The Dire Wolf (Aenocyon dirus, name meaning "Fearsome Dog") is a genus of a prehistoric wolf that originated during the Late Pleistocene epoch in what is now North America. One of the most famous prehistoric carnivores in the world, the Dire Wolf is also the largest canine that has ever existed.
In the Series 3 finale "Mammoth's Undertaking Journey", a pack of Dire Wolves were brought to the park from Late Pleistocene North America 11,000 years ago. They reside in an enclosure near the Raptor Peak Enclosure with Gray Wolves.
Facts[]
Era & Discovery[]
The Dire Wolf lived in North America during the Late Pleistocene 125 to 9,000 years ago where it lived alongside other animals such as Smilodon, Arctodus, Arctotherium, the American Lion, Megalonyx, Glyptotherium, the American Mastodon, and even the mighty Woolly and Columbian Mammoths. They were among the top predators during the Ice Age and the largest wolf to walk the earth.
Physical Attributes[]
Dire Wolf stood 1.4 metres tall and weighed 68 kilograms, making them the largest canines to have existed.
The Dire Wolf were similar in appearance to modern wolves, however they were 20% bigger than the Gray Wolf. They lived in packs led by an alpha male and hunted animals like horses, deer, and bison.
Behavior & Traits[]
Dire Wolf skeleton
Like modern wolves, the Dire Wolf hunted in packs lead by an alpha male. When they scavenge for meat, these canines would sometimes compete against other predators such as the American Lion, Arctodus, and even Smilodon.
Journal Entry[]
Gallery[]
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Trivia[]
- The sounds effects of Dire Wolves are that of typical wolf sound effects.
- The Dire Wolf is the largest prehistoric canine brought to the park.