2 million years ago, this giant bear was the undisputed king of North America!

Two million years ago, North America housed a monster that made our current polar bear appear like simple cubs. In addition, The giant panel with a short face. For example, Arctodus Simus of his scientific name, reigned without sharing on a continent still virgin of human presence. In addition, This extraordinary creature holds a record that makes you dizzy: that of the largest carnivorous mammal having ever walked. Therefore, the North American soil.

A giant among the giants – 2 million years ago, this

Imagine a bear capable of looking at you in the eyes while simply standing. Nevertheless, With its 3.3 meters high on its back legs, the Arctodus Simus far exceeded the dimensions of all current bears. Furthermore, To grasp this excess. you should know that a Kodiak bear or a polar bear, yet considered as the giants of 2 million years ago, this their species, culminate “only” at 3 meters in the same position.

But the size was only one aspect of its physical superiority. This prehistoric bear displayed a weight of reaching 1000 kilograms, almost 70% more than a modern adult male polar bear. A body mass that made it a real Titan of Pleistocene times.

A surprising racing machine – 2 million years ago, this

Paradoxically, this mountain of muscles and bones hid astounding athletic capacities. Contrary to what its imposing template might suggest, the giant short bear could sprint over 60 kilometers per hour. This feat is explained by a remarkable anatomical adaptation: its toes pointed directly to the front. unlike contemporary bears whose legs are turned inward.

This particular configuration transformed each stride into an optimized propulsion mechanism, allowing this considerable mass to move with disconcerting agility. Imagine the terror that was inspired by the load of this 2 million years ago, this juggernaut launched at full speed.

A diet more nuanced than expected

Despite its title of “biggest carnivore”. the Arctodus Simus was probably not the bloody super-predator that his appearance suggests. Modern research reveals a more opportunistic eating behavior, mixing hunting, charking and plant consumption depending on the circumstances.

This omnivorous strategy strangely recalls that of its only current descendant: the South American glasses bear. This modern parent. mainly herbivore, belongs to the same subfamily of TreMarctinae and offers a striking contrast with its gigantic ancestor.

The mystery of the great extinction

The story of the giant short bear ends suddenly about 11. 000 years ago, during the great extinction of the megafauna Pleistocene. His disappearance coincides with that of mammoths. terrible wolves and giant lazy people, marking the end of an era when North America looked like a life -size jurassic park.

Scientists still debate exact causes of this massive extinction. The arrival of the first humans on the continent. the climate upheavals at the end of the ice age and the collapse of the populations of giant herbivores have probably converged to seal the fate of these extraordinary creatures.

Today, only the fossils testify to the existence of this prehistoric titan which once dominated the North American landscapes.