The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus ) lived in Eurasia during the Late Pleistocene , from 200,000 years ago until its extinction about 25,000 years ago.
It is one of the most characteristic species of the European Quaternary fauna and the most famous of all prehistoric bears. Both its scientific name and the popular name “cave bear” are due to the fact that the first fossil remains were found in caves . In fact, fossil finds of these animals have been known since ancient times. Many European caves have received the name of “Cave of the Dragon” and it is not surprising, since the imagination of the human being would easily fly when lighting a huge skull of this species with candles, with its snout ending in large fangs.
A beast of the Quaternary
It would not be until 1794 that Johann Christian Rosenmüller described the species and named it Ursus spelaeus . Although it is true that scientists distinguish up to four genetic lineages within what we usually call “cave bear”. Some researchers even take them as distinct species, adding the names Ursus ingressus , Ursus kudarensis , and Ursus rossicus . The relationship between caves and bears fits the need for hibernation that this animal has. In fact, caves have been found in which thousands of cave bear bones accumulated because they could not survive the winter period and died of starvation inside the caves.
The cave bear was one of the largest in prehistory. It could be compared to the sizes reached by today’s polar and Kodiak bears. Standing 130 centimeters tall at the withers, the males weighed between 400 and 500 kilos, while the females were around 250 kilos . This relatively pronounced sexual dimorphism allows in many cases to know if the fossil remains that are found belonged to females or males.
The cave bear spread throughout Europe and part of Asia, in areas of the Caucasus and southern Siberia, where a cave bear was found in perfect condition. The fossil, practically a mummy, was frozen and has survived to this day, even maintaining its fur. As for the Iberian Peninsula, the remains of Ursus spelaeus have only been found in the north and at the Atapuerca site for the time being. The Basque Country stands out as an area in which accumulations of fossil remains of this species are found in many places.
What did they eat?
These bears were omnivores, but there are studies that defend a mostly herbivorous diet based on herbs, roots, fruits and berries. All in all, a species spread over so many kilometers demonstrates a successful adaptation to various ecosystems and altitudes, as well as the ability to cope with the rapid climatic changes that occurred at the end of the Pleistocene.
cave bear extinction
However, a climate change that would drastically lower the temperatures of its habitat could be what ended the species. Although there are various theories that debate among themselves about the reasons that led to the extinction of Ursus spelaeus , the most accepted hypothesis speaks of two fundamental factors: the lack of plant resources due to cooling and hunting by humans.
Coexistence with humans
Cave bears were part of the Quaternary megafauna along with mammoths, woolly rhinos, giant deer, and cave lions. Despite their sizes and offensive capabilities, they were all prey hunted by humans throughout Europe and Asia.
Specifically, it coexisted with three human species : Homo heidelbergensis , with the Neanderthals for a longer time, and finally with Homo sapiens . That is why we can see cave bears represented in cave paintings such as those in the Chauvet cave in France.
References:
Gómez, A. and Villalba, M. 2019. The cave bear. culturecientifica.com.
Martínez, C. 2017. The cave bear coexisted with three species of humans. National Museum of Natural Sciences.
Torre, T. et al. 2013. The Cave Bear Story: Life and Death of a Missing Animal. Higher Technical School of Mining Engineers.
