The common name is Mexican Wolf.
It is also known as lobo.
The scientific name for the Mexican wolf is Canis lupus baileyi.
The Mexican gray wolf is the most highly endangered subspecies of gray wolf and one of the rarest mammals in the world.
Origin
The origin of wolf is not clear. Yet it is estimated that in the past, thousands of Mexican wolves roamed Mexico. There was also ample distribution in the states of Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona (in the United States).
Originally there were three separate sub-species of gray wolves that could be considered Mexican wolves – Canis lupus monstrabillis, Canis lupus mogollonensis, and Canis lupus baileyi. Only the Canus lupus baileyi remains in Mexico.
Little is known about how the Mexican wolf was related to Mesoamerican civilization. Registries of wolves discovered in archaeological contexts appear in ceremonial contexts, due to war events. Little is known about how the Mexican wolf was related to Mesoamerican civilization.
Registries of wolves discovered in archaeological contexts appear in ceremonial contexts, due to war events. The diversity of wolf representation in Mexico is present in iconographic data. The Mexican wolf was considered magical, and symbolized courage and strength. In pre-Hispanic Mexico, the wolf had a strong symbolic association with war, and the Sun, and was associated to the goddess of fire Chantico.
Pigmentation
Its colors are a yellowish-brown gray and black tints, while the lower part of the body, including the inner part of the legs, is usually white.
Special Features
The Mexican wolf is the smallest subspecies of the gray wolf, of the 30 wolf subspecies, of North America. Physically, it is like the coyote, yet more sturdy. It has elongated and cushioned legs and a somewhat slender body.
Its skull is small and elongated, jaw is large with a narrow snout that ends in a nasal pad. The ears are large and erect, with a rounded tip. The neck is wide but not especially long. Its eyes are small and separated. Its fur is short, most abundant on the back and around the shoulders. The tail is elongated and covered with dense fur.
Adults can measure more than a meter in length, from head to tail. 60 to 80 centimeters in height. Weight can vary, around 25 to 41 kilograms. These measurements may vary.
It has odor glands located at the base of the tail, genitals, between the fingers and areas of the skin and eyes.
The Mexican wolf tends to hunt in an organized group. In the breeding season, and after a gestation period of approximately 65 days, Mexican wolves do not leave the burrow the first weeks, as their pups are born blind and deaf. The mother nurses them and cleans the burrow, while the male protects them a few meters away. After birth, about 8-10 weeks later, the pups are moved to another site. After finishing the suckling period, during their development, the pups ingest food regurgitated by their parents. While the adults hunt, a pack member takes care of the pups.
Pups establish a hierarchy and learn to hunt during their play.
The life span of the Mexican wolf is about 8 years.
The lobo is the largest wild canine in Mexico. It is a carnivore. The howl of each wolf is unique. They have distinguishing facial features, and are usually nocturnal.
The habitat of the lobo occurs in various places, from desert and semi-arid areas to forests.
Habitat
The habitat of the lobo occurs in various places, from desert and semi-arid areas to forests.
A balance of habitat is maintained by cougars (pumas), coyotes and wolves, as the diet of Mexican wolves is based on deer, sheep, antelopes, hares and rodents.
Ecology and Conservation
Mexican gray wolves were exterminated to the point of near extinction and listed as an endangered species in 1976. When the idea for wolf conservation began, two of the indigenous Mexican wolf species were extinct, and only the Canus lupus baileyi remained in Mexico. Mexico and the U.S. collaborated to capture all lobos in the wild. Five wild Mexican wolves were captured alive, and a captive breeding program was started.
Currently, the Mexican gray wolf population is threatened. The Mexican wolf remains one of the most endangered mammals in North America, and the most endangered subspecies of gray wolf. Wild Mexican wolves are close to extinction.
References
http://www.lobomexicano.org.mx
https://endangeredwolfcenter.org
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