shewolf

A she-wolf, or she-wolf, is a female wolf. In biology, the term denotes a female member of the species Canis lupus, though it is also used in folklore and literature to refer to a female wolf or a symbol of predatory female power. The two-word form "she-wolf" and the compound "shewolf" are both found in English, with "she-wolf" more common in modern usage.

Biology and behavior: Wolves are social canids that typically live in packs headed by a breeding pair. The female is responsible for most of the pup-rearing; mating season generally occurs once a year, with a gestation of about 63 days and litters of 4 to 7 pups. Pups are cared for by the mother and, in many packs, by other adults and older siblings. Wolf diets are primarily large ungulates, with opportunistic feeding on smaller mammals as well. Pack structure and territory vary by region and prey availability.

Habitat and conservation: Wolves historically occupied most of Eurasia and North America. Today they occur in parts of North America, Europe, and Asia, inhabiting forests, tundra, mountains, and deserts. Conservation status is regionally variable; some populations are stable or increasing due to legal protection and recovery programs, while others remain threatened by habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and disease.

Cultural significance: The she-wolf is a prominent figure in myth and art. In Roman mythology, a she-wolf (lupa) is said to have nursed Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome, and the Capitoline Wolf statue symbolizes that legend. The term is also used metaphorically to describe a predatory or domineering woman in various cultural contexts, and it appears in literature, film, and music.