There are fewer than 500 of these dogs left in the wild, and there are no records of them ever having bred in captivity.

Subspecies
Two.

Statistics
Body length: 100cm, Tail length: 25-30cm, Standing height: 50cm, Weight: 15kg.

Physical description
Ethiopian wolves are reddish-brown with white markings and a bushy tail.

Distribution
They inhabit Central Ethiopia.

Habitat
Ethiopian wolves prefer mountainous regions.

Diet
They feed chiefly on small mammals.

Behaviour
Ethiopian wolves live in pairs and small groups.

Reproduction
Females have a gestation period of nine weeks, after which they give birth to 3-6 pups. They weigh 200-250g at birth.

Conservation status
Ethiopian wolves are protected by law in Ethiopia and are classified as Critically Endangered by the 2000 IUCN Red List.