Dire Wolf. Canis dirus. Pleistocene. Nodaway River, Page County, Iowa, USA. ... (Total: 3 Items)

Description

Dire Wolf
Canis dirus
Pleistocene
Nodaway River, Page County, Iowa, USA

The Dire Wolf is one of the most legendary of prehistoric carnivores and can somewhat be thought of as the canine version of the Saber-tooth Cat. The "fearsome dog" was similar in size to the largest of the modern gray wolves and likely a pack hunter consistent with its "hypercarnivorous" lifestyle. The Dire Wolf disappeared at the end of the "Ice Age" like most of the giant mammals of the Pleistocene. This was an amazing predator and is represented by the dogs on the HBO series "Game of Thrones" that is popular today and portrayed as orphaned wolf cubs on the show. The animals in their heyday were thought to not only be able to tear the flesh of their prehistoric prey but also to crush bones with the force of their bite in order to extract the nutrients from the internal marrow. It is easy to understand why the canid is so fascinating even today. The specimen presented here is a one-of-a kind example, which did not come from the tar pits of the West Coast and is arguably bigger than most of the other known skulls of Canis dirus. Discovered near the Nodaway River, in Iowa, this Dire Wolf skull looks every bit the part of a dominant predator. The brownish-gray coloration is apropos of the ancient beast, and the skull is long, with a large amount of impressive teeth. Presented on a custom armature, the skull consists of a maxilla and a mandible, which, not surprisingly, was fully reconstructed, and is actually rather typical with vertebrate skulls. Fortunately, the major part of the skull is in exceptional condition, having been preserved with some 90% of the original bone material intact. The skull measures 11.31 inches (28.70 cm) in length, and Dire Wolf skulls of this size are few, and far, between. The "over the top" measurement is some 13 inches (33.02 cm) across. The specimen is a true museum-quality example for many reasons, and the combination of size and quality places it in a class by itself. This singular offering of a Dire Wolf skull in such good condition with significant size and from a unique locality is not likely to be duplicated anytime soon. This is a serious collector's specimen.
Overall Measurements: 11.31 x 6.88 x 10.24 inches (28.70 x 17.47 x 26.00 cm)
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[Scale: 1 inch, with mark at 1 cm]



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