狼 Wolf

狼（學名：Canis lupus），或稱為灰狼，哺乳綱，犬科，DNA序列與基因研究顯示狼與家犬有共同的祖先，為現生犬科動物中體型最大的物種。狼這個物種曾是地球上分佈地區最廣的哺乳動物，包括北美和歐亞大陸，但如今在西歐、墨西哥與美國大部份地區已然絕跡。它們主要棲息在荒野或偏遠地區，但並不限於此。由於人類蓄意厌恶狼對豢養牲畜不顧一切的獵捕行為、以及害怕被狼攻擊的恐懼、棲息地大量的破壞，其棲息地已經縮減了三分之一。

目前，狼主要分佈於亞洲、歐洲、北美和中東（主要是北半球的溫帶區域）。它們是生態系統原有的一部分，各地不同生態系統的多樣性，反映了狼這個物種的適應能力。這其中包括而不限於森林、沙漠、山地、寒帶草原、西伯利亞針葉林、草地。

雖然就整個物種而言，狼被世界自然保護聯盟列為絕種威脅程度最小的等級，然而在某些地區，不同亞種的狼被列為瀕臨絕種或是受絕種威脅的動物。現今在很多地區，狼仍然因為運動或是被視為對牲口威脅的原因，而遭受捕獵。

狼是社會性的獵食動物，狼群以核心家庭的形式組成，包括一對配偶、及其子女，有時也包括收養的未成年幼狼。狼屬於典型的食物鏈上層掠食者。在它們的棲息地中，只有人類和老虎對它們構成實質威脅。它們通常群體行動，由於狼會捕食羊等家畜，因此直到20世紀末期前都被人類大量捕殺，一些亞種如日本狼、紐芬蘭狼等都已經絕種，雖然有一些其它亞種已經確認，但亞種的確切數量仍舊未定。

在人類文化與狼並存的區域，狼經常出現在這些民俗的傳聞中，正面和負面的都有。

The gray wolf or grey wolf (Canis lupus^[a]) also known as the timber wolf,^[3][4] or western wolf,^[b] is a canid native to the wilderness and remote areas of North America,Eurasia, and northern, eastern and western Africa. It is the largest extant member of its family, with males averaging 43–45 kg (95–99 lb), and females 36–38.5 kg (79–85 lb).^[6] 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.^[7] 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.^[4] As of 2005,^[8] 37 subspecies of C. lupus are recognised byMSW3. The nominate subspecies is the Eurasian wolf (Canis lupus lupus),^[9] also known as the common wolf.^[10]

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,^[11] and its highly advanced expressive behavior.^[12][13] It is nonetheless closely related enough to smaller Canis species, such as the eastern wolf,^[5]coyote^[14] and golden jackal^[15][16] to produce fertile hybrids. Its closest relative is the domestic dog, with which it shared a common European ancestor which likely diverged 14,900 years ago.^[17] It is the only species of Canis to have a range encompassing both the Old and New Worlds,^[5] and originated in Eurasia during the Pleistocene, colonizing North America on at least three separate occasions during the Rancholabrean.^[5] It is a social animal, travelling in nuclear families consisting of a mated pair, accompanied by the pair's adult offspring.^[18] The gray wolf is typically an apex predator throughout its range, with only humans and tigers^{[11][19][20][21]} posing a serious threat to it. It feeds primarily on large ungulates, though it also eats smaller animals, livestock, carrion, and garbage.^[4]

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.^[22] It has a long history of association with humans, having been despised and hunted in most pastoral communities due to its attacks on livestock, while conversely being respected in some agrarianand hunter-gatherer societies.^[23] 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.^[24]