Search Extinct Animals
Search Extinct Animals
In modern times, about 8 different species of bear are alive. But bears used to be much more widespread, with researchers discovering over 100 species that used to walk the earth at one point. Humans killed off some of these ursids, such as those living in Ireland, Scotland, and the United Kingdom, while others couldn’t keep up with the changing world around them.
| Bear | Characteristics | When Did It Become Extinct? | Reason for Extinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas Bear (Ursus arctos crowtheri) | A sub-species of the Brown Bear. Only modern bear native to Africa | In the late 19th century, with the last one seen in 1870 | Over-hunting, especially after the invention of firearms, and over-zealous collectors |
| California Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) | A sub-species of the Grizzly Bear native to California | Around 1924 | Over-hunting combined with habitat loss |
| Cave Bear (Ursus spelaeus) | A herbivorous, cave-dwelling bear. Native to Eurasia | About 24,000 years ago during the Last Ice Age | Several factors, including a specialized diet and competition with humans |
| Mexican Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos nelsoni) | A sub-species of the Grizzly Bear native to Mexico | Around 1976 | Hunting by humans who saw them as pests |
| Florida Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos floridanus) | A herbivorous bear native to North America during the last ice age | Around 8000 to 10,000 years ago, during the Last Ice Age | Unable to adapt to a change in diet |
| Auvergne Bear (Ursus minimus) | An ancestor to the Etruscan Bear. Native to Europe | Late Pleistocene (about 1.8 million years ago) | Unclear |
| Etruscan Bear (Ursus etruscus) | An ancestor of the Brown Bear. Native to Eurasia | Late Pleistocene (100,000 years ago) | Unable to adapt to climate change after the last ice age |
| Lesser Short-faced Bear (Arctodus pristinus) | A short-faced bear from North America | Around 12,500 years ago | Climate change and competition with other bears |
| Giant Short-faced Bear (Arctodus simus) | A short-faced bear from North America | Around 12,500 years ago | Loss of its specialized diet |
| Deninger’s Bear (Ursus deningeri) | An ancestor of the Cave Bear from Eurasia | Late Pleistocene (0.1 million years ago) | Unable to adapt to a change in diet |
| Gran Dolina Bear (Ursus dolinensis) | A carnivorous bear from Spain | Early Pleistocene (about 780,000 years ago) | Unclear |
| Gamssulzen Cave Bear (Ursus ingressus) | A large European bear, who may have been herbivorous or omnivorous | About 30,000 years ago | Climate change or overhunting by humans |
| Pleistocene Small Cave Bear (Ursus rossicus) | A large bear that was believed to be herbivorous | Late Pleistocene (100,000 years ago) | Several potential reasons, including competition for resources, hunting by humans, and climate change |
| Agriarctos gaali | A prehistoric panda. Fossils discovered in Hungary | Late Miocene (about 8 million years ago) | Climate change |
| Agriarctos nikolovi | A prehistoric panda. Fossils discovered in Bulgaria | Late Miocene (about 6 million years ago) | Climate change |
| Agriotherium sivalensis | An omnivorous bear. Fossils discovered in Eurasia and Africa | Early Gelasian (about 2.5 million years ago) | Competition with other carnivores |
| Ailurarctos lufengensis | A prehistoric panda. Fossils discovered in China | Late Miocene (about 8 million years ago) | Climate change, specifically caused by the Messinian salinity crisis |
| Arctotherium angustidens | One of the largest bears to ever live, reaching 11 feet in length and weighing over 4000 lbs. Fossils discovered in South America | Late Miocene (about 8 million years ago) | Loss of their sources of food |
| Aurorarctos tirawa | A small North American bear that was most likely an omnivore | Middle Miocene (about 12.5 million years ago) | Overhunting by humans |
| Ballusia elmensis | A small Eurasian bear that was a cross between a wolverine and a domestic cat | Early Miocene (about 18 million years ago) | Unable to effectively hunt faster prey |
| Cephalogale geoffroyi | A ‘dog bear’ whose fossils have been found throughout Eurasia | Early Miocene (about 20 million years ago) | Climate and environmental changes |
| Indarctos punjabiensis | An omnivorous bear whose fossils have been found throughout Eurasia. Last of its genus | Late Miocene (about 5.3 million years ago) | Inability to compete with other omnivores |
| Kretzoiarctos beatrix | An ancestor to the Giant Panda, whose fossils have been found in western Europe | Middle Miocene (about 11.6 million years ago) | Potentially climate change caused by the Messinian salinity crisis |
| Miomaci pannonicum | A small relative of Indarctos species | Middle Miocene (about 11.6 million years ago) | Unclear |
| Ailuropoda microta | Earliest known ancestor of the Giant Panda. Fossils discovered in China | Late Pleistocene (about 2 million years ago) | Habitat loss |
| Protarctos boeckhi | A prehistoric sugar-loving bear. Fossils discovered in Eurasia and America | Early Pleistocene (about 0.7 million years ago) | Unclear |