Canis dirus (Click on picture for larger view)

TIME:

Quaternary (Pleistocene to Recent)

LOCALITY:

North America (California)

SIZE:

6 ft 6 in/2 m long.

The genus of dogs called Canis includes the 9 living species of wolves, coyotes, jackals and dogs--both wild dogs and every domestic breed, from Great Dane to Chihuahua. Many more species existed in the past, one of the best-known being C. dirus, the dire wolf. In appearance, this prehistoric wolf was much like its modern counterpart, but it was more heavily built. It was probably a scavenger rather than a hunter, taking over the niche of borophagines, such as Osteoborus, after their extinction in the Early Pleistocene.

The remains of more than 2000 dire wolves have been excavated from the tar pits of Rancho La Brea, where the city of Los Angeles stands today. About 25,000 years ago, crude oil seeped to the surface here and its volatile components evaporated away, leaving behind pools of sticky tar. These pools, disguised by innocent-looking puddles of water on top, trapped unwary animals, such as ground sloths and elephants, as they ventured in to drink. In turn, the panic of the dying animals attracted carnivores, such as the dire wolf and sabertooth cat, Smilodon, and these predators also became enmired.

The conditions under which fossilization took place have left a detailed record of life in Pleistocene times. Evidently, the dire wolves and sabertooths engaged in fierce fights, since their bones are often covered with scars inflicted by each other's formidable teeth. More active hunters, such as the contemporary lions and dogs, were rarely trapped in the tar. It seems that these more intelligent animals could appreciate the danger of following their prey into the pools.

Copyright - 1994 Grolier Electronic Publishing, Inc.

Copyright - 1994 Marshall Editions Limited

The use of this information is not sanctioned by Grolier or any of its subsidiaries.

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