The Rya Wolf was a predator native to Salusa Secundus, known as some of the most fearsome naturally evolved animals. They were the primary ecological check on the planet, keeping species such as Humans and Ganja from becoming too numerous.^[1]

History

The origin of the Rya wolf is unknown, though it was theorised that it had evolved from the Valye wolf. Rya wolves were known and feared on Salusa Secundus as early as 4492 AG, when the Zensunni Wanderers arrived on the planet. Fremen records indicate that the Rya wolves were responsible for a large amount of deaths within the Zensunni population in their first generation on the planet.^[1]

House Corrino made several attempts to export Rya wolves them to other planets for use as sentinels, however this failed every time. Their efforts revealed that the Wolves sickened and died on milder planets and all further efforts were abandoned.^[1]

The Rya Wolves' inability to adapt was what ultimately led to their extinction. After the deposition of Padishah Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV in 10193 AG, he was forced to move to Salusa Secundus. The Emperor of the newly established Atreides Empire, Paul Muad'Dib, ordered weather satellites and other climate control devices around the planet. In the gentle climate produced by these modifiers, the Rya wolves could not survive.^[1]

D-wolves were specially bred on Arrakis by Leto Atreides II to be a 'more intimidating version' of the Rya wolves. He intended to use Rya wolves as breeding pairs for the first generation stock, but was unable to due to their extinction caused by his father's 'softening' of the planet. When D-wolves were eventually produced, they outperformed the Rya in every way besides speed.^[2]

Biology

The average male had a shoulder height of 1.5 meters and the female average was slightly less. The Rya wolves were incredibly sleek animals and their weight ranged from 50 to 60 kilograms, meaning they lacked excess fat. Speeds above 95 kilometers per hour from females were reported when hunting. The average travelling speed of a pack was below half of that figure.^[1]

Pups, born after four months of gestation, were capable of sight and walking within two hours. Within four weeks they could digest their own food. This rapid development allowed them to survive in Salusa Secundus' harsh ecosystem. As they matured, their fur would change color. It began as a light gray, before shifting to dun, and ending as deep brown when the wolf matured.^[1]

References