dire wolf
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.dire wolf
nounDefinition of DIRE WOLF
: a large extinct wolflike mammal (Canis dirus) known from Pleistocene deposits of North America
First Known Use of DIRE WOLF
1925
dire wolf
noun (Concise Encyclopedia)Extinct wolf (Canis dirus) that existed during the Pleistocene Epoch (2.6 million–11,700 years ago), probably the most common mammalian species found preserved in the La Brea Tar Pits. It differed from the modern wolf in being larger and having a more massive skull, a smaller brain (and probably less intelligence), and relatively light limbs. The species was considerably widespread; skeletal remains have been found in Florida and the Mississippi valley in the U.S., as well as in the Valley of Mexico.
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