size of wolves? Rovdjuren, a swedish translation of "The carnivores" (Equinox Ltd, Oxford 1984) lists it as "Body length 100-150 cm, tail 33-51 cm, 66-81 cm tall at the shoulder, weight 12-80 kg". The weight differs quite a lot from that in the article. Comments? --Pehrs ---- Now I know nothing about biology, but is this a little Northamericacentric? I understand that the picture is free, but are the other wolves of the world represented in the article? I explained on thursday to a class that the image of the Capitoline Wolf (you know, the bronze statue of the she wolf nursing the babies Romulus and Remus) is NOT unnaturalistic because of her tight mane, that Italian wolves (I think they're called Appenine wolves) DO have a tighter, curlier mane than American timber wolves. --MichaelTinkler Taxonomy is a dark science; a valid name is one that is published according to the rules. The consequence is that even when the name is not regarded to be representive of the "thruth", it is still a valid name. When it comes to the taxonomy, it can be even funnier, the dingo is named here as C. l. dingo, it is to be a descendant of the dog C. l. familiaris. Now dogs, as a domesticated animal, has breeds. So a dingo is a breed gone wild. Actually this whole concept of breeds, races, species, subspecies, varieties is not only frought with taxonominal danger but also with ethical danger. As far as I am aware there is not a good definition for a subspecies and when a subspecies has to be a "natural" occurence how can a dingo and a dog be a subspecies? Then again, there is one species that we do not apply all the logic on that we use on other species.. User:GerardM 18:50, 15 Jan 2004 (UTC) == Timeline == I think the Timeline of wolfs in the United States should be moved to its own article. User:Bogdangiusca | User talk:Bogdangiusca 20:43, 11 Sep 2004 (UTC) == Vague 'Recent Studies' Reference == In the reintroduction section, there is the statement, "Recent studies have shown that the wolf would have enjoyed greater protection had they been allowed to repopulate areas on their own..." Could someone please de-obfuscate that or provide references? I find such vague language... irksome in reference material. Thanks. User:JRice 14:51, 2005 May 24 (UTC) == Taxobox == UtherSRG, why don't you want those extra taxobox lines? -- User:Schneelocke 00:08, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) I was wondering the same thing: they're legitimate taxonomic designations. How are they extraneous? User:ClockworkTroll 00:15, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) :They don't add any meaningful information. The majority of mammals, and all Carnivora, are Eutheria. Likewise, all mammals are vertebrates. It *might* be interesting to put Canini into the box since not all canids are in Canini, but that can bee seen by visiting Canidae. (Likewise, it's meaningless to include Fissipedia, Craniata and a host of other intermediary taxa in the box.) - User:UtherSRG 02:02, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) ::But they *do* add information - and who are we to decide whether it's "meaningful" or not? -- User:Schneelocke 12:47, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) :::No, they don't. When you say Carnivora, you are already saying Eutheria. When you say Mammalia you are already saying Vertebrata. It's redundant. All creatures classified as Carnivora birth their young live. All creatures classified as mammals have a backbone (and a skull). It's not new information when talking about the *species* ''Canis lupus''. It *is* relevent information on higher level articles, but not on the species page. Similarly, we don't need to say that a Wolf is a multi-cellular animal with a nerve chord and brain encased in a skull and backbone, etc, etc. All these small, picayune details are covered when we say it is a member of the Canidae, the dog family. - User:UtherSRG 13:04, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) ::::That's rubbish. You could just as well say that the whole taxobox info should be removed since everything follows from "Canis". -- User:Schneelocke 13:08, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) :::::No, the taxobox provides a useful purpose of showing the highlights of the taxonomy. The taxobox is not meant to be used to show every nuance of every intermediary ranking. If there's something important to show, it shows it. I suggest you take your query to Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Tree of Life and ask what they think of my edit. - User:UtherSRG 13:51, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) ::::::*shrugs* I still think that you don't have a point. Why don't you remove the "Kingdom: Animalia" line, too? Isn't that an obvious and unnecessary nuance, too? Anyhow, I think the best idea is probably to vote on whether the extra info should be there or not. Everybody who wants to vote can then just add themselves to the list below (and please, everybody, don't use multiple accounts, IPs and so on!) -- User:Schneelocke 15:48, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) :::::::Please read Wikipedia:WikiProject_Tree_of_Life/Taxobox_Usage, particularly the Wikipedia:WikiProject_Tree_of_Life/Taxobox_Usage#Complete_classification section. "Kingdom", "Phylum", etc are the major rankings. These should be used on every taxobox. Others ("Subphylum", etc.) are intermediary and are to be used only when needed to better show why the given creature is classified as it is. Otherwise, every species level taxobox would have about 15-20 lines in the taxonomy. This just isn't acceptable andit buries the major data in the noise of theminor data. - User:UtherSRG 18:23, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) :::I agree with UtherSRG's last argument that inclusion of "intermediary" rankings would tend to clutter a taxobox. The problem arises that in some taxa, pretty significant "intermediary" rankings exist. Indeed, I do not believe it is a rule of taxonomy that "major" subdivisions match public perceptions of important subdivisions. In the case of the chordates, the very important subtaxa "Vertebrata" is not a "major" subdivision, but an "important" one. This fact needs to be handled somehow. The present thinking seems to be that the taxobox is a "pretty" fixture, and consistency of approach over-rides basic taxonomic considerations. While I have no problem with this approach, per se, I would suggest that either Vertebrata be added in to all taxoboxes where appropriate, or be handled in the text something like this: ::::"The Wolf or Grey Wolf (''Canis lupus'') is a vertebrate and a mammal of the Family Canidae and the ancestor of the domestic dog." :::- User:Marshman 17:12, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) ::I agree with Uther; we need a standard to discourage the extension of every taxobox to every imaginable subclassification; I don't believe this is a straw man: there are people (good people) out there on wikipedia who will tend to do this if it's not clearly discouraged. In the case of vertebrata, as long as mammal has a clear link to vertebrate in its head matter, I don't think we need it in every article. But I'm not strongly opposed to this particular expansion either. It would be nice if we had a way to link the standard "pretty" taxobox to a fully expanded, nuanced taxonomy. In general, I'd say if that's what you want go to NCBI, ITIS, (Wikispecies? bwahahahaha!) etc. Perhaps we should finally consider expanding the templates to allow these kinds of external reference links? Or link to a secondary article with just the full taxonomy? Ideal would be a taxobox table that could be javascript dynamically expanded or whatever, but in the current state of WikiMarkup I'm pretty sure we'll never be able to accomplish this. --User:Chinasaur == Taxobox vote == Should the extra taxobox information that UtherSRG deleted (namely, Subphylum and Subclass) be included in the article again? Cast your vote below and sign it with ~~~~. Voting will be open until 0:00 UTC, October 16th 2004. Voting has ended. Results: Yes 3, No 7. === Yes === # User:Schneelocke 15:48, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) # Subphylum Vertebrata only - User:Marshman 17:18, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) # Yes : sub- and super- phylogenies are just as important as the more "classical" definitions - the only difference is that they were described later, after the original K-P-C-O-F-G-S system was already established. User:ClockworkTroll 17:20, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) === No === # User:UtherSRG 16:41, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) # After reviewing Wikipedia:WikiProject Tree of Life/Taxobox Usage, I have to change my vote to "no". See comments below. User:QuadellUser:Quadell (User_talk:Quadell) (User:Quadell/Request for assistance) 18:49, Oct 8, 2004 (UTC) #Following the standard format seems like the best solution User:Pehrs 20:38, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) #Taxobox is for context-setting, seven is more than enough. User:Stan Shebs 21:11, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) #Since the standard format seems to be sparser than the additions proposed. User:Maastrictian 22:10, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) #--User:Yath 06:04, 9 Oct 2004 (UTC) #In this case : certainly no. On the other hand there are cases were intermediary taxa are necessary, e.g. the orchid family Orchidaceae with about 1,000 genera to be divided in subfamilies, tribes, subtribes, alliances... In other words, if intermediary taxa can be avoided, then avoid them. Otherwise, use your own judgment. User:JoJan 09:03, 9 Oct 2004 (UTC) === Abstain === * Either way is just dandy with me. User:QuadellUser:Quadell (User_talk:Quadell) (User:Quadell/Request for assistance) 16:01, Oct 8, 2004 (UTC) === Comments === *ClockworkTroll, would you then also want any other the other intermediary taxa? Metazoa? Bilateria - it's important to note that wolves have bilateral symmetry? Coelomata? Deuterostomia? Craniata - it's important to note that wolves have a braincase? Gnathostomata - it's important to note that wolves have a jawbone? Teleostomi? Euteleostomi - because it's important to note that wolves have bones? Sarcopterygii? Tetrapoda - because it's important to note that wolves have 4 legs? Amniota? Theria - even though there is only a species of mammals that lay eggs? Eutheria - placental birth vs. metatheria which are marsupials? Fissipedia? At what level do you draw the line? the standard we have is the KPCOFGS system, and the noting intermediary ranks in accordance with policy outlined in Wikipedia:WikiProject Tree of Life#Taxoboxes and Wikipedia:WikiProject Tree of Life/Taxobox Usage. And do please read the policy. - User:UtherSRG 17:59, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) ** I would draw the line exactly where I drew it. Bilateria, Tetrapoda, Craniata, etc. are mere types, they are not phylogenic classifications in the strict sense, and to bring them up merely clouds and confuses the issue. I have no desire to step on any toes, so if you feel as though I've intruded on your territory, do what you will. I don't have the time of patience to quibble over minutae. Anybody who wants such information can just go elsewhere, anyway. User:ClockworkTroll 20:36, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) ***You show your lack of understanding of phylogeny and taxonomy. With the exception of Coelomata, all the links I provided above show that they are intermediary taxa in the taxonomy of Wolf. Why would you leave any of them out? - User:UtherSRG 21:13, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) ****First, having just had similar stuff pulled on me at another article I gotta comment that telling people they are putting their ignorance on display is about the best way to discourage participation in Wikipedia in general. Uther, I agree with the substance of your reasoning above, but I also agree with the sentiment (frustration, injury) of ClockworkTroll's response. Second, it's true that (as you have Socratic method pointed out) drawing a line at including vertebrata is arbitrary, but honestly isn't the standard you (we) are advocating also pretty arbitrary? The only advantage to the standard is that it is the standard. I'm still for the standard, but I don't see any reason why it's fundamentally better than what ClockworkTroll or Marshman suggested. --User:Chinasaur 07:02, 11 Oct 2004 (UTC) *****Yup. My bad. I was operating under the misunderstnading that User:ClockworkTroll was, well, a troll. As such, I didn't cut him the slack and patience that I would have given an eager and honest Wikipedian. I have since apologized to him on his talk and I believe we've settled our differences. As to the arbitrariness, I'd have to say both yes and no. For species taxoboxes, noting that a mammal is in subphylum Vertebrata (which all mammals are) is generally less noteworthy than noting an intermediary taxa that distinguishes several closely related species. A reasonable exception to this might be if there is something particularly interesting about that particular species' spinal column, but even then I'd be hard pressed to to see why it should be noted in the taxobox (a tool for navigation and information highlights) versus in the article's text where an explanation can be given. However, when you are looking at higher level taxoboxes, different intermediary taxa will have more importance. - User:UtherSRG 12:26, 11 Oct 2004 (UTC) ***I never claimed to be an expert; I am only a soon-to-be geneticist and not a zoologist. However, my knowlege of the subject is greater than average and I was hoping to be able to help. It is my opinion that the best information is given at the sub- and super- levels. Infra, branch, and anything beyond shows, to me, diminishing returns. If others disagree, fine: it's just my opinion and I'm not especially attached to it. Since you clearly consider yourself the expert and guardian of all things taxa, and my help is very plainly less than welcome, then I will leave you with your wolves. User:ClockworkTroll 23:37, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC) ****Can be frustrating, I know. You are right about the information, and ALL factual information is welcomed. The debate you stepped into is about the taxobox and whether to display such information in a taxobox (and thereby give up a simplified but consistent "pattern" displayed on taxonomic articles) - User:Marshman 03:15, 9 Oct 2004 (UTC) *In Wikipedia:WikiProject Tree of Life/Taxobox Usage, it gives a list of all possible taxa, and then instructs: ::''Do not use this complete list: instead cut out all ranks except for the seven major ranks (regnum, phylum, classis, ordo, familia, genus, species) and the particular other ranks that are important to the taxon being described. The fine details of classification between (say) regnum and phylum are obscure, not directly relevant to an article on a species, and moreover are subject to dispute and change as conventions evolve and more discoveries are made.'' :I'm not sure this should be voted on. It seems to me, any changes to the way we do taxoboxes should be applied to all articles equally, and should be discussed on Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Tree of Life/Taxobox Usage. User:QuadellUser:Quadell (User_talk:Quadell) (User:Quadell/Request for assistance) 18:49, Oct 8, 2004 (UTC) :::That seems reasonable to me since my vote was to go along with Uther's simple format, but to take another look at the special case of the Vertebrata - User:Marshman 03:15, 9 Oct 2004 (UTC) == world distribution == There is at least one wolf specie in South America. I dont know its scientific name. The popular name is lobo guara. It is found in the center of Brazil. == USA timeline == I see the addition of the USA timeline. It needs serious condensing and it fails to discuss wolf populations outside of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan...in such areas as Montana and Idaho...not to mention Alaska, etc.--User:MONGO 10:32, 16 Mar 2005 (UTC) :i just deleted the whole section User:Plugwash 15:13, 16 Mar 2005 (UTC) == Subspecies == Hello, I have changed the outdated subspecies information (again), and rest assured I do know what I'm talking about and am fully aware there are longer lists out there. Like I explained to UtherSRG, the older and longer lists are still very common on the net due to the size- most people assume just because there are more names, it is more complete. However, fairly recent research has shown that many of these so called 'subspecies' are far too similar, and regularly interbreed. I have not included the domestic dog or dingo, in my opinion their position within the species is far too debatable for anything to be considered fact. http://www.kerwoodwolf.com/BIOLOGY.htm "In North America, 24 subspecies were originally recognized. The more modern view however, is that there are only five valid subspecies here: the Eastern Timber Wolf, the Northern Plains Wolf, the Mexican Wolf, the Mackenzie Valley Wolf, and, the Arctic Wolf. Classification is difficult because wolves, so similar to their subspecies in the first place, travel, cutting into the territories of other wolf subspecies, sometimes even interbreeding with the other race and creating pups that are even more difficult to classify. Although the situation is equally confusing in parts of Europe and Asia, scientists have recognized another eight wolf subspecies or races there." :So are Dingo and Domestic Dog then considered full species? - User:UtherSRG 21:09, May 13, 2005 (UTC) Well like I said, that is debatable. 'Species' is a far more whooly term than some scientists like to make out. The proper definition is organisms which can reproduce and have fertile offspring. But then, it is possible for all members of the 'Canis' genus to mate and have fertile offspring... wolves, coyotes, jackals and domestic dogs. Yet the grey wolf, coyote and the jackals are considered separate species. Which makes us not as clever as we thought. Therefore, whatever you decide to call them is purely a human means of separation, though personally I would go with a single subspecies of 'Canis lupus familiaris', including both the domestic dog and dingo.


See other meanings of words starting from letter:

W

WA | WB | WC | WD | WE | WF | WG | WH | WI | WJ | WK | WL | WM | WN | WO | WP | WR | WS | WT | WU | WX | WY | WZ |

Words begining with Wolf:

Wolf
Wolf
Wolf's_Castle
Wolf's_Head
Wolf's_Lair
Wolf's_Rain
Wolf-herring
Wolf-Hirschhorn_Syndrome
Wolf-Hirschhorn_syndrome
Wolf-Hirschhorn_syndrome
Wolf-man
Wolf-prize
Wolf-Rayet
Wolf-Rayet_galaxy
Wolf-Rayet_nebulae
Wolf-Rayet_star
Wolf-Rayet_star
Wolf-Rayet_stars
Wolf-Rayet_stars
Wolf-WilliamsF1
Wolf2581
Wolf3D
Wolf3d
Wolf3dtitle.jpg
WOLF450.JPG
WOLF450B.JPG
WOLF450C.JPG
Wolf530
Wolf530
Wolf530/newuser
Wolf530/Welcome_message-copyvio
Wolfach,_Germany
Wolfartsweier
Wolfbag
Wolfberry
Wolfberry
Wolfboy
Wolfboy21
Wolfdale
Wolfdale,_PA
Wolfdale,_Pennsylvania
Wolfdog
Wolfdog
Wolfdogs
Wolfe
Wolfe's_Manifesto
Wolfe's_Manifesto
Wolfe-tones-across-the-broad-atlantic.jpg
Wolfe604
Wolfe604
Wolfeboro,_New_Hampshire
Wolfeboro,_NH
Wolfeboro_(CDP),_New_Hampshire
Wolfeboro_(CDP),_NH
Wolfeboro_(town),_New_Hampshire
Wolfeboro_(town),_NH
Wolfeius
Wolfen
Wolfenbuettel
Wolfenbuettel.jpg
Wolfenbuettel_(district)
Wolfenbuttel
Wolfenbuttel_(district)
Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel_(district)
Wolfenden_Committee
Wolfenden_Report
Wolfenden_report
Wolfenschiessen
WolfenSilva
WolfenSilva
WolfenSilva/CVG_series
WolfensohnBIG.jpg
Wolfenson
Wolfenstein
Wolfenstein-3D
Wolfenstein:_Enemy_Territory
Wolfenstein:_Enemy_Territory
WolfensteinET_screenshot1.jpg
WolfensteinET_screenshot2.jpg
WolfensteinET_screenshot3.jpg
WolfensteinET_screenshot4.jpg
WolfensteinET_screenshot5.jpg
WolfensteinET_screenshot_tk.jpg
Wolfenstein_3-D
Wolfenstein_3D
Wolfenstein_3D
Wolfenstein_3d
Wolfenstein_3D.jpg
Wolfen_(movie)
Wolfen_(Star_Fox_series)
Wolfert_Acker
Wolfert_acker
Wolfert_echer
Wolfer_number
WOLFETONESFX.jpg
WolfeToneStatue.JPG
Wolfe_City
Wolfe_City,_Texas
Wolfe_City,_TX
Wolfe_conditions
Wolfe_County
Wolfe_County,_Kentucky
Wolfe_County,_Kentucky
Wolfe_County,_Kentucky
Wolfe_County,_KY
Wolfe_Creek_crater
Wolfe_Creek_Meteorite_Crater_National_Park
Wolfe_Frederick_Friedman
Wolfe_Island
Wolfe_Island_(Ontario)
Wolfe_shadow_&_claw.jpg
Wolfe_Tone
Wolfe_Tones
Wolfe_Tone_Rising
Wolff-Chalkoff
Wolff-kishnerreduction.JPG
Wolff-kishnerreductionmechanism.JPG
Wolff-Kishner_reaction
Wolff-milo-2.jpg
Wolff-Parkinson-White_syndrome
Wolff-Parkinson-White_syndrome
Wolff.C.F.jpg
Wolff.jpg
Wolffian_duct
Wolffian_ducts
Wolffian_structures
Wolffish
Wolfforth,_Texas
Wolfforth,_TX
Wolff_net
Wolff_Parkinson_White_syndrome
Wolff_System
Wolfgang-schuessel.jpg
Wolfgang.jpg
Wolfgang1018
Wolfgang1018
WolfgangAmadeusMozart
Wolfgangbeyer
Wolfgangbeyer/monobook.css
WolfgangClement.jpg
Wolfganggrams.jpg
WolfgangLugmayr
WolfgangMozart
WolfgangPeters
WolfgangPeters
Wolfgangsee
Wolfgangsee
Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart
Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart
Wolfgang_amadeus_mozart
Wolfgang_amadeus_mozart.jpg
Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart/Archive_1
Wolfgang_Amadeus_Mozart_-_Don_Giovanni_-_Overtüre.ogg
Wolfgang_Borchert
Wolfgang_Borchert
Wolfgang_Böhmer
Wolfgang_Capito
Wolfgang_Clement
Wolfgang_Drechsler
Wolfgang_Droege
Wolfgang_Droege
Wolfgang_Eder
Wolfgang_Ernst_Pauli
Wolfgang_Fabricius_Capito
Wolfgang_Flür
Wolfgang_Flür
Wolfgang_Franz_von_Kobell
Wolfgang_Grams
Wolfgang_Gröbner
Wolfgang_Gullich
Wolfgang_Güllich
Wolfgang_Haken
Wolfgang_Harich
Wolfgang_Heidenfeld
Wolfgang_Hildesheimer
Wolfgang_Hohlbein
Wolfgang_Hutter
Wolfgang_Ischinger
Wolfgang_Iser
Wolfgang_Jeschke
Wolfgang_K.H._Panofsky
Wolfgang_Kapp
Wolfgang_Ketterle
Wolfgang_Kohler
Wolfgang_Kramer
Wolfgang_Krauser
Wolfgang_Kreissl-Doerfler
Wolfgang_Kreissl-Doerfler_(EP,_6th_term).jpg
Wolfgang_Krull
Wolfgang_Kufner
Wolfgang_Köhler
Wolfgang_Lauenstein
Wolfgang_Lipp
Wolfgang_Luth
Wolfgang_M._von_Konigswinter
Wolfgang_Menzel
Wolfgang_Metzger
Wolfgang_Moecklin
Wolfgang_Mommsen
Wolfgang_Mozart
Wolfgang_Muller_von_Konigswinter
Wolfgang_Müller_von_Königswinter
Wolfgang_Overath
Wolfgang_Paalen
Wolfgang_Paul
Wolfgang_Pauli
Wolfgang_Pauli
Wolfgang_pauli.jpg
Wolfgang_Petersen
Wolfgang_Petersen.jpg
Wolfgang_Petritsch
Wolfgang_press
Wolfgang_Puck
Wolfgang_Puck
Wolfgang_Ratke
Wolfgang_Reitherman
Wolfgang_Rihm
Wolfgang_Sawallisch
Wolfgang_Schirmacher
Wolfgang_Schmieder
Wolfgang_Schneiderhan
Wolfgang_Schussel
Wolfgang_Schuster
Wolfgang_Schüssel
Wolfgang_Schüssel
Wolfgang_Schäuble
Wolfgang_Seidel
Wolfgang_Staudte
Wolfgang_Strucker
Wolfgang_Thierse
Wolfgang_Tillmans
Wolfgang_Unzicker
Wolfgang_von_Kempelen
Wolfgang_von_Konigswinter
Wolfgang_von_Strucker
Wolfgang_Von_Trips
Wolfgang_von_Trips
Wolfgang_Wahlster
Wolfgang_Weber
Wolfhalden
Wolfhall
Wolfhampcote
Wolfhampcote_Church.jpg
Wolfhart17a.jpg
Wolfhart29.jpg
Wolfhart31.jpg
Wolfhart_Pannenberg
Wolfhart_Pannenberg
WolfHirshhorn.jpg
Wolfhole_Crag
Wolfhole_Crag.jpg
Wolfhole_Cragg_from_Hawth.JPG
Wolfhound
Wolfhound_mascot_wb.jpg
Wolfi
WolfiBandHainLarge.jpg
Wolfieandthegang.jpg
Wolfiebites.jpg
Wolfieindie.jpg
Wolfi_Landstreicher
Wolfj
Wolfj
Wolfkeeper
Wolfkeeper
Wolfm
Wolfm
Wolfman
Wolfman
Wolfman/1
Wolfman/3
Wolfman/4
Wolfman/Arbitration_election_endorsements
Wolfman/Archive_2
Wolfman/articles
Wolfmankurd
Wolfman_Jack
Wolfmother
WolfmotherEP.jpg
WolfmotherPromoPic.jpg
Wolfmother_(EP)
Wolford,_ND
Wolford,_North_Dakota
Wolford_Township,_Minnesota
Wolford_Township,_MN
Wolfow.jpg
Wolfowitz
Wolfowitz.jpg
WolfPack
Wolfpack
Wolfpackfan72
WolfPrizes
Wolfram
Wolfram
Wolfram
Wolfram1
Wolfram1
Wolfram47.jpg
Wolframandhart
WolframEschenbachj.JPG
Wolframite
Wolframite.jpg
Wolframium
Wolfram_&_Hart
Wolfram_and_Hart
Wolfram_Freiherr_von_Richthofen
Wolfram_Freiherr_von_Richthofen
Wolfram_Gothe
Wolfram_Hirth
Wolfram_Research
Wolfram_Research
Wolfram_syndrome
Wolfram_Von_Eschenbach
Wolfram_von_Eschenbach
Wolfram_von_Eschenbach
Wolfram_von_Richthofen
Wolfram_von_Richthofen.jpg
Wolfratshausen
Wolfred_Nelson
Wolfrider
Wolfrider
Wolfriders
Wolfry
Wolfsangel
Wolfsangel
Wolfsbane
Wolfsbane_(band)
Wolfsbane_(comics)
Wolfsberg
Wolfsberg,_Austria
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg,_Germany
Wolfsburg.jpg
Wolfsburg_ie
Wolfschanze
Wolfsheim
Wolfsheim
Wolfsheim's_Discography
Wolfsheim,_Germany
Wolfsheim_(band)
Wolfsheim_discography
Wolfsonian-FIU
WolfsonPix
WolfsonPix
Wolfson_College,_Cambridge
Wolfson_College,_Cambridge_(1).jpg
Wolfson_College,_Cambridge_(2).jpg
Wolfson_College,_Oxford
Wolfson_college_oxford.jpg
Wolfsschanze
Wolfsschanze,_Gierloz,_Poland_1.jpg
Wolfsschanze,_Gierloz,_Poland_2.jpg
Wolfsschanze,_Gierloz,_Poland_3.jpg
WolFStaR
Wolfstu
Wolfsumatra
Wolftaur
Wolfurt
WolfVanZandt
Wolfville
Wolfville,_Nova_Scotia
Wolfweb
Wolfy
Wolfy
Wolfy2005
Wolfychan
Wolfychan
Wolfye
Wolfy_edwards
Wolf_(constructor)
Wolf_(crater)
Wolf_(movie)
Wolf_359
Wolf_3D
Wolf_424
Wolf_424_Star_System
Wolf_Apple
Wolf_Bickel
Wolf_Biermann
Wolf_Blitzer
Wolf_child
Wolf_children
Wolf_Colonel
Wolf_Creek
Wolf_Creek_Nuclear_Generating_Station
Wolf_Creek_Pass
Wolf_Creek_Township,_PA
Wolf_Creek_Township,_Pennsylvania
Wolf_Cub
Wolf_Deunan
Wolf_Deunan
Wolf_Dog
Wolf_Ehrenkrantz
Wolf_Eyes
Wolf_fifth.ogg
Wolf_herring
Wolf_herrings
Wolf_Hirshorn
Wolf_Hirth
Wolf_Hirth.jpg
Wolf_Howard
Wolf_Hybrid
Wolf_Hybrids
Wolf_interval
Wolf_interval
Wolf_in_the_Fold
Wolf_Kahlen
Wolf_Kahlen
Wolf_Klinz
Wolf_Klinz_(EP,_6th_term).jpg
Wolf_Krakowski
Wolf_Lake
Wolf_Lake,_MI
Wolf_Lake,_Michigan
Wolf_Lake,_Minnesota
Wolf_Lake,_Minnesota
Wolf_Lake,_MN
Wolf_Lake_Township,_Minnesota
Wolf_Lake_Township,_MN
Wolf_Man
Wolf_Messing
Wolf_Messing
Wolf_movie_poster.jpg
Wolf_number
Wolf_O'Donnell
Wolf_O'Donnell
Wolf_of_Badenoch
Wolf_pack
Wolf_pack
Wolf_pack_(submarines)
Wolf_pack_(submarines)
Wolf_Pen
Wolf_Pen_Creek_District
Wolf_Point
Wolf_Point,_Montana
Wolf_Point,_MT
Wolf_Prize
Wolf_Prize
Wolf_Prizes
Wolf_Prizes
Wolf_Prize_in_Agriculture
Wolf_Prize_in_Arts
Wolf_Prize_in_Chemistry
Wolf_Prize_in_Mathematics
Wolf_Prize_in_Medicine
Wolf_Prize_in_Physics
Wolf_River
Wolf_River,_Langlade_County,_WI
Wolf_River,_Langlade_County,_Wisconsin
Wolf_River,_WI
Wolf_River,_Winnebago_County,_WI
Wolf_River,_Winnebago_County,_Wisconsin
Wolf_River,_Wisconsin
Wolf_River_(Middle_Tennessee)
Wolf_River_(Tennessee)
Wolf_River_(Wisconsin)
Wolf_Rudiger_Hess
Wolf_Ruediger_Hess
Wolf_Rüdiger_Hess
Wolf_Rüdiger_Hess
Wolf_Spider
Wolf_spider
Wolf_spider
Wolf_spider&egg_sac.jpg
Wolf_spider&egg_sac02.jpg
Wolf_spider&egg_sac03.jpg
Wolf_spider.jpg
Wolf_spiders
Wolf_spider_3411.JPG
Wolf_spider_attack_position.jpg
Wolf_spider_thumb.jpg
Wolf_spider_tunnel.jpg
Wolf_Szmuness
Wolf_Szmuness
Wolf_the_Quarrelsome
Wolf_the_Warrior
Wolf_ticket
Wolf_ticket
Wolf_Tone
Wolf_Township,_PA
Wolf_Township,_Pennsylvania
Wolf_Trap
Wolf_Trap,_VA
Wolf_Trap,_Virginia
Wolf_Trap_Farm_Park
Wolf_Trap_Farm_Park_for_the_Performing_Arts
Wolf_Trap_National_Park_for_the_Performing_Arts
Wolf_v._Colorado
Wolf_V._Vishniac
Wolf_Vostell
Wolf_web


These materials are based on Wikipedia and licensed under the GNU FDL



YouTube.com videos better site than Turbo Tax 2007
encyklopedia online