The Extinct Dire Wolf 

Why in News? 

Recently, American scientists have successfully revived the extinct prehistoric species called the dire wolf using genetic technology. This achievement has increased the possibilities of conserving biodiversity and saving extinct species in the future.

Revival Efforts of the Extinct Dire Wolf: Key Points

• A groundbreaking scientific experiment recently conducted by Colossal Biosciences is now paving the way for the rebirth of extinct species.
• The dire wolf, which went extinct around 10,000 to 13,000 years ago, has now been revived using cloning and gene editing.
• This project is the result of the first successful de-extinction, in which an extinct species has been scientifically brought back to life.
• Scientists studied the genomic features of dire wolves by analyzing their ancient fossils — including a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull.
• Instead of traditional cloning, the scientists used a less invasive method.
• Method: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were obtained from the gray wolf, the closest living relative of the dire wolf.
  • These cells were genetically modified at more than 20 locations using the CRISPR technique so they could match the DNA of the dire wolf.
  • The modified genetic cells were then implanted into an egg cell of a native wolf and placed into a surrogate mother.
  • After 62 days, three dire wolf pups were born. These pups have white and long fur, strong muscular jaws, and currently weigh 80 pounds, which may reach up to 140 pounds in adulthood.

Introduction to the Dire Wolf

1. The dire wolf was a giant and now-extinct carnivorous animal that lived thousands of years ago in wide regions of North and South America.
2. The scientific name of the dire wolf is Aenocyon dirus, which literally means “descendant of the terrible dog.”
3. This wolf was not only larger than the modern-day gray wolf in size but also had a stronger build and a more aggressive hunting style.
4. The dire wolf existed mainly during the Pleistocene epoch (about 125,000 to 10,000 years ago).
5. They mainly hunted large herbivorous animals like the giant bison, horses, and camels.

6. Classification

   • Domain: Eukaryota — organisms whose cells have a nucleus.
   • Kingdom: Animalia — all animals.
   • Phylum: Chordata — organisms with a spinal cord.
   • Class: Mammalia — mammals.
   • Order: Carnivora — meat-eating animals.

7. Geographical Distribution

   • Dire wolves were mostly found in the forested regions of North America.
   • They also lived in the dry savannas of South America.
   • They mainly inhabited grasslands and lightly wooded forests.
   • During the Ice Age, they were found in small numbers near the cold regions of the Laurentide and Cordilleran ice sheets.

History of Discovery and Naming of Dire Wolf

• The first fossils of the dire wolf were discovered in America in the 1850s. However, at that time it was not clear whether they belonged to a new or different species.
• In 1854, a jawbone was found near the Ohio River in the state of Indiana, which was later identified by American paleontologist Joseph Leidy as belonging to an extinct species of wolf.
• Initially, this species was named “Canis primaevus”, but later it was changed to “Canis indianensis”, and finally in 1858, it was named “Canis dirus”.
• However, in the early 20th century, when a large number of dire wolf fossils were found in Rancho La Brea, the scientific community understood the characteristics of this species better and placed it under a separate genus named “Aenocyon”.
• Some scientists believe that it evolved from Canis genus wolves that came from Eurasia to America.
• While some scientists believe that it originated from an ancient American lineage, which was completely different from the Canis genus.

Main Characteristics of the Dire Wolf

1. Physical Structure: The dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) was an extremely powerful and gigantic predator, physically more advanced than any other wolf or dog-like animal of its time.
   • Its average length was about 1.8 meters and the height up to the shoulder reached 97 centimeters. Its body was heavy and muscular.
   • Its skull was differently structured. The skull was wide, jaws were strong, and teeth were deep and thick.
   • It had a well-developed sagittal crest on the skull, which supported the jaw muscles.
   • The legs of the dire wolf were relatively short.
   • There were extra small pointed parts behind its teeth, which also had special cutting ridges.
2. Structure of Baculum: According to a recent study in 2024, the baculum (penis bone) of the dire wolf was not only longer but also structurally distinct compared to other canids.
   • This indicates that they were possibly not monogamous.
3. Hunting Style: The dire wolf lived actively in grasslands, plains, and some forest areas.
4. • It primarily hunted in groups.
   • Its major prey included extinct camels (Camelops), bison (Bison antiquus), horses (Equus occidentalis), and large ground sloths — all heavy-bodied herbivores.

All these features make it one of the most evolved and dangerous predator animals of the Pleistocene era. It was a creature that was not only physically powerful but also advanced in social structure and reproductive behavior.

Main Causes of Dire Wolf’s Extinction

• Quaternary Extinction: The dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) survived until the final stages of the Pleistocene era. This species went extinct around 12,700 years ago during the Quaternary extinction event. It was a time when many large mammals on Earth, known as megafauna, were rapidly disappearing.
• Food Crisis: The diet of the dire wolf was mainly based on large-bodied herbivores. When these prey animals became less due to climate change and human activities, the wolves also came under threat. They were neither skilled nor adaptive in chasing smaller animals. This food crisis directly challenged the existence of the dire wolf, and gradually they became extinct.
• Failure of Hybridization: Other canids like gray wolves and coyotes were able to coexist with human environments and successfully adopt new traits through hybridization. But the genetic separation of the dire wolf was so distinct that it could neither mix with other species nor develop new traits suitable to changing conditions.
• Genetic Crisis: A 2023 study found signs of a disease called osteochondrosis dissecans in the bones of dire wolves. This indicates that their population was very limited at the time of extinction. Due to a lack of genetic diversity, the possibility of diseases, and decline in reproduction, the species gradually went extinct.

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