What family of mammals do wolves belong to?

Wolves belong to the mammal family Canidae. Canidae is the biological family of dog-like carnivorans, commonly called canids, and it includes wolves, domestic dogs, coyotes, foxes, jackals, dingoes, and several other species.

The family name comes from Canis, the Latin word for “dog.” Wolves are members of the genus Canis, alongside coyotes, golden jackals, and domestic dogs. The gray wolf, Canis lupus, is the best-known living wolf species, although other species and distinct wolf lineages are also recognized.

Canids generally share long muzzles, strong canine teeth, non-retractable claws, bushy tails, and an excellent sense of smell. Wolves are often confused with members of other carnivore families: bears belong to Ursidae, cats to Felidae, and hyenas to Hyaenidae. Despite their different appearances, foxes and dogs are more closely related to wolves than any of those animals are.