gray wolf vs Polar bear

Canis lupus compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

• gray wolf is Critically Endangered while Polar bear is Vulnerable.
• Polar bear is 10.0x heavier than gray wolf.
• Polar bear lives longer (25 years vs 13 years).

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	gray wolf	Polar bear
Kingdom same	Animalia (动物界)	Animalia (动物界)
Phylum same	Chordata (脊索动物门)	Chordata (脊索动物门)
Class same	Mammalia (哺乳動物)	Mammalia (哺乳動物)
Order same	Carnivora (食肉目)	Carnivora (食肉目)
Family	Canidae (Dogs & Wolves)	Ursidae (Bears)
Genus	Canis (Dogs & Wolves)	Ursus (Bears)
Species	Canis lupus	Ursus maritimus

Evolutionary Relationship

gray wolf and Polar bear share a common ancestor at the Order level: Carnivora. (食肉目)

Conservation Status

gray wolf

CR — Critically Endangered

Population: ~300.0K

Trend: Stable →

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	gray wolf	Polar bear
Diet	Carnivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	13 years	25 years
Average Length	1.6 m	2.4 m
Average Weight	45.0 kg	450.0 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.

Polar bear

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

gray wolf

灰狼是分布最广的野生犬科动物，分布范围从北美横跨欧亚大陆，栖息于冻原、森林和草原等多种生境。高度社会化的动物，以由占优势的繁殖对领导的家族群体生活。作为关键捕食者，狼调节猎物种群并深刻影响生态系统结构，黄石公园的重引入项目对此有充分证明。曾遭到严重迫害，但目前许多地区的种群正在恢复。

Polar bear

北极熊是地球上最大的陆地食肉动物，体重可超过700千克，分布于从加拿大到俄罗斯的北极海冰区。是高度特化的海洋哺乳动物，依赖海冰捕猎环斑海豹和髯海豹。是优秀的游泳者，能够横渡广阔的开阔水域。被列为易危种，因气候变化导致北极海冰迅速减少，种群正受到严重威胁。

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway