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Feature Creature-
The Giant Short-Faced Bear
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Size comparison from front to back of grizzly,polar and short-faced bears.
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Molar Tooth (top) and canine (below) of Short-faced bear Tremarctos Floridanus from the Peace River- Arcadia and Zolfo Springs.
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The Giant Short-Faced Bear lived alongside many of the other familiar animals of the ice-age or Pleistocene epoch of North America from 2 million years ago up until 10,000 years ago when it went extinct. It was the largest land carnivore of it's time at 11 ft tall when standing, 5 ft at the shoulder and weighed 1800 lbs., which is twice the weight of a modern day grizzly bear. It's size alone would likely have been very intimidating for any other animal of its time. Comparing the short-faced bear to the more familiar grizzly and polar bear shows other differences such as proportionally longer, thinner legs, and an even more massive, broadened muzzle than modern bears. With teeth closer to the back of the skull, biting force would have been multiplied compared to modern bears. Their teeth indicated they were omnivores such as modern bears and probably foraged for roots, nuts, and berries as well as eating meat when available. Their long legs probably gave them an advantage when ranging the large open tundra, prairies and grasslands that made up much of the landscape of the Pleistocene from Alaska to Florida. |
