An adult gray wolf has 42 teeth. Its dental formula is typical of the dog family: incisors grip and strip meat, long canines seize prey, premolars help cut, and molars crush tougher food.
Wolves rely heavily on their canine teeth, which can measure several centimeters and help hold struggling animals. Their cheek teeth also include specialized carnassial teeth, shaped like blades for slicing meat. This combination reflects a predator adapted to hunting and processing large mammals.
The number is sometimes confused with domestic dogs because dogs also normally have 42 permanent teeth. Puppies, by contrast, begin with 28 deciduous teeth that are replaced as they mature. Tooth wear, breakage, or disease can leave an individual wolf with fewer teeth, but 42 is the standard adult count.
The gray wolf, Canis lupus, is the largest living wild member of the dog family. Its teeth are only one part of a hunting toolkit that also includes strong jaw muscles, cooperative pack behavior, and the ability to pursue hoofed prey over long distances.