gray wolf vs

Canis lupus compared with Nitrosopelagicus brevis

Key Differences

• gray wolf is Critically Endangered while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	gray wolf
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Archaea (Archaea)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Thermoproteota (Thermoproteota)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Nitrososphaeria (Nitrososphaeria)
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Nitrososphaerales (Nitrososphaerales)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Nitrosopumilaceae
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Nitrosopelagicus
Species	Canis lupus	Nitrosopelagicus brevis

Conservation Status

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	gray wolf
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	13 years	—
Average Length	1.6 m	—
Average Weight	45.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

gray wolf

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, deserts and xeric shrublands, and tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Seychelles), Asia (Japan), Europe (5 countries), North America (7 countries), Oceania and the Pacific (Marshall Islands, Vanuatu), and South America (5 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

gray wolf

The most widely distributed wild canid, gray wolves range from North America across Eurasia in diverse habitats including tundra, forests, and grasslands. Highly social animals living in family packs led by a dominant breeding pair. As keystone predators, wolves regulate prey populations and profoundly shape ecosystem structure, as demonstrated by their reintroduction in Yellowstone. Once heavily persecuted, populations are recovering in many regions.

Nitrosopelagicus brevis is a small, aerobic ammonia-oxidizing thaumarchaeon belonging to the abundant marine archaeal group Nitrososphaeria. It inhabits the open ocean, particularly the nutrient-poor photic zone of tropical and subtropical oceanic gyres. This chemolithoautotrophic organism oxidizes ammonia to nitrite and plays a fundamental role in marine nitrogen cycling.