THE DIRE WOLF - THE MOST 'TERRIBLE' & HUGE WOLF EVER?

The Dire Wolf's scientific name translates to 'TERRIBLE WOLF', so was he such a terrible, huge and fierce wolf? Today we tell you how huge he was against a grey wolf, a human and other mastiff dogs. Did you know his bite force was over 100% more than the grey wolf?
Wolf expert Anneka will also explain recent findings that have unearthed a secret that you probably don't know and one that might just change your mind on what species exactly the DireWolf was.
Forget fictional Game of Thrones Dire Wolves, today we bring you
THE REAL DIRE WOLF!
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Presented By Anneka Svenska
Edited by Ellen Hope Cobb
A GreenWorldTV Production
Dire Wolf image used with permission from Dr. Brian Curtice and Fossil Crates
#AnimalWatch
This film cannot be duplicated on other KZbin channels or other media platforms without written permission from GreenWorldTV
DISCLAIMER: "The primary purpose of 'Animal Watch' is to inform and educate. 'Animal Watch' is not responsible and does not independently verify for accuracy all of the claims and opinions expressed in the episodes. Episode content does not constitute generic or specific professional advice, endorsement or services. The views, information, or opinions expressed during [the] Animal Watch episodes are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other individual, agency, organisation or company."
#direwolf #thedirewolf #Aenocyondirus #wolf

[@Smilo-the-Sabertooth]

Along with the Saber-Toothed Cat, Dire Wolves are another one of my favorite creatures of the Ice Age. It just took me a while to accept the new fact that it wasn’t a wolf, same way it took me a while to accept the fact that the sabertooth wasn’t a tiger. My two favorite animals aren’t what I thought they were.

[@robinsouth8555]

Your blue wolf is growing up so fast, how beautiful.

[@Animal-Watch]

Thankyou x

[@user-jf1vp3sc2i]

Dire wolves are one of my favorite prehistoric animals even though they're not really wolves thanks anneka for information about these magnificent looking animals

[@tell-me-a-story-]

It was a giant jackal, and jackals are in the same group of canids as gray wolves. So I think it still counts as a wolf.

[@Supimbackwiththemilk]

Fr, I’m studying the dire wolf

[@Big.Bad.Wolfie]

Nu exista "lupi groaznici". Numai oameni idioti.

[@Big.Bad.Wolfie]

​@@tell-me-a-story-Băăăi, "telectualule". Sa mori tu? Lupii rosii, lupii de Alaska, lupii siberieni, lupii "pescari" din Newfoundland, vulpile sau cainii nu sunt din aceeasi familie? Nu mai bea!

[@4775joshua]

Don't murder me!

[@lauriperamaki5354]

Largest wolfs measured here in Finland were 65-70kg and over 80cm from the withers. Not as large as from Alaska, but still huge. I'm trying to ignore the truth and keep on dreaming on dire ''wolfs'' 🤣 Keep up the good work 😍

[@Animal-Watch]

I dream about having a fantasy Game of Thrones Wolf too!!! 🫶

[@gobanito]

Apparently they were not wolves at all, but ice age mega foxes according to a more recent genetic study.

[@TomConklin]

I’ve been drawn to wolves since I was a kid…they are magnificent!

[@sobieski478]

Fantastic content, Anneka. Well researched and eloquently presented. TY.

[@MarjanKranjec-rs2ny]

Thanks for sharing another amazing video Anneka.Always nice to see you😀🙌🏻🐾🐾💙🐺I really enjoyed the video

[@carmenmartinez2882]

I’ve seen Dire Wolf skeletons in the La Brea Tar Pits museum in LA, they have quite a collection. Excellent interesting museum I highly recommend going there.

[@Heatseeker872591]

Interesting. Although not a true wolf it must have been a very impressive looking canine🐶🐺

[@robertobreglia9224]

Anneka thank you very much for sharing this very interesting video about the story of these wolves! 👏👏👏👏🥰💙🐺

[@tysonhop5394]

Good video I was expecting a lot of false info but you nailed it 💯👏🏻

[@erichtomanek4739]

This is another example of convergent evolution, just like the Thylacine and Wolf. Thank you for an interesting, informative and visually beautiful video.

[@Animal-Watch]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@thedetailcompany3091]

Why can wolves eat right after a hunt, but dogs can't eat after a walk?

[@jebVlogs556]

​@@thedetailcompany3091epigenetics that's why..

[@oscarellenius2007]

So informative! I love your videos anneka!! You are such an amazing person 😍😍😍😍

[@Animal-Watch]

Thankyou 🙏

[@justincredible666]

Aneka is my KZbin crush, I have a dogo Argentino .she loves everybody and every dog she meets.

[@Animal-Watch]

🫶

[@MGCrow-jc6ps]

I love dogo argentino. I once helped to rescue one in a puppy mill. When I noticed it had a thick red toe, the owner offered me a discount. I was not capable of adopting it, but called in animal welfare. The puppy was really barely moving. She was barely alive and she was rushed to the vet. She and her sister survived. The lady of the shelter adopted her herself since she kind of comforted her cane corso that was mourning the loss of his mother, who she saved him with from another puppy mill. The dogo argentino girl became inseparable from the young cane corso male. I still hate the guy who was selling a dying puppy. It was almost 30 years ago, but the creep is still in businesses.

[@justincredible666]

Dogos are beautiful dogs, I would love a cane corso to join my dogo ,she loves other dogs. Unfortunately I am not in a property suitable for two dogs

[@barworkoutCANADA]

Do you have plans on making a video for the Dogue de Bordeaux? Ive been waiting :)

[@Sirius263]

Another excellent production. 🐺 I love the indepth knowledge you share with us. Thank you, Anneka. 🙏🫶👌

[@Animal-Watch]

You are so welcome!

[@akevonbeetzen]

Entertaining exciting, thank you!❤️👑👍

[@davidghost2913]

Thank You Anneka,your girl has gotten so big,so fast so beautiful.👍🐺💕

[@carollunn3370]

Gorgeous Blue Wolf, Ocean.. Gorgeous!!!! Very interesting facts!! Great research!!! Thank you!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊

[@teeprice7499]

Fascinating. Thank you.

[@shabnamibrahim7803]

Superb mam🔥🔥👍👍👍.. fantastic video ❤️❤️

[@isaiahamador7015]

Love your content! I’d love to see a future video on the Alano Español dog breed! Not a lot of information of them online but they seem really cool!

[@animaladventurer]

Hello Anneka... this is a very informative video. It's amazing to learn how DNA analysis revealed the dire wolf was not related to regular wolves, coyotes, and dogs. This kind of made me think of Megaloceros, otherwise known as the Irish elk. Despite its name, it wasn't related to the moose (called "elk" in Europe) or the wapiti (nicknamed elk in U.S). Instead, it was revealed to be more closely related to the fallow deer. But unlike the dire wolf, the Irish elk was not a highly divergent lineage.

[@MrKingkz]

I think am not 100% that they are more related to the mained wolf from South America then today's wolf's

[@animaladventurer]

@@MrKingkz Dire wolves were a highly divergent lineage based on DNA analysis, compared to wolves and other modern wild canids including maned wolves. Maned wolves, on the other hand, are closely related to bush dogs.

[@MrKingkz]

​@@animaladventurerI know that mained wolf's and bush dogs are closely related but I wasn't sure if they were closely related to dire wolf's thanks for clearing it up for me

[@animaladventurer]

@@MrKingkz no problem

[@Smilo-the-Sabertooth]

Despite whatever kind of games people are playing on that throne of there’s, one thing is for sure, Dire Wolves were not mythological beasts. 🐺

[@VioletSafrietFlame1020]

I use to live by a wolf sanctuary growing up with wolfs and feeding them was a great time miss those days.

[@777guitarfire]

hey great video xo

[@kjames8299]

Good job lots good info

[@davidgrainger5994]

I had a pack of five wolves I worked with closely at a safari park. The Alfa became a close friend and the rest of the pack respected me and often protected me from the brown bears also under my charge in the same enclosure. Today I have Wolfhounds and Danes. I have had both bigger than a Dire and at one time I had a female Wolfhound who weighed 204 pounds, even heavier than my big Dane. Still, glad none of them will ever run into a Dire. They can cope with our local Coyotes who keep their distance.

[@calebschoonraad6810]

Sounds like they were the Neanderthal equivalent ancestors of the modern wolf, larger, stronger but less cunning

[@jim02122]

Doubtful that they were less cunning it’s probably down to pack size breeding circumstances litter size and available prey. Probably just out paced due to size differences and perhaps a lack of adaptability to what resources would have been available to them.

[@indyreno2933]

Aenocyon is an extinct genus of dog that originated exclusively from Asia, it represents a basal offshoot within the subtribe Canina rather than being closely related to any extant genus within it, the Aenocyon genus contains seven recognized species: the †Zhoukoudian Wolf (Aenocyon variabilis), the †Armbruster's Wolf (Aenocyon armbrusteri), the †Miller's Wolf (Aenocyon ferox), the †Edward's Wolf (Aenocyon edwardii), †Dire Wolf (Aenocyon dirus), the †Ameghino's Wolf (Aenocyon nehringi), and the †Kraglievich's Wolf (Aenocyon gezi), they were also the only genus of old world canine to ever enter South America, the zhoukoudian wolf is considered the most basal species within the Aenocyon genus and the only known Old World member of the genus.

[@DanielR-qg5dz]

I have a germent shephed Staffordshire bull terrier mix 26 Lb female Thats looks like an Australie dingo

[@jeffreyrobinson3555]

I am put in mind of Hugh Glass, an American trapper mauled by a grizzly and left for dead in 1823. He managed to travel several hundred miles to a trading fort. Along the way he came across a buffalo (American bison) brought down by wolves. With a tree branch he used as a crutch he drove those wolfs away, so he laid by the buff eating his fill for several days When I saw the first fossil of a fire wolf I wasn’t much impressed, but… I had a friend with an Alaskan grey as a pet. The first time I saw him I was sitting in her house and she brought him in. He was well fed and probably bigger than wild. I did get a shot of fear, it was hard just to sit while the guy rushed over to sniff me. I bet meeting a dire wolf in the woods would get my attention

[@thisisgonnabegoodiknowit9413]

Could mastiffs perhaps go back to crossing a dire wolf and a dog way back when? Maybe that would explain that ridiculously large skull of theirs.

[@davidoftheglen3447]

Seriously Anneka , do you feel safe with wolfs ? I'm just interested 😊

[@Animal-Watch]

I do 🙃

[@kgrimm5576]

Now they have to rename it, its funny how much a "thought to be" species ends up being a "not to be" species!

[@johnsamu]

So it's something like "What looks like a duck, talks and walks like a duck probably is a potato?".( I forgot the exact phrase 😉)

[@rawhideadventures9515]

Awesome.

[@chillincharlie-qd4ok]

Very exciting learning about these majestic animals. Thank you for a great episode !

[@kenbattor6350]

The Megafauna of North America is great to see in a museum. Coming face to face alive in the wild would be something else😉😉

[@jjw6605]

Are you gonna do a video on oceans siblings? Would be cool to see how there growing up

[@tommyrotton9468]

the fight for the bed was epic

[@MarcSob22]

Great vídeo, but the latest data i saw show the dire Wolf way bigger than you say

[@Animal-Watch]

No. There are two sub species. One is shorter and one larger but the largest dire wolf is no taller than the tallest north western grey wolf. They are absolutely thicker and heavier

[@thedogman7846]

Nope it doesn‘t.

[@johnkeviljr9625]

Whenever there is an extinction event where or when humans exist, such as 10-12,000 years ago, humans are the reason. They disappeared too coincidentally. Great video! Thank you!

[@AndrewFord]

Nooo!, There is only the so-called "werewolf" aka Hellhounds which are vessels for the Jinn/Demons/Earthbound spirits as in the city of the dead of the so-called "desert masters" known in modern times as the "Petra" (Cave city) as depicted in the film "Indiana Jones: And The last Crusade

[@odivalchagas8408]

Lindos....👏👏👏 Maravilhosos...😍😍😍

[@gensnowdawg6250]

rhodesian ridgeback pure bred or mix, would appreciate your thoughts 👍

[@mikef3300]

My Great Dane/American Bulldog mix Jester is 140lbs and stands 33 inches at his shoulder so pretty close to the size of a dire wolf. Thankfully he’s a lover not a fighter

[@alanlevin167]

All animal species tend to get larger as you go north. This is for conservation of heat (energy) in cold climates. It is evident in most mammals that occupy varied climates. I'm familiar with eastern white-tailed deer. The deer in Canada are about twice as big as those in Florida--though they are the same species. This is largely why Yukon wolves are large.

[@jeffyoung60]

The Dire Wolf was a specialty predator designed for the Age of the Great Mammals, the late Miocene, Pliocene, Pleistocene, and early Holocene epochs. Still not fully understood, the time of the giant and large mammals ended in a great extinction event for which early Man can only be held partially responsible. Some giant mammals either went extinct before the appearance of prehistoric man or were already on the verge of extinction as early Man appeared on the scene. Specialized for hunting larger, slower mammals, the dire wolves followed their large herbivore mammal prey into extinction. Dire Wolves went extinct just as Paleolithic Man was entering the North American continent. His numbers couldn't have been large enough to adversely affect what could have been hundreds of thousands of Dire Wolves. Certainly both would have come into conflict over competition for game mammals. But there is no existing mythology anywhere from any Native American tribe that recounts any ancient great battles with the giant wolves. The Dire Wolves were already dying out from loss of prey species. The surviving prey mammals were too fast, too agile, and too evasive for the large dire wolves. The nimbler, smaller grey wolves were more successful and survived, leaving their larger canine brethren consigned to the pages and legends of history, yet still lingering on in the subconscious primal fears of Mankind.

[@stewiebaker8855]

No evidence to suggest it, but I wonder if they explain molossers. Some ancient ones were said to be enormous. Perhaps there’s an evolutionary link, domesticating these dire wolves. Having owned a few mastiffs I think of them as a separate species than other domestic dogs. My current neo is like a dinosaur. Not like other dogs at all in mass and strength. So have to wonder where these dogs really came from in Ancient Rome and Greece. Dogs that would pull down elephants. And yes i did enjoy this episode very much, thankyou again

[@Animal-Watch]

Interesting concept 🤔

[@thedogman7846]

That is not possible. All dogs came from wolves in eurasia. Aenocyon dirus was NOT a wolf at all and only distantly related to grey wolves.

[@stewiebaker8855]

Fossil remains of dire wolves have been found in Asia 2017

[@WildAnatolia-3-6-9]

İyi gidiyorsun 💋

[@awanshithapa]

This means that with the help of their size and powerful jaws they can easily beat the Mastiff dogs😮🐺

[@Dr-xj6ty]

The Dire wolf may have more in common with modern k-9's and not wolves according to some geneticist researching the gene sequences of the Dire Wolf, Modern Wolves and Domestic Dogs which means if the Dire Wolves have a genetic link to domestic Dogs there may have a missing link between them or there were domesticated Dogs when Dire wolves were around this could get very interesting.

[@duster.]

I have just watched another clip about Dire Wolves. That video claims that Dire Wolves grew up to 1.5 metres tall and 150 pounds vastly different from your description. So, which is correct?

[@JugglesGrenades]

I'll just be satisfied with my pit bull. She doesn't eat as much as a Dire wolf would... and she's sentient smart.

[@MyApps-uf1dz]

you listened about the measurements, thank you 😍 and thank you for the nice videos!

[@Nomorewarsforisrael]

When I awoke the dire wolf Six hundred pounds of sin Was grinning at my window All I said was come on in

[@indyreno2933]

Your description is incorrect, =cyon is latin meaning "dog" not "wolf", so the dire wolf's current scientific name actually now means "direly dreadful dog".

[@aaronwilcox6417]

Ive seen a very large wolf behind my home. I recall when they opened wolf hunting season here there was an large specimen of 175--180 lb wolf taken in my county. Otheres ive seen were not near that size.

[@Animal-Reaction-Clips]

Where was this?

[@tonydouglas1582]

Anneka, you are intoxicating!

[@tonydouglas1582]

What are the chances you’d allow me to fly you to LA, put you in a beautiful hotel, have dinner or at least a drink with you and return you home safe and sound?

[@LionsOnTheHunt313]

​@@tonydouglas1582I'd say ZERO LOL.

[@TheKnoxvicious]

Can you do video on American Wolfdog?

[@larrybone4565]

She has

[@Animal-Watch]

That’s true Larry, I have. Quite a few! X

[@TheKnoxvicious]

@@Animal-Watch Which ones? Can’t find the titles

[@tyrone4u559]

Thx for the video, although the information kind of disappointed me and detracted from the image I had

[@Animal-Watch]

Sorry, science wins 😀

[@MadDogg12789]

I've seen footage of a blacked out wolf chasing two dogs that was easy 6 foot on all 4

[@rustylamphear8699]

So beautiful but I'd fear my olde English mastiff he killed 3 coyotes at once that went after one of my children but he is 33 inches at the shoulder and is 274 lbs at last wiegh in

[@Mr.SharkTooth-zc8rm]

🐺 I only have one complaint. Me lady, whomever created the thumbnail, insist on them never putting up some photo-shopped version of you! YOU do NOT need such a thing. You will still be a gorgeous woman 15 years from now. Never mind your beautiful spirit and soul.

[@user-rr4ql2oy4h]

♥️

[@jebVlogs556]

I believe there was a wolf around 200lbs easy with a bigger skull and slighter wider teeth(not a dire wolf 🐺 however it was before this creature) around 300,000 maybe 🤔. We dint have evidence of "Mammoth like" wolves with thicker coats and much longer tails. Even at the time of roman and anicent Sumerian empires giant wolves existed

[@orwellknew9112]

175 lbs is not the largest wolf ever recorded. It is only the largest wolf taken by the Alaskan Fish and Wildlife Services. The largest wolves are found in Alaska and the Yukon Territories of Northern Canada, which are separated by a line on a Map. But extremely large wolves can be found much further south. A wolf taken in Alberta has been estimated by experts to have weighed over 230 lbs. It certainly looked to be all of that in a photo, but there was no official weight taken. The whole problem with this controversial topic is that it leads to shooting the largest and most healthy wild wolves in the prime of their lives. I know that many people would prefer we not do that. In any case, it is doubtful that 175 lbs is the maximum size for Grey Wolves in the Northern Alaska and Canadian territories.

[@user-pt4tp2zn2g]

hello my huskies eyes keep changing colour from deep brown to wolf yellow everyday she is pure white in fer colour pink nose but her eyes just keep on changing colour please can you tell me why????????

[@martinclayton7260]

That grey dog is beautiful

[@Animal-Watch]

Thankyou. That’s Ocean and her episode is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoXFgJZ7idB4qsksi=IONtIbU9Dn0q5Qga

[@tibzig1]

A wonderfully beastly beast!🤣🤣

[@thomasetavard2031]

More bone mass means it has more or denser muscle mass.

[@Pinky_Paws2022]

you can see a wolf and are still beautiful

[@larrybone4565]

Anneka Google this GIANT WOLF ATTACKS HOUSE DOG. Canadian wildlife authorities believe that this Wolf is 220 pounds. They believe it was 6ft tall.

[@Animal-Watch]

No wolf is 6ft tall

[@Lucas-qi1eo]

@@Animal-Watchyou never know

[@Roy-ni1op]

Will you try to find a Ghadrejani dog?

[@brettbarager9101]

So, would the gray wolf be to the dire wolf like we are to the Neanderthal??

[@humanwolf1984]

My beautiful 15 year old German shepherd Shepherd mix Fur baby girl is sadly reacting her end of life time she is still playful the signs are showing & I am just keeping her as happy & comfortable & Spoiled as possible but my heart is breaking. ❤️😥😢🐕‍🦺💔

[@humanwolf1984]

So your fur babies will have a New friend on the other side of the Rainbow bridge. ❤️😢😥🐕‍🦺🐕💔

[@humanwolf1984]

I still call my old fur baby girl my old wolf animal watch. 😉🐕‍🦺🐺🤣❤️

[@NormanF62]

The smaller wolves and coyotes were omnivores instead of hyper carnivores. If prey is in short supply, they can subsist on a low protein heavily starch diet. Modern dogs have inherited the gene for it.

[@LtJackboot]

😊

[@user-vi2cn6pp3q]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@DoomOfConviction]

Mammoths went extinct when the pyramids were built, and the Moose is the largest Deer that ever lived, so the theory that there was not enough large prey doesn’t really hold up well.

[@JimMaher-ky3fo]

Most modern experts surmise that many of these species were wiped out by Indian over:-bunting.

[@edmundobaca3498]

is gorgeous the terrible wolf

[@user-lt3sb4dg8b]

Could you add Japanese captions to this video?

[@jonathanhall1825]

Just a big puppies

[@cyrusmcintosh3051]

Extinct? I'm not sure about that.

[@thegamerboneless2864]

We have a small pack of some Mexican wolfs or red wolves on my land in NM. I have called and a group of college kids came wanting to put collar’s on them, but they are next to impossible to find, they have to come out on their own. Shoot I only seen them probably less then 20 times. They don’t mess with our live stock or dogs, the students asked I do t post any pics or location which I have never did. Believe it or not people even here in America would poach or even mistake them for yots. They are a majestic breed, they look like red coyotes, but the student said they are Mexican. 😂😂

[@stanbarnes7284]

Wolves in Alberta can get over 200lbs.

[@chrissypants2426]

I swear if that is your pet and it's a I like it because it looks free free soft

[@chrissypants2426]

I meant to say wolf when I said a ok

[@sebastiannorrington3792]

Would they make good pets?

[@frankhernandez6883]

*I dare say those DOGS wouldn't stand a chance with early cats; cave lions, saber tooth, etc*

[@AItakover]

Annekka can you get me a job doing what you do..my dream 😅

[@user-ip7is1tl3p]

لاإله إلا الله ربي وحده لاشريك له له الملك وله الحمد يحيي ويميت وهو حي لايموت أبدا بيده الخير وإليه المصير وهو على كل شيء قدير

[@stlouisix3]

Current wolves are likely descendants of dire wolves.

[@stlouisix3]

evolutionists find it difficult to be honest.

[@adriangabrielgramada1016]

Nothing to do with modern wolves but still the same type of creature :) So why do we need so many classification and sub-classifications ? In the end they are beautiful killing machines and the only thing we should ever load our brain with about them and all other such beasts from all species is how to avoid the, how to defend from them and never become prey. We need not find (new) names and specifications as to compare them afterwards :)

[@Relaxbadkneeadventures]

👍😉

[@demonsinferno666]

If they're not wolves why call them that?

[@theoneyoudontsee8315]

basically there a 6 million years old unchanged species and it seams human history going back before Grey wolves but after larger predators and prey. it looks more like humans didn't get much a chance till the peek of the last ice age then today there's nothing left for humans to really struggle with. it's sad the Grey wolf continues because it's bigger brain but that seams to be the trend of evolution "smarter not harder" being the apex that humans are!

[@user-lp3yc1kf6s]

시베리안허스키

[@user-lp3yc1kf6s]

울프독