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The gray wolf or grey wolf (''Canis lupus'') also known as the timber wolf,〔Paquet, P. & Carbyn, L. W. (2003). "Gray wolf" ''Canis lupus'' and allies", in Feldhamer, George A. et al. ''Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation'', JHU Press, pp. 482-510, ISBN 0801874165〕〔 or western wolf, is a canid native to the wilderness and remote areas of North America and Eurasia. It is the largest extant member of its family, with males averaging , and females . Like the red wolf, it is distinguished from other ''Canis'' species by its larger size and less pointed features, particularly on the ears and muzzle. Its winter fur is long and bushy, and predominantly a mottled gray in color, although nearly pure white, red, or brown to black also occur.〔 , 37 subspecies of ''C. lupus'' are recognised by MSW3. The gray wolf is the second most specialised member of the genus ''Canis'', after the Ethiopian wolf, as demonstrated by its morphological adaptations to hunting large prey, its more gregarious nature,〔Heptner, V. G. and Naumov, N. P. (1998), (Mammals of the Soviet Union Vol.II Part 1a, SIRENIA AND CARNIVORA (Sea cows; Wolves and Bears) ), Science Publishers, Inc. USA., pp. 164-270, ISBN 1-886106-81-9〕 and its highly advanced expressive behavior.〔〔 It is nonetheless closely related enough to smaller ''Canis'' species, such as the eastern wolf,〔 coyote and golden jackal〔 to produce fertile hybrids. Its closest relative is the domestic dog, with which it shared a common European ancestor which likely diverged 40,000 years ago.〔 It is the only species of ''Canis'' to have a range encompassing both the Old and New Worlds, and originated in Eurasia during the Pleistocene, colonizing North America on at least three separate occasions during the Rancholabrean.〔 It is a social animal, travelling in nuclear families consisting of a mated pair, accompanied by the pair's adult offspring.〔 The gray wolf is typically an apex predator throughout its range, with only humans and tigers〔〔Perry, R. (1964). ''The World of the Tiger'', Cassell & Company ltd, p. 148〕 posing a serious threat to it. It feeds primarily on large ungulates, though it also eats smaller animals, livestock, carrion, and garbage.〔Mech, L. D. & Boitani, L. (2004). (Grey wolf ''Canis lupus'' Linnaeus, 1758 ), pp. 124-129 in Sillero-Zubiri, C., Hoffmann, M. & Macdonald, D.W. (eds), ''Canids: Foxes, Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., Jackals and Dogs: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan'', IUCN/SSC Canid Specialist Group. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. ISBN 2-8317-0786-2.〕 The gray wolf is one of the world's best known and well researched animals, with probably more books written about it than any other wildlife species. It has a long history of association with humans, having been despised and hunted in most pastoral communities because of its attacks on livestock, while conversely being respected in some agrarian and hunter-gatherer societies.〔Boitani, L. (1995). ("Ecological and cultural diversities in the evolution of wolf-human relationships" ), in ''Ecology and conservation of wolves in a changing world'', eds. Carbyn, L. N., Fritts, S. H., and Seip, D. R., eds. pp. 3-12, Edmonton: Canadian Circumpolar Institute〕 Although the fear of wolves is pervasive in many human societies, the majority of recorded attacks on people have been attributed to animals suffering from rabies. Non-rabid wolves have attacked and killed people, mainly children, but this is unusual, as wolves are relatively few, live away from people, and have been taught to fear humans by hunters and shepherds.〔Linnell, J. D. C. (2002), ''(The Fear of Wolves: A Review of Wolf Attacks on Humans )'', NINA, ISBN 82-426-1292-7〕 ==Etymology== The Latin ''lupus'' is a Sabine loanword,〔 while the English 'wolf' stems from the Old English ''wulf'', which is itself thought to be derived from the Proto-Germanic '' *wulfaz'', from the Proto-Indo-European root '' *wlqwos''/'' *lukwos''. Old English literature contains several instances of Anglo-Saxon kings and warriors taking on ''wulf'' as a prefix or suffix in their names. Examples include Wulfhere, Cynewulf, Ceonwulf, Wulfheard, Earnwulf, Wulfmǣr, Wulfstān and Æthelwulf. Wolf-related names were also common among pre-Christian Germanic warriors: Wolfhroc (Wolf-Frock), Wolfhetan (Wolf Hide), Isangrim (Grey Mask), Scrutolf (Garb Wolf), Wolfgang (Wolf Gait) and Wolfdregil (Wolf Runner). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「gray wolf」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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