JUVENILE CAVE BEAR (URSUS SPELAEUS) FOOT CLAW

Undisclosed Cave in Carpathian Mountains, Romania

PLEISTOCENE PERIOD:  200,000 - 20,000 years ago

This is a foot claw from the extinct giant Cave Bear, Ursus spelaeus of Europe.  It is a from a juvenile bear - the first and only specimen we have ever had.  Condition and completeness is excellent with only a small dorsal portion missing just forward of the articulating joint.  Perfect to round out a collection of famous beasts of the final Ice Age.  NO REPAIR AND NO RESTORATION.  Compared to most badly deteriorated specimens, this is a very solid and complete example with excellent detail and bone density.  Recommended for anyone wanting a very impressive and VERY affordable and top quality fossil of this well-known giant of the Pleistocene.

BEWARE of so-called "RUSSIAN (SIBERIA) CAVE BEAR" fossils being offered on the market.  THESE ARE NOT TRUE CAVE BEAR FOSSILS!  While cave bear remains have been found in the region, it is another fossil bear species named Ursus uralensis that is being sold as Ursus spelaeus and being labeled as the "Russian Cave Bear".  The Siberian species uralensis was NOT a cave-dwelling bear but is an extinct off-shoot similar to a modern Grizzly bear which hibernated in caves like other bears but did not live in the caves year-round like Ursus spelaeus.  Out of ignorance, some dealers will call Ursus uralensis  as Ursus spelaeus, some will call it the right species, uralensis, but all will call their Russian bear fossils "cave bear" which is a misnomer.  

The features of the  Russian non-cave-dwelling species are evident when compared to the true European Cave Bear (Ursus spelaeus).  The Russian  bear species (uralensis) is also not as massive as the true European cave bear, Ursus spelaeus.  Basic anatomical features of the skull are easy to differentiate the two.  Ursus spelaeus will have larger zygomatic arches (cheek bones), a much steeper forehead and a higher, more pronounced sagittal crest (the crest on the dorsal posterior portion of the skull).  Compare the skull images on this page and elsewhere in this section to Russian skulls being sold elsewhere and you will see the difference.  Russian bear fossils of Ursus uralensis are MUCH MORE prevalent and found in greater numbers today than high quality TRUE cave bear fossils (Ursus spelaeus), and therefore are less rare and reflect a lower price than the European specimens.

Ursus spelaeus was a huge omnivorous bear that resided in caves year-round compared to modern bears which only use caves as a shelter for hibernation.  When standing on its hind legs, the height of this beast would have averaged 10 feet tall!  Skulls have been found 20 inches in length!  The closest relative is our modern day brown bear but the cave bear averages 30% greater in size.  One way to differentiate a cave bear skull from a brown bear (and all other bears for that matter) is the sheer size, first off, and also the prominence of the brow and forehead unique to the cave bear.  Modern bear skulls have a more gradual sloping forehead.

Found throughout caves in Europe, the cave bear was named after the places where its remains are commonly found: caves, in the Alps, the Ardennes, the Carpathian and Ural Mountains, and in many other European mountain chains.  Remains found in caves near the North Sea and in The Netherlands show that the range of Ursus spelaeus eventually spread into the lowland forests of western Europe.  In this last region, populations drastically declined around 40,000 years ago finally becoming extinct during the last glacial period.  It is believed that the cave bears' demise was aided by competition for food and shelter by a simultaneous existence with the brown bear.  Evidence found in caves suggests that prehistoric man either worshipped the cave bear or used its remains in religious rituals.  Pressure from hunting by man could also have been a contributing factor in their extinction.

SUPERB AND VERY RARE SPECIMEN - FIRST AND ONLY JUVENILE FOOT CLAW WE HAVE

1.2" in length on the curve

$95     LM8-0399     INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX     Actual Item - One Only

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