Braunbär vs Wolf

Ursus arctos compared with Canis lupus

Key Differences

• Braunbär is Extinct while Wolf is Critically Endangered.
• Braunbär is omnivore while Wolf is carnivore.
• Braunbär is 6.7x heavier than Wolf.
• Braunbär lives longer (25 years vs 13 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Braunbär	Wolf
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Chordata (Chordatiere)
Class same	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Mammalia (Säugetiere)
Order same	Carnivora (Raubtiere)	Carnivora (Raubtiere)
Family	Ursidae (Bears)	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)
Genus	Ursus (Bears)	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)
Species	Ursus arctos	Canis lupus

Evolutionary Relationship

Braunbär and Wolf share a common ancestor at the Order level: Carnivora. (Raubtiere)

Conservation Status

Braunbär

EX — Extinct

Population: ~200.0K

Trend: Stable →

Wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Braunbär	Wolf
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	25 years	13 years
Average Length	2.0 m	1.6 m
Average Weight	300.0 kg	45.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Braunbär

Habitat

Typically found in a wide range of habitat types.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries).

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.

Braunbär

The world's most widely distributed bear species, brown bears range from North America and Europe across Russia to Japan, occupying forests, tundra, and alpine meadows. Adults can weigh up to 700 kg in coastal Alaskan populations. Omnivores that consume berries, roots, fish, and carrion, brown bears are a keystone species that distribute nutrients across landscapes. Most populations are stable, though some subspecies are threatened.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇳🇴 Norway 🇷🇺 Russia 🇸🇪 Sweden