Ethiopian Wolf Evolution
Eduardo Medina
Fred N. Thomas Career Education Center Early College
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to provide details on the Ethiopian Wolf such as its physical traits, behaviors, habitats, and adaptations to its environment that assist in the species’ continued existence and survival. Using this information and research that has been conducted, the most likely ancestor for Ethiopian wolf is the Eucyon. This is based on the theory of evolution and other scientific concepts, and the evidence that supports this conclusion is included.
Keywords: Ethiopian Wolf, evolution, physical traits, behavior, habitat, adaptation, ancestor, Eucyon.
Introduction Wolves are seen all around the globe as strong …show more content…
My animal's physical traits include copper-red and ivory fur. It's ears are pointed, broad, and facing forward; it has hair around its ears however none inside. This wolf’s teeth are small and widely spaced. Cainen teeth are 14 to 22mm long. Ethiopian Wolves can be compared to a North American coyote in appearance. Females tend to be smaller compared to males ,by about 20%, with both sexes having long slim legs for scavenging in the desert. Females are born with 8 mammae, yet only 6 function (mammae are the milk-secreting nipple of female mammals). Front paws contain 5 toes, unlike the hind paws which contain only 4. Adults grow to be 33.1 to 39.8 inches long. Both genders have an average weight of 32.475 pounds, with males weighing 37 pounds on average and females having an average weight of 27.95 pounds. Pups will be born with their eyes closed and a charcoal coat in between October and December. My wolf has small coppertone colored guard hairs with a white large and thick underfur; these coats can keep the wolves warm at up to -15°F. A sharp boundary exists to separate the different colored coats. Tails are thick and furry with white underneath, the tail ends in a dark almost black color, another difference between Ethiopian wolves are regular wolves is that in the tail there are no dark spots which indicate a supracaudal gland. The wolf’s coat falls of during the …show more content…
Ethiopian wolves are extremely social animals making packs containing up to 20 wolves, yet a pack which contains 6 wolves is more common. Like most wolf packs dominance is based on a hierarchy. Young emerge from the den after 3 weeks, and are cared for and protected by the entire pack. Most females in a pack are reproductively suppressed, except the alpha female. During mating season the females will only mate with members of other packs or the alpha male. When the breeding female wolf dies the job of reproduction is left to the resident daughter. Gestation period lasts anywhere from 60 to 62 days. Wolves scent mark and behave with hostility towards other packs. Although any confrontations end with the larger pack winning. These wolves will lay close together in the open during the night unless rain is present in which case they will sleep under overhangs and behind boulders. This wolf species does not use dens except in the case in which pups are present and in need of nursing. Wolves will mate anywhere from early August to late November; during this time the female’s coat will become woolier and become slightly yellow, unlike the females tale which tends to turn brown. The breeding males will court females by following them
Eduardo Medina
Fred N. Thomas Career Education Center Early College
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to provide details on the Ethiopian Wolf such as its physical traits, behaviors, habitats, and adaptations to its environment that assist in the species’ continued existence and survival. Using this information and research that has been conducted, the most likely ancestor for Ethiopian wolf is the Eucyon. This is based on the theory of evolution and other scientific concepts, and the evidence that supports this conclusion is included.
Keywords: Ethiopian Wolf, evolution, physical traits, behavior, habitat, adaptation, ancestor, Eucyon.
Introduction Wolves are seen all around the globe as strong …show more content…
My animal's physical traits include copper-red and ivory fur. It's ears are pointed, broad, and facing forward; it has hair around its ears however none inside. This wolf’s teeth are small and widely spaced. Cainen teeth are 14 to 22mm long. Ethiopian Wolves can be compared to a North American coyote in appearance. Females tend to be smaller compared to males ,by about 20%, with both sexes having long slim legs for scavenging in the desert. Females are born with 8 mammae, yet only 6 function (mammae are the milk-secreting nipple of female mammals). Front paws contain 5 toes, unlike the hind paws which contain only 4. Adults grow to be 33.1 to 39.8 inches long. Both genders have an average weight of 32.475 pounds, with males weighing 37 pounds on average and females having an average weight of 27.95 pounds. Pups will be born with their eyes closed and a charcoal coat in between October and December. My wolf has small coppertone colored guard hairs with a white large and thick underfur; these coats can keep the wolves warm at up to -15°F. A sharp boundary exists to separate the different colored coats. Tails are thick and furry with white underneath, the tail ends in a dark almost black color, another difference between Ethiopian wolves are regular wolves is that in the tail there are no dark spots which indicate a supracaudal gland. The wolf’s coat falls of during the …show more content…
Ethiopian wolves are extremely social animals making packs containing up to 20 wolves, yet a pack which contains 6 wolves is more common. Like most wolf packs dominance is based on a hierarchy. Young emerge from the den after 3 weeks, and are cared for and protected by the entire pack. Most females in a pack are reproductively suppressed, except the alpha female. During mating season the females will only mate with members of other packs or the alpha male. When the breeding female wolf dies the job of reproduction is left to the resident daughter. Gestation period lasts anywhere from 60 to 62 days. Wolves scent mark and behave with hostility towards other packs. Although any confrontations end with the larger pack winning. These wolves will lay close together in the open during the night unless rain is present in which case they will sleep under overhangs and behind boulders. This wolf species does not use dens except in the case in which pups are present and in need of nursing. Wolves will mate anywhere from early August to late November; during this time the female’s coat will become woolier and become slightly yellow, unlike the females tale which tends to turn brown. The breeding males will court females by following them