wolverine

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wolverine

mammal

Also known as: Gulo gulo, carcajou, glutton, skunk bear

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 24, 2024 • Article History

Also called:: glutton, carcajou, or skunk bear

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wolverine, (Gulo gulo), member of the weasel family (Mustelidae) that lives in cold northern latitudes of North America and Eurasia, especially in timbered areas. The wolverine is noted for its strength, cunning, fearlessness, and voracity, and the species is renowned for its ability to face down and fight larger predators that are more than twice its size. The wolverine resembles a small, squat, broad bear, 65–104 cm (26–41 inches) long, excluding the bushy 13–26-cm (5–10-inch) tail; its shoulder height is 36–45 cm (14–18 inches). Most wolverines weigh between 8 and 18 kg (about 18 and 40 pounds), with males being ...(100 of 581 words)

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