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Arctodus (which translates as Bear Tooth) — known as the short-faced bear or bulldog bear — is an extinct genus of bear endemic to North America during the Pleistocene ~3.0 Ma.—11,000 years ago, existing for approximately 2.989 million years.
It was thought to be carnivorous, though like modern bears, it was probably not above a meal of any kind. Its bones were long and thin, and it was believed to be able to run faster for short distances than today's bears. It was a large creature, and likely the apex predator of its day and location. Its large size, combined with the natural toughness of bears, meant that it probably preyed upon the North American megafauna. However, relying on the North American megafauna as its main food source, it disappeared at the same time they did, possibly partly due to competition with humans for the same limited game.
Species
- Arctodus pristinus (3.0—2.2 Ma), a species with 2 specimens weighing 500.7 kg (1,100 lb) and 63.6 kg (140 lb)[1] inhabiting more southern areas from northern Texas to New Jersey in the east, Aguascalientes, Mexico[2] to the southwest, and with large concentrations in Florida, the oldest from the Santa Fe River 1 site of Gilchrist County, Florida paleontological sites.
- Arctodus simus (2.0—1.9 Ma.), a species with 2 specimens weighing 110.2 kg (240 lb) and 967.6 kg (2,100 lb) as noted by Legendre and Roth, inhabiting a generally more northern and larger range. It has been found from as far north as Ikpikpuk River, Alaska[3][4] to Lowndes County, Mississippi.
Relatives
Plionarctos preceded Arctodus, Tremarctos floridanus was a contemporary, and its closest living relative is Tremarctos ornatus, the spectacled bear of South America.
See also
References
- ^ S. Legendre and C. Roth. 1988. Correlation of carnassial tooth size and body weight in recent carnivores (Mammalia). Historical Biology 1(1):85-98
- ^ I. Ferrusquia-Villafranca. 1978. Bol Univ Nac Aut Mex Inst Geol 101:193-321
- ^ C. S. Churcher, A. V. Morgan, and L. D. Carter. 1993. Arctodus simus from the Alaskan Arctic Slope. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 30(5):1007-1013, collected by A. V. Morgan
- ^ M. L. Cassiliano. 1999. Biostratigraphy of Blancan and Irvingtonian mammals in the Fish Creek-Vallecito Creek section, southern California, and a review of the Blancan-Irvingtonian boundary. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 19(1):169-186
