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Canis Lupus
Originating in North America and throughout the Northern Hemisphere, the wolf was once the most widely distributed land mammal in the world. Presently being reintroduced into Yellowstone National park, the species is now down to such spare numbers that some variant species are considered extinct. Captive breeding programs have been undertaken to ensure that we don't loose this magnificent creature, that has given us 'Mans Best Friend'.
Giant dogs are a creation of humans, whereas the Grey Wolf is the largest canine that nature makes. The largest males are up to 2 metres in length, measured from the nose to the tips of their tails, and can weigh up to 80kg. They vary in colour and coat depending on their environment and climate. For example, the "Grey" Wolf can actually be black, white, or brown, to match their arctic, forest, or tundra plains habitat.
Most of our domestic dogs have originated from some type of wolf, but many years of "back yard" or inexperienced breeding by humans the world over, has produced irreversible defects including hip displasia. Defects like this are not reproduced in the wild like we force them to be in the domestic situation.
In a wild pack, only the "Alpha" male (leader of the pack and most dominant) and the best female will breed. If any faults occur in cubs the female will destroy them, leaving more food for the rest. As young males mature they may challenge the "Alpha" male for leadership, which results in either a new stranger male leading the pack and breeding, or the "Alpha" male killing the challenger.
In either case, only the best survive. if a female other than the most dominant becomes pregnant and has a litter, she would not be able to protect them against the most dominant female anyway, and thus, natural selection takes its course again.
“The domestic dog is an extremely close relative of the Gray Wolf, differing from it by at most 0.2% of mtDNA sequence.... In comparison, the Gray Wolf differs from its closest wild relative, the coyote, by about 4% of mitochondrial DNA sequence.”
Robert K. Wayne, Ph.D.
“Molecular evolution of the dog family”
Theoretical and Applied Genetics
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