Here, to reconstruct the evolutionary history of dire wolves, we sequenced five genomes from sub-fossil remains dating from 13,000 to more than 50,000 years ago. Nature volume 591, pages 87–91 ( 2021) Cite this articleĭire wolves are considered to be one of the most common and widespread large carnivores in Pleistocene America 1, yet relatively little is known about their evolution or extinction. Nature 591, 87–91 (2021).Dire wolves were the last of an ancient New World canid lineage Dire wolves were the last of an ancient New World canid lineage. Missoula, Montana: Mountain Press Publishing Company, 2002. ice age Mammals of North America: A Guide to the Big, the Hairy, and the Bizarre. “New Body Mass Estimates for Canis dirus, the Extinct Pleistocene Dire Wolf.” Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26, no. However, this magnificent animal will continue to live on in our imaginations when we reminisce on the Ice Age.Īnyonge, William and Chris Roman. Scientists believe that when the megafauna started dying because of climate change, the dire wolf had trouble competing with the gray wolf when it came to catching smaller prey. Fossilized footprints of the dire wolf were found at the shore of this ancient lake. Prey such as giant ground sloths, camelids, and bison. This lake attracted large prey that the dire wolf would have hunted. During the ice age, before the dunes formed, a large lake called Lake Otero attracted animals to its green lush shores. There is proof that dire wolves at one point occupied White Sands. Dire wolves may have also scavenged kills from other predators, like saber-toothed cats, to supplement their diet when prey was scarce. While this worked for a while, this was eventually their downfall. In contrast, the smaller gray wolves would have had to stick to smaller prey. Pack-hunting, as well as their large size, allowed dire wolves to hunt large prey, such as horses and bison. They probably hunted in packs like modern wolves, a theory that is supported by the sheer number of dire wolf fossils found at sites like the La Brea Tar Pits in California. The muscular build, powerful jaws, and sharp teeth of dire wolves made them menacing predators. Some paleontologists believe that they could also crack open bones like hyenas. It is theorized that they also had a stronger bite than gray wolves, which they needed to hunt larger prey. These large heads contained sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Additionally, they had much larger heads for their body size. Weighing 130 to 150 pounds, they were around 25% heavier than gray wolves. Dire wolves, however, had a heavier, more muscular body. They both stood around three feet tall at the shoulder. What were some similarities and differences between these two canines? Both creatures lived in North America during the same time and were around the same height. This phenomenon is called convergent evolution. Since these two species shared a similar lifestyle, they developed similar adaptations. Despite not being close relatives, the dire wolf and the gray wolf look very similar. Surprisingly, the last time these two shared a common ancestor was around 5.7 million years ago. Recent genetic testing shows that these two species have separate lineages. Although dire wolves and gray wolves look very similar, they are not related. The dire wolf and the gray wolf co-existed for thousands of years. These large extinct canines, known as dire wolves, used to rule North America. During the Pleistocene, a larger, more peculiar wolf than today’s gray wolf strutted across North America. Thus, they play a big role in myths, folk tales, and fairytales throughout Europe and the Americas. Their mysterious personalities have captured our imaginations for thousands of years. Two eroding fossilized dire wolf footprints.
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