gray wolf vs Portugese dogfish

Canis lupus compared with Centroscymnus coelolepis

Key Differences

• gray wolf is Critically Endangered while Portugese dogfish is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	gray wolf	Portugese dogfish
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Elasmobranchii
Order	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Squaliformes (Squaliformes)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Somniosidae
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Centroscymnus
Species	Canis lupus	Centroscymnus coelolepis

Evolutionary Relationship

gray wolf and Portugese dogfish share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Portugese dogfish

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	gray wolf	Portugese dogfish
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.

Portugese dogfish

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Portugal. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

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.