This exhibit was created by Gale Whittle for GEL 198 at UCD during Fall 2025 and Winter 2026.
Thanks for your continued interest in the information behind this exhibit! Please treat this as both a references page and a recommended reading list.
Further Reading
https://tarpits.org/stories/our-evolving-understanding-dire-wolves
An article where leading canid evolution researchers describe their reactions to the 2021 paper. An interesting read!
Merriam, John C. (1918): Notes on the systematic position of the wolves of the canis dirus group. Bulletin of the Department of Geology. 10: 531-533, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4443191, URL: https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/139018
A paper from 1918 suggesting the reclassification of dire wolves into Aenocyon based entirely off of morphology! The classification of dire wolves has been debated for a very long time.
Jensen-Seaman, Michael & Hartstone-Rose, Adam & Burrows, Anne & Smith, Heather. (2025). The dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus) resurrection that wasn't. The Anatomical Record. n/a-n/a. 10.1002/ar.70049.
A fun paper about the Colossal Biosciences dire wolf "de-extinction" project. This exhibit was really fun to make with all the new attention dire wolves are getting!
References
Numbered references:
(1) Wang, Xiaoming, et al. Dogs : Their Fossil Relatives and Evolutionary History. Columbia University Press, 2008. See Figures 1.1, 3.33, and 4.3; and pages 2, 60, and 74-75.
(2) Perri, A.R., Mitchell, K.J., Mouton, A. et al. Dire wolves were the last of an ancient New World canid lineage. Nature 591, 87–91 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-03082-x . See Figure 2 (Page 3) and Page 1.
(2) Zrzavy, Jan & Duda, Pavel & Robovský, Jan & Okřinová, Isabela & Pavelkova Ricankova, Vera. (2018). Phylogeny of the Caninae (Carnivora): Combining morphology, behaviour, genes and fossils. Zoologica Scripta. 47. 373-389. 10.1111/zsc.12293. See Figure 2 (Page 380).
(3) Dr. Mairin Balisi (Curator, Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology) in discussion with the author, December 2025.
(4) Dr. Xiaoming Wang (Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, Natural History Museum LA) in discussion with the author, December 2025.
Other sources referenced:
Wang, Xiaoming & Tedford, Richard. (2007). Evolutionary history of canids. 10.1079/9781845931872.0003.
https://evolution.berkeley.edu/the-tree-room/: Referenced for more information about the construction of phylogenies.
Images used:
Holroyd, Patricia. July 27, 2011, photograph, University of California Berkeley, https://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?seq_num=381975&one=T.
Reference images used for original drawings:
Bohdal, Jiri. Foto ID 13860. 2009. NaturePhoto. https://www.naturephoto-cz.com/black-backed-jackal-photo-13860.html.
Christman, Erwin S. The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (Aenocyon dirus) Lupified version.png. January 12, 2019. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_American_Museum_journal_%28c1900-%281918%29%29_%28Aenocyon_dirus%29_Lupified_version.png.
GmbH, Westend61. European wolf (Canis lupus), side view. March 19, 2009. Alamy. https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-european-wolf-canis-lupus-side-view-38036340.html.
Phelps, James Marvin. Gray Fox. November 21, 2006. Accessed via iNaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/340263.
Sinanian, Cole. Grey wolf in snow. May 15, 2022. Argus Observer. https://www.argusobserver.com/valley_life/amid-spike-in-thrill-kills-wolf-poisonings-oregon-strengthens-anti-poaching-efforts/article_6685459c-d2fd-11ec-a164-ff6529e5f0fe.html.