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I document the first case of malocclusion in an Arctic Wolf (Canis lupus arctos) from Greenland. All canine teeth of a wolf found dead on the tundra of northeast Greenland showed evidence of heavy anterior wear resulting from occlusion with the opposite teeth. Additional heavy wear on the incisors indicated a level bite. No cases of malocclusion were found in the largest museum collection of Arctic Wolf skulls (n = 11) from Greenland. However, the collection consisted exclusively of specimens from a northeast Greenland wolf population extirpated ca. 1939; thus, it provided no information on the incidence of malocclusion in more contemporary wolves. A finding of malocclusion in the more recent wolf population could be important because the condition is genetically based and the trait is expressed more frequently with increased inbreeding. The small, geographically isolated wolf population that this wolf was a part of disappeared for reasons unknown after 2002 and genetic conditions cannot be excluded as a contributing factor. Future study of the prevalence and severity of this abnormality in Arctic Wolves from Greenland will be problematic because of the difficulty of acquiring comparative material, but could be conducted on other populations of Arctic Wolves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundance, social organization, and population trend of the arctic wolf (Canis lupus arctos Pocock, 1935) in north and east Greenland, 1978-1998, were determined from 353 sightings of 552 wolves by the Danish military, by expeditions, and from 8 consecutive years (1991-1998) of fieldwork. Available evidence suggested that this wolf population consisted of up to 55 wolves in favorable times. Six core packs were identified. Maximum wolf density was estimated at 1 wolf/3745 [km.sup.2], which appears to be the lowest wolf density reported, representing 3.5% of maximum late winter wolf density in Denali Park, Alaska, and 4 wolves were rare, constituting 3.8% of early winter sightings. The population increased, on average, 8% per year during the period 1978-1991 and appeared to reach a peak in 1991-1992. These depressed population characteristics are likely the consequence of the lowest ungulate prey availability in North America, e.g., 2.6% of that of wolves in northeastern Minnesota. Trois cent cinquante-trois observations de 552 loups faites par les militaires danois ou realisees lors de diverses expeditions et durant 8 annees consecutives (1991-1998) de travail sur le terrain ont permis de determiner l'abondance, l'organisation sociale et les tendances demographiques du loup arctique (Canis lupus arctos Pocock, 1935) dans le nord et l'est du Groenland de 1978 a 1998. Les donnees disponibles indiquent que cette population consiste en un maximum de 55 loups dans les periodes favorables. Six meutes centrales ont pu etre identifiees. La densite maximale des loups est estime e a l loup/3745 [km.sup.2], ce qui semble etre la plus faible densite de loups jamais signalee, correspondant a 3,5 % de la densite maximale de loups en fin d'hiver au parc Denali, Alaska, et a 4 loups sont rares et representent 3,8 % des observations en debut d'hiver. La population a cru en moyenne de 8 % par annee durant la periode de 1978 a 1991 et semble avoir atteint un sommet en 1991-1992. Ces caracteristiques de population reduite sont vraisemblablement la consequence de la disponibilite d'ongules proies la plus basse d'Amerique du Nord, representant, par exemple, 2,6 % de celle que connaissent les loups du nord-est du Minnesota. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction The arctic wolf (Canis lupus arctos Pocock, 1935) occurs in the Canadian Arctic and in north and east Greenland. It is the least studied subspecies in Canada (Hayes and [...]