What is the scientific name of the Arctic wolf, a white-coated subspecies of gray wolf?

The scientific name of the Arctic wolf is Canis lupus arctos.

The Arctic wolf is a subspecies of the gray wolf, rather than a completely separate wolf species. It lives across the Canadian Arctic and Greenland, where its range includes tundra, rocky areas, and permanently cold islands. Its scientific name places it within the species Canis lupus.

Arctic wolves usually have shorter ears and muzzles than many southern gray wolves. Those compact features reduce exposed surface area and help limit heat loss. Their thick white or pale coat also provides camouflage against snow and reflects the seasonal appearance of their habitat.

The name is sometimes confused with names for other pale wolves, including the Arctic race of the Eurasian wolf. Arctic wolves are social predators and may hunt musk oxen, Arctic hares, and caribou, depending on local prey availability. Their exact diet varies because the far-northern environment is highly seasonal.