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ABSTRACT
The gray wolf (Canis lupus), locally known as saaral chono, is a widely distributed species across Europe, North America, and Asia, including Mongolia. Over the last 45 years, Mongolia’s gray wolf population has declined threefold, highlighting the need for conservation measures. This study investigates the utility of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox-1) gene as a DNA barcode marker for gray wolves in Mongolia. Tissue samples from ten individuals across ten provinces of Mongolia were collected and sequenced for a region of the cox-1 gene. Phylogenetic analyses show that Mongolian gray wolves cluster with other C. lupus sequences from GenBank, forming two distinct subclades within the species. The cox-1 sequences clearly differentiate gray wolves from other Mongolian Canidae species, demonstrating their value for species identification. These findings support the use of cox-1 as a reliable DNA barcode for monitoring, forensic investigations of illegal hunting, and broader conservation efforts.