Evolutionary History

GRAY WOLVES

Arctic Wolves evolved from Gray Wolves, some of whom migrated to the arctic regions of Northern America, and who, over time, adapted to the cold, harsh conditions of this terrain.  They developed shorter snouts (smaller size means easier heat conservation), thicker fur (to maintain heat in the extreme cold),  and a lighter color – most are white, but others are light grey or have yellow (this allows better camouflage in the snowy environment).

EXTINCT RELATIVES

The above picture shows the evolution of several species closely or distantly related to Arctic Wolf.  All of the animals depicted here belong to the family canidae, meaning they are all canids.  However, the hesperocyninae, as well as the borophagniae, have gone extinct by this point in time.  The Eucyon, of  Caninae, is also no longer extant.   But the Grey Wolves (from which arctic wolves are descended) are still alive and well.  Explore the image to see which species descended from what genera and when they went extinct.

This image here shows a broader tree of evolution, including species such as bears, dogs, and foxes as well.  You can note red pathway, that indicates the line of the wolves, and travels all the way to the top.  All of the species present on this chart descended from creodonts, but evolved and morphed and adapted to become what we know them as today.  Of course, not all of them survived, as you can see by where the chart lists ‘extinct,’ meaning that that animal unfortunately did not endure to modern times.  Luckily for us, the arctic wolf has survived!

(If you want to make sure the arctic wolf continues to sustain its presence, check out the Why Endangered? and Protection – Rehabilitation Efforts pages to learn more about its endangerment and what you can do.)

EVOLUTION OF THE WOLF

If you are still curious about how the arctic wolf became what it is today, check out this video, which depicts the evolution of the gray wolf, the arctic wolf’s closest relative