External parameters
The polar wolf is the largest predator permanently inhabiting the tundra, if seasonal visits of other species are excluded. The wolf lives in the tundra all year round, adapted to extreme conditions: cold weather, long polar nights, periods of starvation.
Its main parameters are:body length without tail:
⦁ 1130-150 cm, sometimes up to 180 cm;
⦁ Height at the withers: 80-95 cm;
⦁ Weight: up to 85 kg , males are larger than females.
Comparison with other predators of the tundra
Polar bear:
⦁ Larger than a wolf: males weigh 400-600 kg, the record is up to 1000 kg;
⦁ But it is not a permanent inhabitant of the tundra: it tends to the sea ice and the coast;
⦁ It is rare and temporary in the depths of the continental tundra due to abnormal migrations or lack of ice.
The brown bear:
⦁ Weight — 150-300 kg or more;
⦁ It lives mainly in the forest tundra and taiga, and not in the open tundra.;
⦁ It enters the tundra sporadically, mostly in search of food, but does not live there permanently.
The Wolverine:
⦁ Body length — up to 90 cm;
⦁ Weight — up to 16 kg;
⦁ Significantly smaller than the polar wolf;
⦁ It is more common in the forest tundra, although it enters the tundra.
Arctic fox:
⦁ Body length — up to 70 cm;
⦁ Weight — up to 8 kg;
⦁ A small predator specializing in rodents and carrion.
Additional arguments
Year-round presence. Polar wolves live in the tundra all year round and do not migrate south. Their range covers the Arctic and tundra, with the exception of sea ice and large ice sheets.
Adaptation to the environment. Thick blond hair, endurance, and pack hunting make it possible to survive in conditions where other large predators cannot gain a permanent foothold.
The ecological role. The wolf is a key predator of the tundra: it regulates the abundance of deer, musk oxen, hares and lemmings.
Absence of permanent competitors. Large bears either do not live in the tundra permanently, or they live in the taiga and forest tundra.
Important clarifications
Seasonality. In some periods, brown bears or polar bears may enter the tundra — then they will be larger than local wolves. But these are temporary guests, not permanent residents.
The boundaries of the zones. On the outskirts of the tundra, there may be crossings with the brown bear, but in the open tundra the polar wolf dominates. In addition, wolves hunt in packs (7-25 individuals), which increases their impact on the ecosystem.
Thus, the polar wolf is the largest predator permanently inhabiting the tundra. It is larger than all other year-round predators of this zone. The largest predators of the Arctic — polar and brown bears — either gravitate towards the coast and ice (white), or live in the forest tundra / taiga (brown), and are not permanent inhabitants of the tundra.
