gray wolf vs

Canis lupus compared with Kariarchaeum pelagius

Key Differences

gray wolf is Critically Endangered while is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	gray wolf
Kingdom	Animalia (สัตว์)	Archaea (Archaea)
Phylum	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Asgardarchaeota (Asgardarchaeota)
Class	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Heimdallarchaeia (Heimdallarchaeia)
Order	Carnivora (สัตว์กินเนื้อ)	UBA460
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Kariarchaeaceae
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Kariarchaeum
Species	Canis lupus	Kariarchaeum pelagius

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.

Kariarchaeum pelagius is a member of the DPANN archaea group, representing ultra-small, genomically streamlined organisms found in pelagic marine environments. Like other DPANN archaea, it likely relies on metabolic partnerships with other microorganisms due to its reduced biosynthetic capabilities. Its discovery in open ocean waters extended knowledge of DPANN archaeal diversity beyond sediment and acidic environments.