Arctodus: The Giant Short-Faced Bear

extinct · ice-age · megafauna · bears

Two species existed. Arctodus had two types: the lesser short-faced bear and the giant short-faced bear. The giant short-faced bear was way bigger and we know much more about it from fossils.

Ice Age giants. These bears lived during the Pleistocene, which was a time of ice ages in North America. Most of the fossils we've found come from the Late Pleistocene, when ice covered much of the continent.

Wide roaming range. The giant short-faced bear lived across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The smaller species mostly stayed in the eastern United States earlier on.

Rare in fossils. Even though these bears were huge and impressive, they're surprisingly hard to find in the fossil record. Scientists have only discovered a limited number of their remains.

Evolution over time. The giant short-faced bear actually evolved from the smaller species over millions of years. For a while, both types of bears lived at the same time.