Canis lupus irremotus
| Northern Rocky Mountain wolf | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Canis |
| Species: | C. lupus |
| Subspecies: | Canis lupus nubilus |
| Variety: | Canis lupus nubilus irremotus |
| Trinomial name | |
|
Canis lupus nubilus irremotus Goldman, 1937 |
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The northern Rocky Mountain wolf (Canis lupus irremotus) is a subspecies of gray wolf native to the northern Rocky Mountains and the high adjoining plains, from northwestern Wyoming northward through western Montana and eastern Idaho at least to Lethbridge in southern Alberta. It is a light-colored, medium to large-sized subspecies with a narrow, flattened frontal bone. The subspecies was initially listed as Endangered on March 9, 1978, but had the classification removed in the year 2000 due to the effects of the Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery Plan. On August 6, 2010, the northern Rocky Mountain wolf was ordered to be returned under Endangered Species Act protections by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in a decision overturning a previous ruling by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They were later removed on August 31, 2012 from the list because of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming meeting the population quotas for the species to be considered stable.
As of 2005[update], it is considered a valid subspecies by MSW3, though it is classed as a synonym of C. l. nubilus by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
This subspecies generally weighs 70–150 pounds (32–68 kg) and stands at 26–32 inches, making it one of the largest subspecies of the gray wolf. It is a lighter colored animal than its southern brethren, the southern Rocky Mountain wolf, with a coat that includes far more white and less black. In general, the subspecies favors lighter colors, with black mixing in among them.
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Wikipedia