Wolf vs Dorn-Spitzklette

Canis lupus compared with Xanthium spinosum

Key Differences

Wolf is Critically Endangered while Dorn-Spitzklette is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Wolf	Dorn-Spitzklette
Kingdom	Animalia (Tier)	Plantae (Pflanzen)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (Säugetiere)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Carnivora (Raubtiere)	Asterales (Asternartige)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Xanthium
Species	Canis lupus	Xanthium spinosum

Conservation Status

Wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Dorn-Spitzklette

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Wolf	Dorn-Spitzklette
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	13 years	—
Average Length	1.6 m	—
Average Weight	45.0 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

Dorn-Spitzklette

Habitat

Inhabits montane grasslands and shrublands and deserts and xeric shrublands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (14 countries), Asia (21 countries), Europe (34 countries), North America (Canada, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia, Kiribati, New Zealand), and South America (Brazil, Chile, Colombia).

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.