AnimalsThe grey wolf is the wild ancestor of the dog. Wolves live in packs, usually a breeding pair and their young, and hunt together. They howl to keep in touch over long distances and to warn other packs away.
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Canis lupus
- Group
- Mammals
- Diet
- Carnivore (eats other animals)
- Lives in
- North America, Europe and Asia
- Habitat
- Forests, tundra, mountains and grassland
- A young one is called
- pup
- A group is called
- pack
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
How it is classified
Scientists sort living things into groups within groups. Reading down, each step is a smaller group, ending with the species itself.
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Mammalia
- Order Carnivora
- Family Canidae
- Genus Canis
- Species Canis lupus
Other members of the family Canidae on this site: dog, red fox.
More distant relatives in the order Carnivora: brown bear, cheetah, domestic cat, giant panda, jaguar, leopard, lion, polar bear, red panda, sloth bear, snow leopard, spotted hyena.
Classification follows the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Other reference works arrange some groups differently. How classification works.
Is it in danger?
The wolf is listed as Least Concern. The species is widespread or numerous enough that it is not considered at risk of extinction at present.
This is the IUCN Red List category as recorded in Wikidata on 11 November 2026. The IUCN Red List itself is the authority and may carry a newer assessment. What the categories mean.