The world is home to a diverse array of bear species, from the agile sun bear to the massive polar bear. Among the many bears that have roamed the Earth, one prehistoric giant stands out, dwarfing its modern relatives. This article explores the largest bear that ever lived, detailing its characteristics and how it compares to bears we know today.
The Short-Faced Bear Revealed
The largest bear species known to have existed is Arctodus simus, commonly referred to as the short-faced bear. This formidable animal inhabited North America during the Pleistocene epoch, from approximately 2.6 million to 12,800 years ago. Its fossil record indicates a widespread presence across the continent, from Alaska and Yukon down to Mexico. Arctodus simus evolved from an earlier, smaller species, Arctodus pristinus, becoming a prominent figure among North America’s Ice Age megafauna.
A Colossal Predator’s Features
Arctodus simus was a colossal animal. When walking on all fours, it stood at an imposing shoulder height of 1 to 1.67 meters (3.3 to 5.5 feet), with some males reaching up to 1.83 meters (6 feet). Standing on its hind legs, this bear could reach heights of 2.4 to 3.4 meters (8 to 11 feet), with some estimates suggesting a maximum vertical arm reach of 4.3 meters (14.1 feet). Its weight averaged around 625 kilograms (1,378 pounds), but larger males could weigh up to 957 kilograms (2,110 pounds), with some estimates suggesting over 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds).
Despite its common name, the “short-faced” moniker refers to a relatively deep, broad snout rather than a proportionally shorter one compared to other bears. Its long, slender limbs and forward-pointing toes, unlike the inward-pointing toes of modern bears, suggest it was capable of considerable speed, possibly reaching up to 40 miles per hour. While initially thought to be a hypercarnivore, studies now suggest Arctodus simus was an omnivore, consuming both plant matter and large browsing herbivores like deer and camelids.
How It Compares to Modern Bears
When compared to the largest living bear species today, such as the polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and the Kodiak bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi), Arctodus simus stands out significantly. The largest polar bears typically weigh between 600 and 1,500 pounds, with some recorded at 2,209 pounds, and can stand up to 12 feet tall on their hind legs. Kodiak bears, a large subspecies of brown bear, can weigh up to 1,500 pounds, with the largest recorded at 2,100 pounds, and reach up to 10 feet tall when standing. In contrast, Arctodus simus often exceeded these weights and heights.
While other large prehistoric bears, like the European cave bear (Ursus spelaeus), were substantial, Arctodus simus was generally larger. Another very large extinct bear, Arctotherium angustidens from South America, might have rivaled or even exceeded Arctodus simus in size. However, Arctodus simus remains the largest known bear of North America and was a dominant presence in its ecosystem.