- Aenocyon dirus, commonly referred to as the dire wolf, was a large, extinct carnivorous mammal that lived in the Americas during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene epochs. These wolves were distinct from modern gray wolves, belonging to a separate lineage within the family Canidae.
- Dire wolves were known for their robust bodies, powerful jaws, and strong bite force, making them highly effective predators. They weighed between 60 and 68 kilograms and had large teeth adapted for hunting prey, including megafauna such as bison, horses, and camels. Their physical build allowed them to tackle large prey efficiently.
- They lived in varied habitats like grasslands, forests, and plains, and evidence suggests that they were social animals, possibly hunting in packs. Fossils of dire wolves have been widely discovered, with one of the largest collections found in the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits.
- Extinction struck the dire wolf around 10,000 years ago, likely due to a combination of factors, such as climate change, loss of prey species, and competition with other predators. Their disappearance coincided with the Quaternary extinction event, which affected many large mammals.
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