WAYYY back in May 2011, we had a request from an awesome Earth Ranger for a countdown of the biggest cats. It was such a great idea that we jumped into action. Now that sometime has passed, we started thinking that it’s totally unfair to all the dog lovers out there to not have a list about the largest canines! After combing through millions of records (ok maybe not that many), we came up with a list of the top ten biggest wild dogs.

We know that sometimes weight can be a little hard to understand so in addition to kilograms and pounds, we’ve also gotten help from something pretty heavy: a 16 pound bowling ball! That way, the next time you are out at a bowling alley, you’ll know that a coyote weighs the same as about 3 bowling balls!

10. Side-Striped Jackal (Canis adustus)

Flickr Credit: David Schenfeld

How big are we: Up to 12kg, 26 pounds, or 1.6 bowling balls

Where we live: East, West and Central Africa

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Canis_adustus/

9. Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Flickr Credit: Kamia the Wolf

How big are we: Up to 14kg, 31 pounds, or 1.9 bowling balls

Where we live: From the Arctic Circle to Central America, Central Asia and Northern Africa.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Vulpes_vulpes/

8. Culpeo (Lycalopex culpaeus)

Flickr Credit: Breen’s Photos

How big are we: Up to 14kg, 31 pounds, or 1.9 bowling balls

Where we live: South America from Ecuador to Chile and Argentina

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lycalopex_culpaeus/

7. Ethiopian Wolf (Canis simensis)

Flickr Credit: James Hopkirk

How big are we: Up to 19kg, 42 pounds, or 2.6 bowling balls

Where we live: Endemic to Ethiopian mountains

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Canis_simensis/

6. Dhole (Cuon alpinus)

Flickr Credit: Listeners Vision

How big are we: Up to 21kg, 46 pounds, or 2.9 bowling balls

Where we live: Central and Eastern Asia, south to India, Burma and Malayan Archipelago

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cuon_alpinus/

5. Coyote (Canis latrans)

How big are we: Up to 21kg, 46 pounds, or 2.9 bowling balls

Where we live: Almost all of Canada, USA, and Mexico, and as far south as Panama.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Canis_latrans/

4. Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

Flickr Credits: Mrccos

How big are we: Up to 23kg, 51 pounds, or 3.2 bowling balls

Where we live: Found from Parnaiba River to Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, Peru, and Paraguay.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Chrysocyon_brachyurus/

3. African Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus)

How big are we: Up to 36kg, 79 pounds, or 4.9 bowling balls

Where we live: Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, parts of Zimbabwe, Swaziland, and the Transvaal

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Lycaon_pictus/

2. Red Wolf (Canis rufus)

Flickr Credit: Ucumari

How big are we: Up to 40kg, 88 pounds, or 5.5 bowling balls

Where we live: A small population in North Carolina

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Canis_rufus/

1. Grey Wolf (Canis lupus)

Photo Credit: Chris Muiden

How big are we: Up to 80kg, 176 pounds, or 11 bowling balls

Where we live: A few areas around North America and Eurasia

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Canis_lupus/

BONUS – Dingo (Canis lupus dingo)

Although technically a subspecies of the grey wolf, we thought it would be fun to include this dog as well.

Flickr Credit: HeatherW

How big are we: Up to 19.4kg, 43 pounds, or 2.7 bowling balls

Where we live: Australia and in scattered groups across Southeast Asia

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Canis_lupus_dingo/

Earth Rangers is a non-profit organization that works to inspire and educate children about the environment. At EarthRangers.com kids can play games, discover amazing facts, meet animal ambassadors and fundraise to protect biodiversity.