A Dark Wolf
In most ways, the Darkwolf (S. "Gaedraug"; Q. "Nairanarmo"; pl. "Nairanarmor") resembled its smaller cousin, the common Forest wolf. Found all over northern Middle-earth, they were intelligent, social animals that lived in family groups or small packs (2-11 and 10-60 members, respectively). Dark wolves mated for life, settled disputes among themselves with non-fatal duels, and cooperated among themselves in hunting. However, unlike common wolves, they had little or no fear of the Free Peoples. They would hunt Men, Elves, or Dwarves like any other prey.
Dark wolves weighed up to one hundred and fifty pounds, reached running speeds of up to thirty miles per hour, and leaped up to six feet in the air with little effort. Possessed of tremendous nightvision, they were more nocturnal than their smaller kin.
Notes[]
Original name in MERP:Dire Wolf = dark Wolf
"Dire Wolf" usually refers to a specific northamerican sub-type of wolf, however the Eriadorian "Timber wolf" almost certainly refers to the Eurasian Wolf while the Red Wolves Brown Wolves and Mountain Wolves might be identical with the "italian wolf", "Mosbach wolf" "falconer's wolf", "iberian Wolf" or even "Xenocynon".The Dire wolves also most possibly are identical to one of these groups and do not correspond to the "american dire Wolf". The White-wolf almost certainly is the "Tundra Wolf" or the "Greenland wolf" and the Warg might be the "megafaunal wolf" or "cave wolf" while the Blood Wolves might intend the "ethiopian" or "african golden wolf".The eastern "Dersert" and "Bûkandas wolf" might correspond to the "indian", "mongolian" or "steppe wolf" or "golden Jackal", though they are not described in detail
References[]
- Retrieved from [Realms of Arda]; original reference: [ICE MERP 2012]