Dire wolf

The dire wolf was an extinct canid species native to the Americas during the Pleistocene Epoch.

The dire wolf was an extinct canid species native to the Americas during the Pleistocene Epoch. It was a large, powerfully built predator that became extinct about 10,000 years ago.

What it is

The dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) was one of the largest canids of Late Pleistocene North America. Adults stood about 96.5 cm (38 in) at the shoulder, measured up to 178 cm (70 in) in length, and weighed roughly 59–68 kg (130–150 lb). It had a sturdy build, large skull, and powerful teeth, making it more robust than modern gray wolves of similar size.

Where it lived and what it ate

Dire wolves ranged across much of North America and parts of South America, from Alaska to Mexico and into Florida and California. They lived in diverse environments including grasslands, open woodlands, and coastal areas. Their diet consisted mainly of large herbivores such as bison, horses, camels, and ground sloths, and they may also have scavenged when available.

Extinction

Dire wolves went extinct about 10,000 years ago during the Quaternary extinction event. Likely causes include the loss of their megaherbivore prey, climate change at the end of the last Ice Age, and competition with other species. Fossils are especially common at the La Brea Tar Pits in California.