Arctodus

Arctodus(Short-Faced Bear)
Classification
Name	Arctodus simus
Name Meaning	Snub Bear Tooth
Species	Prehistoric Bear
Family	Ursidae
Diet	Carnivore
Physiology
Description	Large species of bear
Attributes	Large size; sharp teeth; claws; similar to grizzly bears
Height	3.66 m (12 ft)
Weight	1.14 t (2,513.27 lb)
Biography
Era	Early to Late Pleistocene
Time	2.5 MYA to 10 TYA
Discovered	1854
Locations	North America

Arctodus (name meaning "Bear Tooth"), often called the Short-Faced Bear, is a genus of prehistoric bear that originated during the Early Pleistocene epoch in what is now North America. Measuring over 3 meters tall, weighing over a ton, and named for its short snout compared to other bears, Arctodus is believed to be one of the largest known terrestrial mammalian carnivores that has ever existed.

In the Series 3 finale "Mammoth's Undertaking Journey II: The Eternal Frontier", a family of Arctodus were brought to the park from Late Pleistocene North America, 11,000 years ago. They reside in the Bear Country Enclosure.

Facts

Era & Discovery

Arctodus lived in North America during the Pleistocene from 1 million to 10,000 years ago where it lived alongside other Ice Age animals such as Smilodon, the American Lion, Arctotherium, Dire Wolf, Megalonyx, Glyptotherium, the American Mastodon, and even the mighty Woolly and Columbian Mammoths. They were among one of the top predators during the Ice Age and one of the largest mammalian predators to have ever lived as well as one of the largest bears to walk the Earth.

Arctodus skeleton

Physical Attributes

Standing at 3 meters tall and weighing about 1 ton, Arctodus was one of the largest bears to have ever lived and the largest and most intimidating mammalian predator of the Ice Age.

Arctodus was the largest and most intimidating mammalian predator of it's time which made them one of the apex predators of the Ice Age. It had long legs which helped it range great distances across the land in search for food. Arctodus also had broad nostrils and accute sense of smell. They also had massive bone crushing jaws that can kill animals with one bite.

Behavior & Traits

Like modern bears, Arctodus was a solitary hunter, but with it's powerful jaws, it was mostly a scavenger rather than a predator and fed on victims of their unforgiving world.

Gallery

An Arctodus attacking a Paleo-Indian.

An Arctodus preparing to swipe it's paw on a Paleo-Indian.

Trivia

• Arctodus is the second largest bear brought to the park.
• The sound effects for Arctodus are that of stock bear (both classic and modern) sounds as well as leopard, lion, and tiger sound effects.