Editing Wolverine (section)

==Physical characteristics==
{{multiple image |align=right |direction=vertical  |image1=Description iconographique comparée du squelette et du système dentaire des mammifères récents et fossiles (Gulo gulo skull).jpg |caption1=Skull |image2=Description iconographique comparée du squelette et du système dentaire des mammifères récents et fossiles (Gulo gulo).jpg |caption2=Skeleton}}

Anatomically, the wolverine is an elongated animal that is low to the ground. With strong limbs, broad and rounded head, small eyes and short rounded ears, it most closely resembles a large [[fisher (animal)|fisher]]. Though its legs are short, its large, five-toed paws with crampon-like claws and [[plantigrade]] posture enable it to climb up and over steep cliffs, trees and snow-covered peaks with relative ease.<ref name="lcie-coe-ne-115" />

The adult wolverine is about the size of a medium dog, with a body length ranging from {{convert|65|–|109|cm|in|abbr=on}}; standing {{convert|36|–|45|cm|in|abbr=on}} at the shoulder; and a tail length of {{convert|17|–|26|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=on}}. Weight is usually {{convert|11|–|18|kg|lb|abbr=on}} in males, and in females {{convert|8|–|12|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://academic.oup.com/mspecies/article-pdf/doi/10.1644/0.499.1/8071371/499-1.pdf |title=''Gulo gulo''|journal=Mammalian Species |year=1995 |publisher=The [[American Society of Mammalogists]] |doi=10.1644/0.499.1 |s2cid=253916056 |access-date=16 August 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Burton |first1=Maurice |last2=Burton |first2=Robert |title=The international wildlife encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SOuIwf9ctK0C&pg=PA2959|access-date=16 September 2011 |year=1970 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |isbn=978-0-7614-7266-7 |pages=2959– |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231222619/http://books.google.com/books?id=SOuIwf9ctK0C&pg=PA2959 |archive-date=31 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wildlife/wsi/reports/769_WSI_769_RPT.PDF |title=The Northern Wolverine Project |website=Env.gov.bc.ca |access-date=20 August 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820012633/https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wildlife/wsi/reports/769_WSI_769_RPT.PDF }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/animals/mammal/gugu/all.html |title=''Gulo gulo'' — USDA Forest Service |access-date=20 August 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zigouris |first1=J. |last2=Schaefer |first2=J.A. |last3=Fortin |first3=C. |last4=Kyle |first4=C.J. |year=2013 |title=Phylogeography and post-glacial recolonization in wolverines (''Gulo gulo'') from across their circumpolar distribution |journal=[[PLOS ONE]] |volume=8 |issue=12 |page=e83837 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0083837 |pmid=24386287 |pmc=3875487 |bibcode=2013PLoSO...883837Z|doi-access=free }}</ref> Exceptionally large males of as much as {{convert|32|kg|lb|abbr=on}} are referenced in Soviet literature, though such weights are deemed in ''Mammals of the Soviet Union'' to be improbable.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/mammalsofsov212001gept/mammalsofsov212001gept_djvu.txt |title=Mammals of the Soviet Union |year=1988 |access-date=16 September 2021 }}</ref><ref name="Holbrow">Holbrow, W. C. (1976). ''The biology, mythology, distribution, and management of the wolverine (''Gulo gulo'') in western Canada''. The University of Manitoba (Masters Thesis).</ref><ref>Krott, P. (1959). ''Demon of the North''. A.A. Knopf, New York. 260pp. (Translated from German).</ref> The males are often 10–15% larger than the females in linear measurements and can be 30–40% greater in weight. According to some sources, Eurasian wolverines are claimed to be larger and heavier than those in North America, with weights of up to {{convert|20|kg|lb|abbr=on}}. However, this may refer more specifically to areas such as [[Siberia]], as data from [[Fennoscandian]] wolverines shows they are typically around the same size as their American counterparts.<ref name="Holbrow" /><ref>Weedle, F. (1968). ''The wolverine: the problems of a wilderness outcast''. [[Defenders of Wildlife News]] 43: 156–168.</ref><ref>Pulliainen, E. (1968). ''Breeding biology of the wolverine (''Gulo gulo'' L.) in Finland''. In [[Annales Zoologici Fennici]] (Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 338–344). Finnish Zoological and Botanical Publishing Board.</ref><ref>Järvenpää, J., & Norberg, H. (2011). ''Carnivore Nature Guide''. European Agricultural Fund
for Rural Development.</ref><ref>Wiig, Ø. (1989). ''Craniometric variation in Norwegian wolverines ''Gulo gulo'' L.'' [[Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society]], 95(3), 177–204.</ref> It is the largest of terrestrial [[mustelid]]s; only the marine-dwelling [[sea otter]], the [[giant otter]] of the Amazon basin and the semi-aquatic [[African clawless otter]] are larger—while the [[European badger]] may reach a similar body mass, especially in autumn.

Wolverines have thick, dark, oily fur which is highly [[hydrophobe|hydrophobic]], making it resistant to frost. This has led to its traditional popularity among hunters and trappers as a lining in jackets and [[Anorak|parkas]] in Arctic conditions. A light-silvery facial mask is distinct in some individuals, and a pale buff stripe runs laterally from the shoulders along the side and crossing the rump just above a {{convert|25|–|35|cm|in|frac=2|abbr=on}} bushy tail. Some individuals display prominent white hair patches on their throats or chests.<ref name="lcie-coe-ne-115"/>

Like many other mustelids, it has potent [[Anal glands|anal scent glands]] used for [[territorial marking|marking territory]] and sexual signaling. The pungent odor has given rise to the nicknames "skunk bear" and "nasty cat." The anal gland secretion for the samples obtained from six animal's secretion was complex and variable: 123 compounds were detected in total, with the number per animal ranging from 45 to 71 compounds. Only six compounds were common to all extracts: 3-methylbutanoic acid, 2-methylbutanoic acid, phenylacetic acid, alpha-tocopherol, cholesterol, and a compound tentatively identified as 2-methyldecanoic acid. The highly odoriferous thietanes and dithiolanes found in anal gland secretions of some members of the Mustelinae [ferrets, mink, stoats, and weasels (Mustela spp.) and zorillas (Ictonyx spp.)] were not observed. The composition of the wolverine's anal gland secretion is similar to that of two other members of the Mustelinae, the pine and beech marten (Martes spp.)<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Wood | first1 = William F. | last2 = Terwilliger | first2 = Miranda N.   | last3 = Copeland | first3 = Jeffrey P. | year = 2005 | title = Volatile compounds from anal glands of the wolverine, Gulo gulo   | journal = J. Chemical Ecology | volume = 31 | issue = 9 | pages = 2111–2117| doi=10.1007/s10886-005-6080-9| pmid = 16132215 | bibcode = 2005JCEco..31.2111W | s2cid = 6072649 }}

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Wolverines, like other mustelids, possess a special upper molar in the back of the mouth that is rotated 90 degrees, towards the inside of the mouth. This special characteristic allows wolverines to tear off meat from prey or carrion that has been frozen solid.<ref>{{cite web | last = Pratt | first = Philip | title = Dentition of the Wolverine | publisher = The Wolverine Foundation, Inc. | url = http://www.wolverinefoundation.org/dentition.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080527021506/http://www.wolverinefoundation.org/dentition.htm | archive-date = 27 May 2008 | access-date = 1 July 2007}}</ref><ref name="akfishgame">{{cite web | last = Taylor | first = Ken | title = Wolverine | work = Wildlife Notebook Series | publisher = Alaska Department of Fish & Game | year = 1994 | url = http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/furbear/wolverin.php | access-date = 21 January 2007 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061206233223/http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/furbear/wolverin.php | archive-date = 6 December 2006}}</ref>

Wolverine have the highest [[compressive strength]] per [[Trabecula|trabecular bone]] volumetric fraction at the mandibular [[Condyloid process|condyle]] among all carnivore mammals at 940.8 [[Newton (unit)|Newtons]], followed by the [[cheetah]] at 784.4 Newtons, the [[Malagasy civet]] at 714.4 Newtons, the [[honey badger]] at 710.8 Newtons and the [[kinkajou]] at 693.2 Newtons.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wysocki |first1=M. A. |last2=Tseng |first2=Z. J. |date=2018 |title=Allometry predicts trabecular bone structural properties in the carnivoran jaw joint |journal=PLOS ONE |language=en |volume=13 |issue=8 |pages=e0202824 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0202824 |doi-access=free |issn=1932-6203 |pmc=6108490 |pmid=30142221|bibcode=2018PLoSO..1302824W }}</ref>