What wolf is Lyall based on? (Patreon)

The species that I took visual inspiration from would probably be the Eurasian Wolf, but Lyall's species of wolf is actually a new species that I created for the world of Lyre.

The Lyreian Wolf is a northern wolf that lives in the cold forests of the Golden Timber. They hunt in small packs and care for their young throughout most of their youth. Their coats are very thick and come in dark warm colors. This acts as a camouflage and helps them blend in against the bark of the trees that populate the dense forest. Their coats surprisingly do not change color throughout the seasons.  To protect themselves from the cold climate, their necks and head are layered with a thick mane, almost like a lions.

They are one of the rarest species of wolf and can only be found in this region. Their pelts are expensive and sought after all throughout the lands. They are around the same size as the average grey wolf, coming up to about a meter high, with some being slightly smaller.

What makes this wolf truly strange is the fact that they will only ever howl during the dawn. The term "Howling at the sun" was popularized some time during the reign of King Runar the 1st, on his six month long visit to Radolf Hold. The reason for this strange behavior is not known to many, but some people speculate that the residents of the Timber know something about this strange phenomenon.

Aside from their howling, they are very stealthy creatures, even considering their size. They very rarely bark or growl, unless provoked.

(I'm not very good at drawing non-anthro animals, but I try >u<)