gray wolf vs tundra vole

Canis lupus compared with Microtus oeconomus

Key Differences

• gray wolf is Critically Endangered while tundra vole is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	gray wolf	tundra vole
Kingdom same	Animalia (สัตว์)	Animalia (สัตว์)
Phylum same	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)	Chordata (สัตว์มีแกนสันหลัง)
Class same	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)	Mammalia (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)
Order	Carnivora (สัตว์กินเนื้อ)	Rodentia (อันดับสัตว์ฟันแทะ)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Cricetidae
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Microtus
Species	Canis lupus	Microtus oeconomus

Evolutionary Relationship

gray wolf and tundra vole share a common ancestor at the Class level: Mammalia. (สัตว์เลี้ยงลูกด้วยน้ำนม)

Conservation Status

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

tundra vole

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	gray wolf	tundra vole
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.

tundra vole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Russia.

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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇷🇺 Russia