Arctotherium angustidens was an extinct short-faced bear of the Pleistocene of South America and one of the largest known bears, possibly the largest terrestrial carnivorous mammal ever, with some individuals suggested to exceed 1.2 tonnes and to stand 3.4 to 4.3 metres tall. It was the only confirmed species of its genus for much of the Early and Middle Pleistocene, known from the Ensenadan faunal stage of Argentina, including Buenos Aires, and from the Tolomosa Formation of southern Bolivia. Carbon isotope evidence and the frequency of broken teeth suggest an omnivorous diet with a strong preference for meat and the active predation of large vertebrates such as horses, tapirs, camelids and giant ground sloths. About 400,000 years ago it disappeared from the fossil record and smaller Arctotherium species took its place.
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Living or Extinct Conservation Status Body Size Band Connections
Child Taxon Of
In Ecosystem
Source Arctotherium (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Arctotherium (Wikipedia)Distribution, rangeQuote, Distribution, range
from the Early & Middle Pleistocene of Argentina and Tolomosa Formation in southern Bolivia
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source Arctotherium (Wikipedia)Distribution, rangeQuote, Distribution, range
from the Early & Middle Pleistocene of Argentina and Tolomosa Formation in southern Bolivia
Sources
1. Arctotherium (Wikipedia)
Lead, extinction
angustidens went extinct at the start of the Lujanian faunal stage in the late Middle Pleistocene (~400,000 years ago)
Lead, genus extinct
is an extinct genus of short-faced bears endemic to Central and South America (Neotropics)
Lead, diet
with Arctotherium angustidens suggested to have been a highly carnivorous
Lead, size
Arctotherium angustidens is one of the largest known bears and possibly the largest terrestrial carnivorous mammal ever
Lead, habitat
Arctotherium is believed to have preferred open habitats with arid and semi-arid climates.
Distribution, range
from the Early & Middle Pleistocene of Argentina and Tolomosa Formation in southern Bolivia
Child Taxon Of: Ursidae, Taxonomy, subfamily of bears
Arctotherium is part of the Tremarctinae subfamily of bears, otherwise known as the short faced bears
In Group: Bears, Taxonomy, subfamily of bears, bear group
Arctotherium is part of the Tremarctinae subfamily of bears, otherwise known as the short faced bears
In Ecosystem: Pampas, Paleoecology, Southern Cone, Pampas, Ensenadan faunal stage
In the Ensenadan, A. angustidens was only rivalled in size by Smilodon populator
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