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In Layman's Terms
In Layman's Terms
What Is an Arctodus Simus?
The Arctodus Simus is a prehistoric bear that puts the modern bear to shame. That’s saying something because bears in general are still one of the most intimidating mammals on the planet today. The Arctodus Simus had a complete dominance thanks to its sheer size and managed to survive up until about 11,000 years ago.
Given the moniker the “Giant Short-Faced Bear”, the Arctodus Simus was mainly found in territories of North America. It was a thriving species, surviving mainly on a carnivorous diet¹ which never really seemed to be a problem, especially since it was also able to supplement this diet with plants according to archeologists.
Arctodus Hunting Style
An interesting set of theories by some paleontologists involves the Arctodus Simus hunting style. A few believe that the mammal avoided actively hunting for its food, instead settling for bullying other predators for prey that has already been hunted and killed. On the other hand, there are those that believed the Arctodus Simus had a dominating hunting style, taking advantage of its presumed speed to hunt down prehistoric horses at the time.
Arctodus Simus Size
The Arctodus Simus is the bear in the (center) | Image credit: Prehistoric Fauna
Arctodus Simus Height
On four feet, the Arctodus Simus averages out to about 5’5” to 6’ feet. The skeleton of the Short-Faced Bear measures out to be around 66 inches. Packed with fur and a muscular build, this prehistoric animal image is a striking one. When standing on it's hind legs the Arctodus Simus is estimated to measure between 11 and 12 feet. Some have even estimated that it can measure up to 15 feet!
Arctodus Simus Weight
Archeologists estimate that most Arctodus Simus have weighed between 1600 and 1900 pounds with some estimates exceeding a ton. A mammal this size would be an absolutely terrifying encounter in the modern era. Likewise, it was a prime threat during the Pleistocene epoch² when it was first discovered. The Ice Age was a time period that gave birth to a wide range of giant creatures, and many of today's modern mammals are just smaller variants of the real deal.
Close Relatives to the Arctodus Simus
The Arctodus Simus had close relatives. A short-faced bear that lived around modern Mexico and the Atlantic coast. This bear had a slightly longer snout smaller teeth and was possibly an omnivore³. However, it also likely met its extinction due to competition with other Pleistocene subspecies⁴ of the black bear such as the Ursus Americanus and also the end of the Ice Age.
The only living relative of the Arctodus Simus now are the Spectacled Bear also know as "Tremarctos Ornatus" of South America. It is an omnivore with similar measurments of a black bear.