Short-Faced Bear (Arctodus simus)

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This may contain: an old poster with information about the different types of bears

Awesome pick—this poster is all about the Short-Faced Bear (Arctodus simus), a true Ice Age giant and one of the most intimidating land predators to ever roam North America.

Here’s a breakdown of the info presented:

🧬 Species: Arctodus simus

Common Name: Short-Faced Bear
Nickname: Missouri’s Monster
Time Period: Pleistocene Epoch (~1.8 million to 11,000 years ago)
Range: North and South America, especially in the Ozarks region

📏 Size & Strength

  • Height (standing): Over 12 feet tall

  • Height (at shoulder): Up to 6 feet

  • Weight: Up to 2,500 pounds

  • Speed: Could run over 40 mph thanks to its long limbs and forward-facing toes

  • Build: Longer legs and a short, wide skull—hence the name “short-faced”

This may contain: three men standing in front of a large bear statue with the caption that reads, the short nosed bear scientist speculates these

🧠 Description Highlights

  • Forward-facing toes suggest speed and efficient movement across open terrain

  • Huge jaw muscles and sharp, slicing teeth imply a predatory or scavenger role

  • Excellent sense of smell from an enlarged nasal passage

  • Could chase prey to exhaustion, likely making it a dominant predator or hyper-scavenger

This may contain: three polar bears standing next to each other in front of an advertisement for brown bear

🦴 Comparison with Modern Bears

The image shows the Short-Faced Bear next to:

  • 🐻 Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)

  • 🐻 Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)

And yeah—it towers over them. The sheer scale is wild.

This may contain: a large stuffed bear standing on its hind legs with it's mouth wide open

🧱 Fun Fact

In Riverbluff Cave (near Springfield, Missouri), bear claw marks were found 15 feet high on cave walls—most likely left by Arctodus.

🧟‍♂️ Terrifying Thought

With its size, speed, and power, Arctodus simus has been dubbed the “Tyrannosaurus rex of bears.” It’s a bear you’d definitely not want to meet on a hike.

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Categories: Fossil, Home