Dire animal

A dire animal, also sometimes called a giant animal, was a larger and more powerful version of an ordinary animal.

Description
Dire animals were tougher, bigger and meaner versions of ordinary animals. They also appeared to be more feral and violent than other animals. Their appearance to be somewhat prehistoric or demonic, many having spikes protruding from their back.

Such animals were more resistant to certain magical spells, such as enrage animals. Some spells also allowed dire animals to be summoned, to the aid of the caster.

The animal form of many lycanthropes, such as werebadgers and wererats was of the dire version.