Wolf Anatomy

Wolf Anatomy

The body of a wolf allows it to be able to survive in a variety of different locations. The bodies of these animals are built for ultimate survival. It allows for them to be able to run fast, to track prey, and to take down large animals.

They can have thick fur that is a variety of colors. They can include white, tan, brown, black, and gray. They are known to have beautiful colors of eyes that can be sky blue or chocolate brown. When it comes to their colors and their size they have a huge range from one end to the other.

There are two types of hair that grow for a wolf. The undercoat is very close to the skin. It helps to offer a water proof barrier so that the body can stay warm and the overall temperature regulated. The guards are the hairs on the outer layers that we see while looking at a wolf. The thickness of both of these coats depends on the climate as well as the time of year. Scent glands are found in the fur, along the tail that allows them to mark their territory.

Even though the body of a wolf may seem very thin overall, it is full of thick muscles. The scrawny appearance of the legs and the head can give a false impression that they aren’t a force to be reckoned with. The chest region is very slender so that they animal have a full range of movement.

Most experts believe they have more of a range than any other type of animal. The overall size will depend on the location as well as the species of wolf that you are talking about. Some are only about 50 pound and others are about 200 pounds. From their nose to the tail some are about 4 ½ feet long and others are more than 6 feet long.

All wolves have rounded ears and a mouth full of extremely sharp teeth. When they are full grown then will have 42 teeth in their mouths. The front teeth are pointed which allows them to puncture as well as to cling to various elements. The molars are also pointed so that they can easily shred their prey. They have back molars that are flat and that they use for crushing the bones of their prey.

Their jaws are extremely powerful which allows them to capture their prey as well as to fight when they need to. The secret is that their jaws interlock so they can bite and hold onto prey with very little effort.

You will notice that the feet of wolves are extremely large. They average is four inches by five inches. The front feet are much larger than the back ones. This is done in order to allow the weight of the wolf to be shifted when necessary. It also allows them to walk on top of snow and ice rather than sinking down in it.

Each toe moves individually and the bottom pads are very thick. What is interesting is that the front feet have four toes while the back feet have five. These animals have magnificent hearing which helps them to find their own pack as well as to find where prey is.

The nose of a wolf is very sensitive and able to pick up smells a very long distance from where they happen to be. The tail of a wolf is very long as well. This helps it to keep balance while walking. The tail is also used to keep the face warm in the bitter cold.