Black wolves: The beauty seen in evolution
What science tells us about wolves who evolved to be black.
Did you know that coat colour in gray wolves (Canis lupus) reflects immunity to canine distemper virus?
Canine distemper (CDV) is a highly infectious viral disease that occurs worldwide and affects a wide variety of mammal families, including wild canid species like wolves.
Research suggests that wolves with black fur have some protection against this disease and this may be influencing the mating behaviour of wolves. In the non-human animal world, variation in colour is often a key factor in evaluating the fitness of potential mates. Cubaynes et al 2022 found that a wolf’s coat colour may signal their resistance to CDV, helping individuals to select partners that can produce healthier offspring.
Although they can be more difficult to distinguish, black wolves have unique facial markings and patterns present in their darker pelage. These variations allow us to identify and track individuals within a population using minimally invasive methods, such as camera trapping.
Are you able to spot the differences in coat patterns between the two wolves in this video?
These videos were taken as part of a research project to better understand the behaviour and ecology of large carnivores in a tributary of the Fraser River. This research is conducted in the territory of and in collaboration with the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie) First Nation.
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