Would it serve the wolf pack if the hierarchy were less rigid?

Question

Would it serve better?? Why or maybe, why not?

Answer 1

No. The heirarchy in a wolf pack is important, letting each wolf know where it stands in relation to the others. This means that conflict over food, mating and so on can be resolved without the need for physical violence. Wolves are intensely social animals, and maintain their heirarchy using body language and facial expressions in displays of dominance and submission. A dominant wolf will stand tall, holding its tail high and head up, with ears pricked. A submissive wolf holds its body low, with tail tucked between the hind legs and ears flattened. As a gesture of complete submission, it will roll over on its back, exposing its vulnerable underside.

A wolf pack is led by a dominant pair called the alpha male and female, who are the only ones to breed. The male is usually, but not always, the more dominant of the two, and as such is the ultimate pack leader. Below the alphas is a beta wolf, dominant to all other members of the pack, subordinate only to the alphas. Then come mid-ranked wolves, whose status is fluid - for example, one might be dominant over another at all times except when feeding, when it submits to the other. At the bottom of the heap is the omega wolf, the lowest-ranked individual, who submits to all other members of the pack.

Dominance among wolves is more about strength of character than strength of body. Being large and strong does not mean a wolf will have a high rank - in one pack I studied, the omega wolf was the largest in the pack. He simply had a very timid and yielding personality. Dominant wolves will be those which are confident and assertive, regardless of their size - a small confident wolf easily dominates a large timid one.