Iberian Wolf (Canis lupus signatus) – (Cabrera 1907)
Overall population: 2003 census (2,000)
Physical description: Signatus is Latin for “marked” describing the characteristic white marks on the lips and and darkened/black markings on the legs, back and tail. The Iberian Wolf has a smaller frame than the Eurasion Wolf. Males are larger and are said to weigh up to 110lbs (50kg) and females 66lbs-88lbs (30kg-40kg).
Original range – Iberian Peninsula
Current range – Forest and plains of northern Portugal and northernwestern Spain.
Habitat / Ecology / Prey:
Habitat – forest
Ecology – Wild boar on the Iberian Peninsula prey on the endangered capercaillie, wolf predation on the wild boar helps relieve boar predation on the capercaillie.
Prey – wild boar (Sus scrofa), feral horses, roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica), European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), hares (Lepus granatensis)
Domestic goat predominated the diet (62% of the scats), followed by cow (20%) and sheep (13%); the only wild ungulate present in the scat analysis was the wild boar (4% of the scats).
[HTML] To eat or not to eat? The diet of the endangered Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) in a human-dominated landscape in central Portugal
RT Torres, N Silva, G Brotas, C Fonseca – PloS one, 2015 – journals.plos.org
Unique behaviors: Iberian wolves live in smaller packs than the Eurasion Wolf.
Conservation: The Iberian Wolf and it’s ethology and conservation were championed by Spanish naturalist Félix Samuel Rodríguez de la Fuente (March 14, 1928 – March 14, 1980).
Journal / Scientific Publications:
Designing the landscape of coexistence: Integrating risk avoidance, habitat selection and functional connectivity to inform large carnivore conservation
H Rio-Maior, M Nakamura, F Álvares, P Beja – Biological Conservation, 2019
Lethal management may hinder population recovery in Iberian wolves
…, JA Leonard, J Naves, A Ordiz, E Revilla, C Vilà – Biodiversity and …, 2019 – Springer
The role of fire on wolf distribution and breeding-site selection: Insights from a generalist carnivore occurring in a fire-prone landscape
S Lino, N Sillero, J Torres, X Santos… – Landscape and Urban …, 2019 – Elsevier
Use of space and homesite attendance by Iberian wolves during the breeding season
H Rio-Maior, P Beja, M Nakamura, F Álvares – Mammalian Biology, 2018 – Elsevier
[HTML] Cryptic population structure reveals low dispersal in Iberian wolves
P Silva, JV López-Bao, L Llaneza, F Álvares, S Lopes… – Scientific reports, 2018 – nature.com
Intestinal helminths in Iberian wolves (Canis lupus signatus) from Northwest Spain
S Muñoz, PL Ramos, E Carretón… – The Open …, 2018 – benthamopen.com
Risks a la carte: Modelling the occurrence and intensity of wolf predation on multiple livestock species
V Pimenta, I Barroso, L Boitani, P Beja – Biological Conservation, 2018 – Elsevier
The Indirect Impacts of Wind Farms on Terrestrial Mammals: Insights from the Disturbance and Exclusion Effects on Wolves (Canis lupus); GF da Costa, J Paula, F Petrucci-Fonseca, F Álvares – Biodiversity and Wind Farms in …, 2018
Hybridization between wolf and domestic dog: First evidence from an endangered population in central Portugal; RT Torres, E Ferreira, RG Rocha, C Fonseca – … Biology-Zeitschrift für …, 2017 – Elsevier
Viral gut metagenomics of sympatric wild and domestic canids, and monitoring of viruses: Insights from an endangered wolf population; N Conceição‐Neto, R Godinho, F Álvares… – Ecology and …, 2017 – Wiley Online Library
New insights into the genetic composition and phylogenetic relationship of wolves and dogs in the Iberian Peninsula;AE Pires, IR Amorim, C Borges, F Simões… – Ecology and …, 2017 – Wiley Online Library
What does the wild boar mean to the wolf?; E Mori, L Benatti, S Lovari, F Ferretti – European Journal of Wildlife …, 2017 – Springer
Wolf predation on cattle in Portugal: Assessing the effects of husbandry systems; V Pimenta, I Barroso, L Boitani, P Beja – Biological Conservation, 2017 – Elsevier
Parasite species of the endangered Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) and a sympatric widespread carnivore; A Figueiredo, L Oliveira, LM de Carvalho… – International Journal for …, 2016 – Elsevier
Treatment of a forelimb fracture and rehabilitation of a free-ranging Iberian Wolf (Canis lupus signatus); FC Silva, RF Sargo, LC Sousa, H Rio-Maior… – Pesquisa Veterinária …, 2016 – SciELO Brasil
Perspectives on the Iberian wolf in Portugal: population trends and conservation threats
RT Torres, C Fonseca – Biodiversity and conservation, 2016 – Springer
[HTML] Treatment of a forelimb fracture and rehabilitation of a free-ranging Iberian Wolf (Canis lupus signatus)
FC Silva, RF Sargo, LC Sousa, H Rio-Maior… – Pesquisa Veterinária …, 2016 – SciELO Brasil
Patterns of Exposure of Iberian Wolves (Canis lupus) to Canine Viruses in Human-Dominated Landscapes;J Millán, JV López-Bao, EJ García, A Oleaga… – EcoHealth, 2016 – Springer
Study of gastrointestinal parasites in the iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus)
ALO Pereira – 2015 – comum.rcaap.pt
Comparative proteomics of an extended spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli strain from the Iberian wolf
A Gonçalves, P Poeta, R Monteiro, C Marinho… – Journal of …, 2014 – Elsevier
Chemical scent constituents in feces of wild Iberian wolves (Canis lupus signatus)
J Martín, I Barja, P López – Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 2010 – Elsevie