The wolverine, Gulo gulo, is sometimes compared to a small bear, yet does not belong to the same family. The wolverine is actually related to the otter and the ferret.
Profile
Class, order and family :
Mammalia, Carnivora, Mustelidae
Life span :
up to 17 years
Size & Weight :
35 - 50 cm (shoulder height), 6 - 25 kg
Gestation period :
35 days (delayed gestation: 6 - 9 months), 3 cubs
Natural habitat :
tundra and forests
Diet :
carnivore
Native region :
Canada, Russia, Scandinavia
Statut UICN :
Least Concern (LC)
Lifestyle
Equipped for walking in the snow and braving the toughest winters in its habitat, it travels huge distances in search of food, using its anal glands to leave its scent wherever it goes. Its semi-retractable claws allow it to climb trees and dig under the snow.
Anecdote
A predator and a scavenger, the wolverine is adept at adaptation: when it is hungry, even frozen bones cannot resist its powerful jaws.
