Ursus spelaeus
Also known as cave bear
species of mammal (fossil)
AI overview
Ursus spelaeus, or cave bear, was a large extinct species of bear that lived during the Pleistocene epoch and went extinct thousands of years ago. Studying its remains helps scientists understand prehistoric ecosystems, climate change, and the evolution of bears.
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- Cave bear AMNH.jpg
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Article
The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) is a prehistoric species of bear that lived in Europe and Asia during the Pleistocene and became extinct about 24,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum.
The common and scientific name for the species comes from their remains having been found largely in caves. This reflects the views of experts that cave bears spent more time in caves than the brown bear, frequently using them to hibernate during the winter months. Unlike brown bears, cave bears are thought to have been almost entirely or exclusively herbivorous.