Wolverine  (Gulo gulo)

Species information

Videos and images

Authentication

Authenticated (16/02/05) by Dr Arild Landa of the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research.

Carnivore: Flesh-eating.
Carrion: The flesh of a dead animal.
Hibernation: A winter survival strategy characteristic of some mammals in which an animal's metabolic rate slows down and a state of deep sleep is attained. Whilst hibernating, animals survive on stored reserves of fat that they have accumulated in summer. In insects, the correct term for hibernation is ‘diapause', a temporary pause in development and growth. Any stage of the lifecycle (eggs, larvae, pupae or adults) may enter diapause, which is typically associated with winter.
Subspecies: A population usually restricted to a geographical area that differs from other populations of the same species, but not to the extent of being classified as a separate species.
Taiga: The sub-arctic forest of the high northern latitudes that surrounds the pole and is mainly composed of coniferous trees.
Tundra: Treeless grassland between the icecap and the tree line of Arctic regions, with vegetation consisting of lichens, grasses, sedges and dwarf woody plants.

References

  1. IUCN Red List (May, 2009)
    http://www.iucnredlist.org
  2. Macdonald, D. (2001) The New Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
  3. San Francisco State University (March, 2003)
    http://bss.sfsu.edu/geog/bholzman/courses/Fall00Projects/wolverine.html
  4. Landa, A., Lindén, M. and Kojola, I. (2000) Action Plan for the conservation of Wolverines (Gulo gulo) in Europe. Council of Europe Publishing, EU. Available at:
    http://www.lcie.org/Docs/COE/COE%20NE%20115%20Action%20plan%20for%20wolverines%202000.pdf
  5. Wolverine Foundation (March, 2003)
    http://www.wolverinefoundation.org
  6. Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe (April, 2008)
    http://www.lcie.org/