| Honshū Wolf | |
|---|---|
 Taxidermied specimen, at the National Museum of Nature and Science, Tokyo, Japan | |
| Information | |
| Range | Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū in Japan |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Carnivora |
| Family | Canidae |
| Genus | Canis |
| Species | †Canis lupus hodophilax |
| Conservation Status | |
 Extinct | |
The Honshū Wolf (Canis lupus hodophilax), also known as the Japanese Wolf, and in Japan as yamainu, or simply wolf, is one of the two extinct subspecies of the gray wolf once endemic to the islands of Japan. The Honshū wolf occupied the islands of Honshū, Shikoku, and Kyūshū in Japan. The other subspecies was the Hokkaidō wolf, native to the island of Hokkaidō.
Extinction[]
Honshu wolves were abundant in Japan until 1732 when rabies was introduced to the island. It was rabies, deforestation of the wolf's habitat, and conflict with humans that led to their extinction. The last specimen was officially killed in 1905 in the Nara prefecture. Although there have been many sightings claimed since then, none of them have been verified. There are five known mounted specimens: three in Japan, one in the Netherlands, and the last officially killed specimen in the British Museum.