how big were dire wolves

Dire wolves were large, stocky predators of the late Pleistocene, bigger on average than modern gray wolves. Most reliable measurements place them at roughly 130–150 pounds (about 60–68 kilograms) in body weight, with some individuals pushing toward 170–200 pounds in the largest fossil samples. In terms of stature, they stood around 28–33 inches tall at the shoulder (roughly 71–84 centimeters) and measured about 5–6 feet (1.5–1.8 meters) from nose to tail in length, giving them a noticeably broader, more massive build than contemporary gray wolves. This combination of stout frame, strong jaws, and robust skull made dire wolves well adapted to taking down sizeable prey during colder Ice Age ecosystems. If you’d like, I can summarize how these figures vary across different subspecies and fossil sites, or contrast dire wolves with other Paleolithic canids.