4. What adaptations does the organism have that allow it to survive in its habitat?
The gray wolf has many special adaptations. Their coats are made up of wooly fur to provide
insulation and long guard hairs to keep out moisture. The gray wolf's large paws have fleshy pads
and claws for traction and can spread to provide better support in snow. Wolves have a sense of
hearing twenty times sharper than a human's and have a sense of smell a hundred times keener.
The wolf's jaws can deliver a crushing pressure of over 500 pounds per square inch! Wolves' vision
are very motion sensitive. They have a reflective retina, called a tapetum that enhances their
night vision. They can't see color. Wolves have great stamina. They can cover a distance of more
than eighteen miles at a quick trot. They have a top speed of about 40 miles per hour.