Baffin Island Wolf
Encyclopedia
The Baffin Island Wolf (Canis lupus manningi), also known as the Baffin Island Tundra Wolf, is a subspecies
of the Gray Wolf
, Canis lupus, which resides exclusively on Baffin Island
and several nearby islands. It was not formally recognized as a subspecies until 1943, where it was given its taxonomic classification
by Anderson.
. It is proposed to be the smallest of all Arctic Wolf
types.
migrated there from Baffin Island and are, thus, descendants of the Baffin Island Wolf subspecies.
In 1966, a study was conducted on the Baffin Island Wolf, of which a preliminary assessment had been made the year before in 1965 at Wordie Bay, by the University of Toronto
. It was helped by students from the university as well.
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Gray Wolf
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf , also known as the wolf, is the largest extant wild member of the Canidae family...
, Canis lupus, which resides exclusively on Baffin Island
Baffin Island
Baffin Island in the Canadian territory of Nunavut is the largest island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, the largest island in Canada and the fifth largest island in the world. Its area is and its population is about 11,000...
and several nearby islands. It was not formally recognized as a subspecies until 1943, where it was given its taxonomic classification
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
by Anderson.
Description
The Baffin Island Wolf is described as being light colored, sometimes white, and unusually small, as compared to other wolf subspeciesSubspecies of Canis lupus
Canis lupus has 39 subspecies currently described, including two subspecies of domestic dog, Canis lupus dingo and Canis lupus familiaris, and many subspecies of wolf throughout the Northern hemisphere...
. It is proposed to be the smallest of all Arctic Wolf
Arctic Wolf
The Arctic Wolf , also called Polar Wolf or White Wolf, is a subspecies of the Gray Wolf, a mammal of the family Canidae. Arctic Wolves inhabit the Canadian Arctic, Alaska and the northern parts of Greenland....
types.
History
Early records and evidence suggest that the wolves in western GreenlandGreenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
migrated there from Baffin Island and are, thus, descendants of the Baffin Island Wolf subspecies.
In 1966, a study was conducted on the Baffin Island Wolf, of which a preliminary assessment had been made the year before in 1965 at Wordie Bay, by the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. It was helped by students from the university as well.