Wolf Subspecies

North American Wolves
Arctic Wolf (Canis lupus arctos) one of the largest subspecies, usually white

Vancouver Island Wolf (Canis lupus crassodon) Medium sized social wolf, usually white or gray

Hudson Bay Wolf (Canis lupus hudsonicus) Larger, lighter colors like gray, white, and cream

Northern Rocky Mountains Wolf (Canis lupus irremotus) The very largest, usually lighter colors with minimal black

Alaskan Tundra Wolf ( Canis lupus tundrarum) Medium/large wolf, always white or cream, prefers smaller packs

Yukon Wolf ( Canis lupus pambasileus) The very largest subspecies, any color often gray, very common

Labrador Wolf ( Canis lupus labradorius) Medium, paler gray and white

Alexander Archipelago Wolf ( Canis lupus ligoni) Extremely small, any color including cinnamon and black

Eastern Wolf ( Canis lycaon) Related to red wolves, medium sized with redish or black coats

Mackenzie Valley Wolf ( Canis lupus occidentalis) Very large, prefers large packs, any color with thick coats

Great Plains wolf ( Canis lupus nubilus) or Buffalo wolf, medium, may be gray, black, or buff with red, very social

Baffin Island Wolf ( Canis lupus manningi) Small, thick fluffy white coats

European Wolves
Tundra Wolf (Canis lupus albus) Heavier, long dense soft fur, usually light gray in color sometimes reddish.

Eurasian Wolf<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; "> ( Canis lupus lupus<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; ">) Medium, narrow slender bodies, redish and varying colors, fluffy manes

Extinct Wolf Species
Kenai Peninsula wolf (Canis lupus alces) Very large, black, red, or brown

Newfoundland wolf (Canis lupus beothucus) Large white wolf with a black stripe down its back

Bernard's Wolf (Canis lupus bernardi) Medium wolf, white with black tips and guard fur

Cascade Mountain Wolf (Canis lupus fuscus) Medium, gray/brown coats with occasional black or red

Southern Rocky Mountains Wolf <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; ">( Canis lupus youngi<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; ">) Medium wolf, usually darker and black, prefers forests

British Columbia Wolf<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; "> ( Canis lupus columbianus<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; ">) More red and brown than gray

Permission Only Breeds
Mexican Wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) Petite red wolf, red and brown, very genetically distinct

Red Wolf (Canis lupus rufus) Much smaller than gray wolves, long brown/red coats, similar to coyotes

Indian wolf<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; "> ( Canis lupus pallipes<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; ">) Very small, no underfur, gray and red with black tips, very genetically distinct

Tibetan wolf<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; "> ( Canis lupus chanco<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; ">) Small, white belly with gray/black backs, very genetically distinct

Steppe Wolf<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; "> ( Canis lupus campestris<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; ">) Very small, short thin coats, redish colors

Arabian wolf<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; "> ( Canis lupus arabs<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: sans-serif; font-style: normal; line-height: 20px; ">) Tiny, large ears, thin fur, pale colors, fused toes in paws

Maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) A seperate species, like a large fox