The Largest Wolf in History was Twice the Size of a Dire Wolf

Dire wolves, brought back into the spotlight through recent cloning efforts, are often portrayed as the greatest of prehistoric canines. Yet, even the largest dire wolf would pale in comparison to Epicyon haydeni. This colossal canine, whose name translates to more than a dog, truly lived up to its epic moniker, reigning as the largest wolf ever to walk the Earth. Continue reading to learn more about this magnificent beast that was twice the size of a dire wolf.

A Canine Titan Even Bigger Than a Dire Wolf

Epicyon haydeni, or Hayden’s bone-crushing dog, roamed North America between 12 and 6 million years ago during the middle to late Miocene epoch. Its fossils have been discovered in at least 12 different states across the U.S.

Epicyon Haydeni is the largest member of the canine family. These gigantic wolves were eight feet long and stood nearly three feet tall at the shoulder. They weighed between 220 and 276 pounds, rthe size of a large grizzly bear or an African lion. Dire wolves were half that size. Dire wolves measured 6 feet long and weighed around 150 pounds, although some could reach 200 pounds or more.

Bone-Crushing Lifestyle

Epicyon haydeni belonged to a group of extinct canines called borophagines. Known as bone-crushing dogs, borophagines had thick skulls and powerful jaws. Epicyon haydeni were likely both hunters and scavengers, similar to modern hyenas. They hunted several animals that are now extinct, including ancient pronghorn, camels, horses, and even rhinoceroses. Their specialized back teeth allowed them to easily crush bones and access the nutritious bone marrow inside.

Like other meat-eating animals, these colossal wolves had special carnassial teeth for slicing meat. Their molars were large and strong enough to crack open bones. Fossils show that these back teeth were often heavily worn down, suggesting that they regularly chewed and crushed bones.

With its incredible size and impressive power, Epicyon haydeni was a force to be reckoned with. However, it wasn’t the only large predator around. It had to compete with other large carnivores like saber-toothed cats, bears, and other bone-crushing dogs. Some paleontologists have suggested that Epicyon haydeni may have exhibited some degree of cooperative hunting, though there is no direct evidence that they hunted in packs like modern wolves. While they weren’t built for long-distance running due to their size, they could move quickly in short bursts. Its skull had a flattened front and a shorter snout like a lion or hyena. This gave Epicyon haydeni more power and strength for scavenging and crushing open bones, a major advantage over other carnivores.

The Extinction of the World’s Largest Wolves

Even though Epicyon haydeni was a strong and powerful predator, things began to shift after the end of the cat gap around 18.5 million years ago, when true cats began to reappear in North America, with larger species arriving later during the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs. The giant wolves now had new competitors for food and other resources, ones that could hunt alone with their retractable claws, flexible bodies, and sharp, meat-slicing teeth.

Around the same time, the environment and climate were rapidly changing. Forests were shrinking, and grasslands were expanding. This new open landscape favored fast hunters who could chase prey across longer distances. Unfortunately, this was a problem for animals like Epicyon haydeni. These wolves were built for ambushing and overpowering prey with their strength, not speed. However, the cats and other types of wolves were perfectly suited to the new environment and quickly became top predators. As a result, by the late Pliocene epoch, the last of the bone-crushing dogs, including Epicyon haydeni, went extinct.