Were Dire Wolves Actually Real?

Direwolves, once thought to be closely related to gray wolves, were real predators during the Ice Age. Recent genetic studies reveal they diverged from gray wolves 5.7 million years ago, making them distant relatives. This discovery suggests direwolves should not be classified as wolves taxonomically. Their physical similarities to gray wolves are due to convergent evolution. Direwolves' extinction may be linked to their genetic isolation, preventing them from adapting to changing environments. Despite these findings, the name 'direwolf' remains popular.

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