Dire wolf (Canis dirus) was a large prehistoric carnivorous mammal that lived during the Late Pleistocene epoch, around 250,000 to 13,000 years ago. Measuring about 1.5 meters (5 feet) in length and weighing between 50 to 70 kilograms (110 to 150 pounds), it was slightly larger and more robust than the modern gray wolf. Dire wolves had strong jaws and large teeth adapted for hunting large prey, such as bison, horses, and other megafauna. Their fossils have been found primarily in North and South America, with significant discoveries in the La Brea Tar Pits in California, providing valuable insights into the ecosystems of the Pleistocene and the adaptations of large predators.