Class: Mammalia

Order: Carnivora

Scientific Name: Canis lupus baileyi

Range: originally in Mexico and the Southwestern United States, now only allowed to inhabit the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area in east-central Arizona and west-central New Mexico

Habitat: woods, scrub, and grassland

Diet: Wild: primarily elk, also deer, rabbit and other small mammals
Zoo: Mazuri Exotic Canine diet, rabbits, horsemeat, chicken

Gestation: 63 days

Litter: 1-11 (average is 6)

Life Span: up to 13 years in the wild, 16 in captivity

Description: Smallest of the Gray Wolf subspecies: 54-66 inches in length from snout to tail, weight is 50-90 lbs (22-40 kg). Coat is a varied mixture of tan, red, white, and black fur. Generally light in color on lower muzzle, chest, and underbelly. Head, shoulders and back are darker in color.

Behavior: Similar to other species of gray wolf. Lives in packs and communicates with scent marking, body posturing, and vocalizations such as howling.

Reproduction: Both male and female take part in raising the young. Pups are born blind and deaf; weighing approximately 450g (1 lb) they gain as much as 3 lbs per week for the first 14 weeks. After 11 days, the eyes open and are blue in color until they become gold between 8-16 weeks. Teeth begin to erupt at 15 days and the young receive meat regurgitated by adults, weaned by 8-10 weeks of age. Body and coat begins to resemble an adult's at around 4 weeks old, sexual maturity occurs by 22 months.

Our Animals: Cleveland Metroparks Zoo's Mexican wolves are all females from the same litter. Their names are Catori, Sarita, Una, Aprecia, Nancita and Mitzi.

Did You Know?

• Another name for the Mexican subspecies is 'lobo.'
• There are 5 subspecies of gray wolf, but the Mexican subspecies is notable for being the rarest and most genetically distinct.
• After becoming essentially extinct in its native range for many years, this endangered subspecies was re-introduced in 1998 and there is now an estimated population of 40-50 individuals in the wild in Arizona and New Mexico.

Where in the Zoo? I can be found in the Wolf Wilderness at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.