Recent studies paint a much more complete picture of dire wolves’ evolutionary history as compared to gray wolves. This work indicates that these two species separated about 5.7 million years ago. The study’s results unravel a surprising reality — though dire wolves (Aenocyon dirus) and gray wolves (Canis lupus) look alike, they are not closely related. Since their divergence, these two species have never hybridized in the wild. This fascinating research sheds new light on the evolutionary history of canids. Including these lesser-known creatures focuses attention on the variety of ecological niches these creatures filled in their time.
Dire wolves were one of the iconic mammals of North America’s last ice age, going extinct roughly 12,500 years ago. Fossils unearthed from various sites have preserved enough DNA to allow researchers to partially reconstruct the genome of these ancient canids. The analysis revealed that dire wolves were larger than modern gray wolves. Their powerful jaws and teeth compared to modern-day crocodiles made them perfectly adapted to take down larger species.
Unraveling the Past of Dire Wolves
The recent study published in the journal Nature provides compelling evidence that dire wolves are more distantly related to gray wolves than previously thought. Scientifically, Mairin Balisi—the lead researcher on this project—notes that for many years, scientists considered dire wolves and gray wolves to be sister species. This assumption comes from the remarkable closeness seen in their skeletal structures and dentition. This new research challenges that interpretation.
“Previously scientists had interpreted dire and gray wolves to be sister species, or at least cousins through another extinct large wolf, Canis armbrusteri, because of strong similarity in their bones and teeth,” – Mairin Balisi
The research illustrates how dire wolves carved out their own evolutionary tree. This occurred roughly 600,000 years after African jackals underwent their own split from other wolf-like canids some 5.1 million years ago. This means that dire wolves are likely more closely related to African jackals than to gray wolves.
“This distant relationship justifies the genus name Aenocyon for dire wolves differing from the genus name Canis for most other wolf-like canids.” This classification really highlights the unique evolutionary history that dire wolves experienced.
Genetic Engineering and Resurrecting Dire Wolves
Colossal Biosciences has definitely bitten off a thrilling, ambitious project. Specifically, they are genetically engineering modern gray wolf DNA to create three puppies that resemble the now extinct dire wolf. These bilaterally-edited creatures, dubbed Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi, have each received 20 edits in 14 genes. This whole process is intended to basically “resurrect” the dire wolf.
Experts warn not to mistake these new genetically engineered animals for their prehistoric relatives. Nic Lawrence, a geneticist involved in the project, states: “So a gray wolf with 20 edits to 14 genes, even if these are key differences, is still very much a gray wolf.”
The puppies are an interesting scientific investigation into the bounds of genetic diversity. Rather than restoring them to their former glory, they tinker away in the new field of evolutionary biology. They can exhibit morphological characteristics that harken back to dire wolves. Yet, they lack the full biological and ecological picture of that extinct species.
The Implications of Evolutionary Findings
This need not challenge wolf interbreeding claims, as even in canids interbreeding is not guaranteed even between closely related species. The evidence at hand indicates no ongoing gene flow between dire wolves and gray wolves or coyotes. Balisi cautions against writing it off entirely.
“Wolf-like canids do hybridize today — e.g., gray wolves and coyotes — so interbreeding between dire and gray wolves may have happened and just has yet to be detected,” – Mairin Balisi
The current tug-of-war over canid evolution is another testament to the intricate nature of their relationships. Balisi adds that there may be additional traits that do not fossilize readily, which could further distinguish dire wolves from their modern relatives: “It is possible that other traits that don’t fossilize as readily also set apart dire wolves from gray wolves today.”
