Japanese Wolf
Encyclopedia
The Hokkaidō Wolf, known in Japan as the , is one of the two extinct subspecies of Canis lupus that have been called the Japanese Wolf. The other is the Honshū Wolf
.
This endemic
wolf of Japan occupied the island of Hokkaidō
. The Hokkaidō Wolf was larger than the Honshū Wolf, more closely approaching the size of a regular Gray Wolf.
The Hokkaidō Wolf became extinct during the Meiji restoration
period. The wolf was deemed a threat to ranching (which the Meiji government promoted at the time) and targeted via a bounty system and a direct chemical extermination campaign. Hokkaido experienced significant development during this period and the Hokkaidō Wolf also suffered from resulting environmental disruption.
Sightings of the Hokkaidō Wolf have been claimed from the time of its extinction to the present day, but none of these have been verified (see cryptozoology
).
The Ezo wolf was a distinct subspecies, and had a more traditionally wolf-like appearance than its southern cousin, the Honshu wolf. The skull was large and formidable, with long, curved canines, and the body dimensions were similar to that of grey wolves. The Ezo wolf was typically grey in coloration, and significantly larger than the wolves of Honshu. Like the Honshu wolf, the Ezo wolf descended from Siberian wolves from the Asian mainland, yet the Hokkaido subspecies retained a size closer to these large ancestors.
Honshu Wolf
The Honshū Wolf, known in Japan as the , , or simply , is one of the two extinct subspecies of the Gray Wolf once endemic to the islands of Japan. The Honshū Wolf occupied the islands of Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū in Japan. The other subspecies is the Hokkaidō Wolf, native to the island of Hokkaidō...
.
This endemic
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
wolf of Japan occupied the island of Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. The Hokkaidō Wolf was larger than the Honshū Wolf, more closely approaching the size of a regular Gray Wolf.
The Hokkaidō Wolf became extinct during the Meiji restoration
Meiji Restoration
The , also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, Reform or Renewal, was a chain of events that restored imperial rule to Japan in 1868...
period. The wolf was deemed a threat to ranching (which the Meiji government promoted at the time) and targeted via a bounty system and a direct chemical extermination campaign. Hokkaido experienced significant development during this period and the Hokkaidō Wolf also suffered from resulting environmental disruption.
Sightings of the Hokkaidō Wolf have been claimed from the time of its extinction to the present day, but none of these have been verified (see cryptozoology
Cryptozoology
Cryptozoology refers to the search for animals whose existence has not been proven...
).
See also
- Hokkaido (dog)Hokkaido (dog)The is a breed of dog. Other names for the breed include Ainu-ken and Seta. In Japan, its name is sometimes shortened to Dō-ken. The Hokkaido is native to the prefecture of the same name in Japan.-Appearance:...
, a new dog breed that is based on the Hokkaidō Wolf - Shikoku Inu, a dog breed that was a version of the Hokkaidō Wolf
The Ezo wolf was a distinct subspecies, and had a more traditionally wolf-like appearance than its southern cousin, the Honshu wolf. The skull was large and formidable, with long, curved canines, and the body dimensions were similar to that of grey wolves. The Ezo wolf was typically grey in coloration, and significantly larger than the wolves of Honshu. Like the Honshu wolf, the Ezo wolf descended from Siberian wolves from the Asian mainland, yet the Hokkaido subspecies retained a size closer to these large ancestors.