gray wolf vs Spiny Cocklebur

Canis lupus compared with Xanthium spinosum

Key Differences

gray wolf is Critically Endangered while Spiny Cocklebur is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	gray wolf	Spiny Cocklebur
Kingdom	Animalia (สัตว์)	Plantae (พืช)
Phylum	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Magnoliopsida (พืชใบเลี้ยงคู่)
Order	Carnivora (สัตว์กินเนื้อ)	Asterales (อันดับทานตะวัน)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Xanthium
Species	Canis lupus	Xanthium spinosum

Conservation Status

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Spiny Cocklebur

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	gray wolf	Spiny Cocklebur
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.

Spiny Cocklebur

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).

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.