The terrible wolf, innate, large and robust hunter, despite his abilities to survive in extreme conditions of the glacier era, was extinguished 12,500 years ago. Although it seems incredible, scientists affirm that in their disappearance human action had influence.
Last Monday it was reported that the terrible wolf – recognized for having been the inspiration of the Stark house symbol in the television series Game of Thrones-, extinct for more than 12,500 years, it was recreated by the Colossal Bioscience company, which would make it the first “desixtint” animal in history. However, it was clarified later that these are genetically modified gray wolves with some genes of the giant wolf or Huargo.
According to several international media, the terrible wolf was a canid that inhabited America, from the current territories of Canada and the United States to those of Chile and Argentina, and that was extinguished towards the end of the last ice age, when the ecosystems and the great dams began to scarce.
It is known that this wolf was adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of the glacier era, with a large and large -sized fur that allowed him to survive in an aggregate environment, as other prehistoric animals did, including mammoths.
He was a hunter specialized in large dams such as horses, guanacos, deer and sin, although he could also have captured mastodon and giant perenoders.
Publications detail that, compared to domestic dogs, the terrible wolf would be considerably larger than the majority.
Scientists consider that this wolf was similar to the current gray wolf, although bigger and more robust. He had a more developed dentition, which would have allowed him to break and consume larger bones.
The terrible wolves could reach a size up to 25% larger than the current gray wolves, they detail scientific studies cited by international media.
They point out that the factors that led to their extinction are still under discussion, but it is known that it disappeared at the end of the Pleistocene, along with other great carnivores and mammals such as mastodon, mammoths, giant lazy and gliptodonte laziness, among other species.
Scientists point out that the hypothesis about their extinction is usually attributed to both human beings and climate and environmental change.
Having been for humans, it could have been produced in two ways: direct hunting of terrible wolves or the decrease and disappearance of their great prey.
Details
He Terrible wolf (Canis Dirus) and the Gray wolf (Canis lupus) They are two different species of canids, and although they are related, they have important differences in size and constitution. Here you have a clear comparison:
🦴 Terrible wolf size (Canis Dirus)
- Estimated weight: between 68 and 110 kg (Some exceptional specimens up to 120 kg).
- Body length: Around 1.5 meters (Not counting the tail).
- Shoulders: approximately 90 cm.
- Body construction: more robust and muscular than the gray wolf, with a larger skull and more powerful jaws.
🐺 Gray wolf size (canis lupus)
- Average weight:
- In North America: 30 to 50 kg (although they can reach up to 65 kg).
- Body length: between 1.0 and 1.3 meters.
- Shoulders: between 65 and 80 cm.
- Body construction: more slender and adapted to long distances.
📊 Direct comparison
| Feature | Terrible wolf 🦴 | Gray wolf 🐺 |
| Weight | 68-110+ kg | 30-50 kg (up to 65 kg) |
| Length | ~ 1.5 m | 1.0–1.3 m |
| Shoulder height | ~ 90 cm | 65–80 cm |
| Constitution | Robust, strong jaw | More agile, less powerful jaw |