Short-faced Bear
Arctodus simus
🐻
Chordata
Mammalia
Carnivora
Caniformia
Ursidae
Arctodus simus
Towering over other Ice Age predators, Arctodus simus, the Short-Faced Bear, was one of the largest terrestrial mammalian carnivores to have ever existed. With long limbs and a reduced snout, it may have been a formidable predator or a highly efficient scavenger.
Description
Arctodus simus, known as the Giant Short-Faced Bear, was one of the largest terrestrial mammalian carnivores. It had long limbs, suggesting it was adapted for running, and a short, broad muzzle, giving it a distinctive "short-faced" appearance. Its size and build indicate it was likely a dominant predator or scavenger of its time.
Quick Facts
Max Mass
Shoulder Height
Standing Height
Length
Diet
Trophic Level
710
1.7
3.5
2.8
kg
m
m
m
Omnivore
Facultative Lipivore
Hunt History
There is no direct evidence of humans hunting Arctodus simus, but it coexisted with early Paleoindian cultures like the Clovis people. It likely competed with humans for megafaunal prey and carcasses, especially mammoths and bison. It may have been feared or revered.
Given its massive size and power, early humans may have avoided it or only scavenged its remains. However, human hunting of large prey could have reduced food sources for Arctodus, indirectly contributing to its extinction.
Earliest Archaeological Evidence of Interaction or Overlap:
Rancho La Brea Tar Pits (California) – Thousands of Arctodus simus fossils found alongside early human-timed megafauna like mammoths, dire wolves, and saber-toothed cats.
Saltville, Virginia Site – Remains of Arctodus simus found near butchered megafauna remains, possibly indicating ecological overlap.
Lubbock Lake Site (Texas) – Stratigraphic layers include Arctodus simus bones and Clovis tool evidence, suggesting coexistence if not direct interaction.
Time & Range
Extinction Status
Globally Extinct
Extinction Date
Temporal Range
Region
11000
BP
Late Pleistocene
North America
Wiki Link
Fat Analysis
Fatness Profile:
High
Fat %
10
Est. Renderable Fat
71
kg
Targeted Organs
Subcutaneous & visceral (pre-denning)
Adipose Depots
Subcutaneous (pre-denning), visceral; marrow
Preferred Cuts
Subcutaneous fat layer
Hunt Difficulty (x/5)
5