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literature
DOD Bestiary: Dire wolf
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Literature Text
Common Name: Dire wolf
Pronounced: (Dire wolf)
Classification: Canis dirus (Dire-canine)
SGOC Rank: Megafauna
Length: 5 feet
Height: 3 feet at the shoulder
Weight: 170 lbs.
Diet: Carnivore
Social Structure: Pack (5-15 members)
Home Planet: Earth
Distribution: Europe, Asia
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Description:
The dire wolf is a large species of pack-hunting canine found in Europe and Asia. A holdover from the Pleistocene, this fearsome canid apparently went extinct in the Americas but managed to escape across the Bering land bridge, thus ensuring its survival into our post-Cycle world.
Dire wolves look like heavily-built wolf/coyote hybrids but behave a bit more like hyenas. They have exceptionally powerful jaws and large back teeth for gripping and crushing bones, which also come in handy for tackling large game like horses, cattle, and dinosaurs. By keeping to the coldest regions in Eurasia these animals have avoided direct competition with the clovenhounds, but they still conflict with the occasional tiger or cave lion over food and territory. Scavenging makes up a large part of the dire wolf diet.
The dire wolf is a social animal, living in highly communicative packs that cooperate to hunt and raise their offspring; most of their social behavior is comparable to that of gray wolves. Hunting packs leave the family’s pups in hidden dens that are guarded by an appointed sentry, and upon the pack’s return they feed their pups (if weaned) regurgitated meat. Dire wolves communicate through a complex “language” of growls, yips, barks, howls, and moans.
Unlike gray wolves, dire wolves have little fear of humans and sometimes regard us and our livestock as prey. In most places these animals are often shot on sight.
Pronounced: (Dire wolf)
Classification: Canis dirus (Dire-canine)
SGOC Rank: Megafauna
Length: 5 feet
Height: 3 feet at the shoulder
Weight: 170 lbs.
Diet: Carnivore
Social Structure: Pack (5-15 members)
Home Planet: Earth
Distribution: Europe, Asia
IUCN Status: Least Concern
Description:
The dire wolf is a large species of pack-hunting canine found in Europe and Asia. A holdover from the Pleistocene, this fearsome canid apparently went extinct in the Americas but managed to escape across the Bering land bridge, thus ensuring its survival into our post-Cycle world.
Dire wolves look like heavily-built wolf/coyote hybrids but behave a bit more like hyenas. They have exceptionally powerful jaws and large back teeth for gripping and crushing bones, which also come in handy for tackling large game like horses, cattle, and dinosaurs. By keeping to the coldest regions in Eurasia these animals have avoided direct competition with the clovenhounds, but they still conflict with the occasional tiger or cave lion over food and territory. Scavenging makes up a large part of the dire wolf diet.
The dire wolf is a social animal, living in highly communicative packs that cooperate to hunt and raise their offspring; most of their social behavior is comparable to that of gray wolves. Hunting packs leave the family’s pups in hidden dens that are guarded by an appointed sentry, and upon the pack’s return they feed their pups (if weaned) regurgitated meat. Dire wolves communicate through a complex “language” of growls, yips, barks, howls, and moans.
Unlike gray wolves, dire wolves have little fear of humans and sometimes regard us and our livestock as prey. In most places these animals are often shot on sight.
Artist's Commentary:
The dire wolf is a real-life extinct canid that I added to Days Of Dikorus as an exotic holdover from the Pleistocene. I based the dire wolf’s behavior on that of modern-day wolves.
Artistic Notes:
— Reference: prehistoric-fauna.com/image/ca… .
The dire wolf is a real-life extinct canid that I added to Days Of Dikorus as an exotic holdover from the Pleistocene. I based the dire wolf’s behavior on that of modern-day wolves.
Artistic Notes:
— Reference: prehistoric-fauna.com/image/ca… .
© 2017 - 2024 Gilarah93
Comments6
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Just to let you know, not trying to upset you, but the dire wolf is now part of the genus Aenocyon instead of Canis, being more closely related to African jackals than true wolves.