This American genus was larger than modern wolves, but smaller than the cave wolves of Europe. They had slender limbs and strong jaws, and were well suited for taking down big, slow prey, or scavenging. They weren't especially close relatives to true wolves, and would not have been able to interbreed. Genetically-modified gray wolves which were edited to have some gene sequences from dire wolves have white coats, but this may not reflect the actual appearance of the extinct genus.
Dire Wolf by Charles R. Knight (1921)
Aenocyon dirus
ST 11; DX 10; IQ 4; HT 12.
HP 11; Will 12; Per 11; FP 12; Speed 6.00; Dodge 9; Move 6.
HP 11; Will 12; Per 11; FP 12; Speed 6.00; Dodge 9; Move 6.
SM 0, 150 lbs.
Bite (13): 1d−1 cutting.
Traits: Bad Sight (Low Resolution); Born Biter 2; Chummy; Discriminatory Smell; DR 1 (Flexible); Enhanced Move 1.5 (Ground Speed 18; Costs Fatigue, 1 FP/second); Limited Camouflage; Night Vision 2; Parabolic Hearing 2; Quadruped; Striking ST 2 (Bite Only); Temperature Tolerance 10 (Cold); Ultrahearing; Wild Animal.
Skills: Brawling-12; Survival (Plains)-13; Tracking-15.
Skills: Brawling-12; Survival (Plains)-13; Tracking-15.
