Canis Lupus Arabs – Wikipedia

The Arab wolf ( Canis lupus arabs Pocock, 1934 ) is a subspecies of widespread gray wolf, once, throughout the Arabic peninsula, but currently reduced in small herds scattered in southern Israel, Oman, Yemen, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and, probably, in some areas of the Sinai peninsula (in Egypt).

It is a small subspecies adapted to living in the desert, on average 66 cm high at the Garrese and weight of 18 kilos. Compared to the size of the body, its ears are the greatest of all those of the wolves, an adaptation necessary to disperse body heat. Furthermore, he does not live in numerous groups, but hunting in couples or in small packs made up of three or four specimens. Rather unusual feature for a wolf, it has never been heard ulular ^[4] . In summer the hair is short and rarely, despite the fact that it continues to be long enough on the back. This is believed to be an adaptation against sun radiation. The winter cloak is longer, even if it never reaches the length of that of northern subspecies ^[5] . The Arab wolfs are the only gray wolves to have the two central fingers of the fused feet together, a feature considered a unique time of the Liconi ^[6] . The eyes are yellow, like those of all wolves, but there are also many specimens with brown eyes – which certainly indicates that at least a part of the population is no longer of pure blood, but that the predecessors of these individuals have crossed With recessed dogs. This places very serious threats to the survival of this subspecies.

The Arab wolf stands out from the Turkish one for the cloak with the most pale colors, the lower size and the proportionally smaller head ^[7] .

The Arab wolves attack and devour any pet, up to those of the size of a goat. Therefore, breeders do not hesitate to shoot, poison and capture any wolf is in their vicinity. These animals feed, however, also of hares, rodents, ungulate and even carogne, if they have the opportunity.

They go hunting above all of medium-small animals, such as hares of the boss, gazelle dorcadi and ibexes, but they also eat carrion and, in the vicinity of human settlements, also domestic cattle ^[8] .

The Arab wolf was once in the whole Arabian peninsula, but now lives only in small parts in the south Israel, ^[9] Iraq, Oman, Yemen, Jordan, ^[ten] Saudi Arabia, ^[11] And some parts of the Sinai peninsula in Egypt. ^[twelfth] He is rare in most of his area because of human persecution.
In Oman the population of wolves has increased considerably since hunting has been prohibited, which gives hope that in the future the surrounding regions can naturally repopulate. In Israel there are between 100 and 150 specimens, all widespread in the Negev and Ha’Arava.

The wolf is frequently mentioned in the Scriptures as the enemy of the flocks (Syracide 13:21; Matteo 7:15) and a symbol of treason, ferocity and thirst for blood. The tribe of Beniamino, due to its belligerent character, has often been compared to the wolf both in the old and in the New Testament.