The Bear Necessities: The Rise of the Tremarctines

[@patriciarodriguesrentes1702]

Another masterclass! I was surprised as to which extinct species would have lived in a colder São Paulo than today. It is a great privilege to assist you, Professor.

[@eljanrimsa5843]

2:36 "entered North America via the Bearing Land Bridge. This could be confirmed by the presence in fossil-Bearing deposits"

[@genghiskhan6809]

I laughed at this harder than I probably should’ve.

[@beastmaster0934]

I hate that this pun made me laugh.

[@thelaughinghyenas8465]

Thank you very much for the great rundown on the extended American bear family. Ooh, I love doggies! So looking forward to that one. Merry Christmas.

[@dudotolivier6363]

Bears as a wholes, whatevers the species, extincts or extants, are truly amazing and wonderfull animals ! Way more than people usually think on them most of the time. And this specific group of bears were truly one of the most interesting ones along with the Ursus genus bears with the Cave Bears species, and the Sun Bear of current Indonesia (the smallest and most tropical bear currently). I'm very happy that they had and received an highlight, and who show the famous Short-Faced Bears, well known iconic North American Ice Age beast, in a different angle and view, and showing them to be more than apex carnivorous macropredatory beast and monsters to really not bother. (Ok, it's obvious they were like that too time to time, but not everytime and only occasionaly. But were really creatures to not bother permanently as all big animals) Really, another good video !

[@professorsimosuchus7954]

I love how calmly and quietly Dr.polaris speaks, but that makes it worse when an ad comes out of nowhere and shatters the tranquility, it’s a very sharp contrast

[@AlbertaGeek]

Adblock Plus is your friend.

[@xenon3659]

It's weird how south american short faced bears started loosing their size in the early to mid Pleistocene epoch. Whereas cats, wolves thrived.

[@Afrologist]

Biotic interchange is a helluva drug

[@joakos1122]

Jaguars also got smaller

[@joakos1122]

& no true wolves in South America

[@dudotolivier6363]

Like said in this video, it's because these bears were among the very first carnivoran to go in South America where there wasn't any real big predators anymore to compet with (Terror Birds, Sparrassodonts and giant Sebecid land crocodiles all become enterely extinct way before for some or at the time of the interchange for the others). Due to this, they start a short dominion of their own which allow them to increased their size. Plus, their spead was help and quicker due to the fact that these bears were more cursorials and endurant walkers capable to travel long distances per days, thank to their slightly longer legs compared to the others kind of bears. It's only when canid and big cats arrived that forced again the bears to become again smaller to avoid competion.

[@dudotolivier6363]

The fact that the North American species of Short-Faced Bear, especially the Giant ones, like Arctodus, lived in low density population that created a low genetic diversity pool, was likely due to the fact that they were less sedentary and more nomadic than the others species and kind of bears. In addition to have bigger territories. These elements are clearly obvious due to the anatomy of these animals. These bears were more cursorials and endurants walkers capable to travel long distances per days, thank to their slightly longer legs compared to the others kind of bears and their lighter weight. Such traits and lifestyle help them too to spread more quicker everywhere, or to conquer areas and into new territories more faster. Which is why they spread first among the first carnivoran to go into South America before all the others species of Canid and Big Cats. So, it's kind of ironic that their most distinctives traits that allow them to their success were the same that made them vulnerable as the same time. Unrelated, but even if these bears were mostly omnivorous with a preference tendancy for herbivorous and were highly flexible in their diet, it's however pretty safe to said that was an actuality that the giants species such Arctodus and Arctotherium were able to actively hunt big/macro preys, mostly young specimens, of large herbivores such Bison, Elephants and horses, like we oftently depict them in paleomedias. Because these bears were enough big, strong and fast to chase and slay living animals. Every bears are omnivores, with a diet mainly herbivorous and a small part being carnivorous, and even here eating most of the time flesh from carrions than from animals they themselves killed. But most bears do active hunts time to time following the situations. This was obviousely also the case of the Giant Short-Faced Bears, just a little more than the extants bears.

[@afatpossum2586]

Man, a video discussing the Tremarctines! It’s gonna be hard to beat this on in regards to discussing obscure extinct South American fauna. “In the next episode we will be discussing the endemic South American canids-“ And he’s already beat it.

[@taytonclait]

That tidbit about the forest ecology of Vancouver Island changing 13 or so thousand years ago was really interesting

[@SawdEndymon]

Breakfast with a side of Dr.Polaris. It’s a great Sunday 👍

[@DraptorRonin]

For that next video about the Native South American Canids, could you please also briefly talk about the Fuegian Dog-- the now extinct breed of dog that was a (semi)domesticated Culpeo (which itself is one of the many pseudo-foxes endemic to South America)?

[@dudotolivier6363]

The South American foxes (aka the Cerdocyonina tribe) are a transient group between the true foxes and true wolves. And phylogenetically between these two groups. Wolves evolves from foxes-like animals ancestors, and the South American foxes. And the species of South American foxes all have both foxes and wolves traits in the same time. Because of this, they can be also called "Wolf-foxes" or 'Foxes-wolves" canids. The Fuegian Dog wasn't a dog but a domestic South American foxe, more domesticated than the current domestic Silver Fox from the Red Fox (this latter having mainly his behavior edited, nothing more). Should be good to have a hint on all that in the next video. I agree on that.

[@dudotolivier6363]

@@indyreno2933 Wait a second ! You're the guy that give false taxonomic phylogenetic trees ! You already made one somewhere in the comments list of the current video, but with the bears ! Why did you do that ! What did you do the same thing with the canid !

[@robertgotschall1246]

I was never comfortable with the Great Short-Faced Bear description. This one seems more plausible. I'm interested in the Falklands canids.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

Giant, not Great.

[@misterrickschannel2238]

Love your videos Dr. P. I always learn something I hadn't previously known. Thanks, and Happy Holidays.

[@patriciariley963]

Just wanted to say,I really enjoy your channel,Thank you for taking time with your busy life

[@dudotolivier6363]

Since the Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus, also called the Andean bear, South American bear, Mountain bear, Ukumari in Quechuan or even Ukuku) is a member, the very last one, of the subfamily Tremarctinae, aka the Tremarctines, and this latter being defined as the group of the Short-Faced Bears as a whole, that made this species the very last Short-Faced Bear to exist and who manage to survived to our era. This fact is also officially confirmed and stated by the official association and gouvernements of wildlife, who have denominated him officially under the name "Andean short-faced bear", and reconized him as the last remaining Short-Faced Bear species to live. This species, as the three remaining elephants species for example, is so the only and last representative and witness of a former and once successfull amazing lineage that still exist, and who sadly is threatened by extinction. Being listed as "Vulnerable" by the UICN. This incredible species must be protected, and thankfully actions to save this species occured currently since several decades. Hope is always present and this species will hopefully one day maybe know more better days in a lighter future.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

species, not specie, species is singular AND plural

[@dudotolivier6363]

@@Dr.IanPlect as the same time ? ok, will correct that.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

@@dudotolivier6363 Yes, species applies to ONE, AND more than 1.👍

[@dudotolivier6363]

@@Dr.IanPlect Outside this grammatical error, we are all agree that what I pointed out is pretty accurate and absolute truth. Yeah.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

@@dudotolivier6363 Yeah, good info.

[@dudotolivier6363]

The fact that the North American species of Short-Faced Bear, especially the Giant ones, like Arctodus, lived in low density population that created a low genetic diversity pool, was likely due to the fact that they were less sedentary and more nomadic than the others species and kind of bears. In addition to have bigger territories. These elements are clearly obvious due to the anatomy of these animals. These bears were more cursorials and endurants walkers capable to travel long distances per days, thank to their slightly longer legs compared to the others kind of bears and their lighter weight. Such traits and lifestyle help them too to spread more quicker everywhere, or to conquer areas and into new territories more faster. Which is why they spread first among the first carnivoran to go into South America before all the others species of Canid and Big Cats. So, it's kind of ironic that their most distinctives traits that allow them to their success were the same that made them vulnerable as the same time. Unrelated, but even if these bears were mostly omnivorous with a preference tendancy for herbivorous and were highly flexible in their diet, it's however pretty safe to said that was an actuality that the giants species such Arctodus and Arctotherium were able to actively hunt big/macro preys, mostly young specimens, of large herbivores such Bison, Elephants and horses, like we oftently depict them in paleomedias. Because these bears were enough big, strong and fast to chase and slay living animals. Every bears are omnivores, with a diet mainly herbivorous and a small part being carnivorous, and even here eating most of the time flesh from carrions than from animals they themselves killed. But most bears do active hunts time to time following the situations. This was obviousely also the case of the Giant Short-Faced Bears, just a little more than the extants bears.

[@Afrologist]

My biggest question with Tremarctos & Arctodus is if all of them had the spectacled look of their only living representative. I'd be cool if they did, but hopefully we can find some cave art or something that can help us glean some answers.

[@mariomouse8265]

Very unlikely, just because Spectacled Bears live in the Andes Mountains (a very rainforest-like environment) The various Ursus species all have different fur based on their environment and since the giant short-faced bears lived in a grassland environment, it’s likely their coloration was more like a Grizzly Bear than a Spectacled Bear

[@dudotolivier6363]

Agree with MarioMouse. Only the species of tremactines living in South America and in forested biomes was likely to have a similar fur to the current Andean Bear.

[@Afrologist]

@@mariomouse8265 But that is making the assumption that the spectacled look appeared because of the the ecosystem (an apomorphy) rather than being pleisomorphic i.e. ancestral to the group. That's mostly what I meant in strictly scientific terms, but I see your point.

[@mariomouse8265]

@@Afrologist Well I’m not aware of any scientific literature where the other Short-Faced Bears share the black and white coloration of their modern cousin; much less that this trait is ancestral to the family as a whole I’m making a guess just based on a pattern I see with the Ursidae species - Sun Bears, Spectacled Bears, Moon Bears, American Black Bears all have black fur despite belonging to the same genus; and all of these animals inhabit dense tropical or subtropical forests while American Black Bears can often exhibit brown or even white fur (temperate climate?)

[@Afrologist]

@@mariomouse8265 It's basically just a question of what can be considered ancestral vs derived among this specific lineage of Ursids; ultimately just a thought experiment since it's impossible to figure this out from fossils alone. Still, the habitat & local climate does play a role on selection, yet exaptations or sexual selection can often result in the bucking of trends. I guess it's fair enough to assume, as many Paleontologists have done, that the Florida Spectacled Bear had the facial mask by asserting that it's characteristic of Tremarctos; however, there is zero current data to support such an assertion for Arctodus unless we found an intact genome that we could sequence & compare with modern Spectacled Bears. Still, I think that there is a valid point to be made on the claim that you'd see more diversity given how different Ursids can be, I mean Polar & Brown Bears aren't even considered seperate species under a biological species complex & they are as different as night & day. If that trend also applied with Short-Faced Bears then there is solid precedent to stand on there as well.

[@goodbyesheesha]

The picture at 14:07 was taken at the Beringia Centre in Whitehorse! I'm pretty sure I have a photo on my phone from the exact same angle lol

[@scottmccrea1873]

Very thorough! Your usual great selection of paleo art. And thanks for giving us a thorough explanation of the hypotheses around the extinction of _A simus_ , If tiny numbers of humans armed with sticks and rocks couldn't extinct the brown bear, it was highly unlikely they could have - or would even have wanted to - systematically wipe out a far larger, far more dangerous bear.

[@bkjeong4302]

At the same time, it’s equally if not more ridiculous that a very widespread and generalized omnivore like A. simus could be killed off by the same sorts of climatic changes that it had survived earlier in the Pleistocene.

[@Dylan-Hooton]

@DrPolaris when will you return to spec evo and/or cryptids on this channel one day?

[@TotallyACat]

2:34 - Haha unintentional pun 😂

[@1969kodiakbear]

Bear. This is so cool. Broca's area, or the Broca area is a region in the frontal lobe of the dominant hemisphere, usually the left, of the brain with functions linked to speech production. 2/8/2021 and I lived again. Broca's aphasia (non-fluent aphasia) Mike Caputo, Year 1 Stroke Recovery, Up Up Up - Aphasia with attitude, Broca's Aphasia, Right-side Weakness, Mark's 22 years-old Stroke: Broca's Aphasia.

[@slappy8941]

What does any of that have to do with the video?

[@Tdubya]

I love your content sir

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

Happy Christmas and a great New Year

[@robrice7246]

5:33 Would this species survive in Florida today (given its family's history)?

[@slappy8941]

"It's" is a contraction of "it is"; "its" is possessive.

[@nox5555]

well not for long... Homo Floridanus would use it as sex slave, guard animal and meth mule..

[@UnwantedGhost1]

Unlikely due to human conflict.

[@UnwantedGhost1]

Geez, the earliest South American Arctotheriums would have been an absolute nightmare for farmer & hunters with Dogo Argentino dogs today.

[@MyMomSaysImKeen]

"The Bear Necessities"? What a simply ursinine title.

[@gazamidori2866]

Always love your vids Dr Polaris! This title gave me a chuckle 🤭

[@dynojackal1911]

Will you also be mentioning Aenocyon dirus? (Unrelated to above: More Alter Earth videos, please)

[@Dr.IanPlect]

Why ask about a canid on an ursid video?

[@johnjude2685]

Merry Christmas and also hope to see you Thanks

[@ceruleanclouds5871]

Thank you .

[@TheAnimalKingdom-tq3sz]

Baloo and Bagheera in the thumbnail are INDEED an old couple just like in Mowgli 2018! XDD R.I.P Bhoot tho :'(

[@dr.polaris6423]

I saw that thumbnail image and I couldn't resist the joke!

[@Emotio55]

@@dr.polaris6423 i think this bear was the only predetor that beat barinasuchus by weight

[@Patrick3183]

Do my errands on a Sunday morning aka my first day off in a week, and come home to discover a new Polaris ancient animals video 😍😍😍

[@PoshLifeforME]

The Younger Dryas seems like an enigmatic time.

[@beastmaster0934]

I remember watching the Prehistoric Predators episode about Arctodus when I was a kid. And I noticed how they patterned it after a spectacled bear. And I thought to myself “Huh, I wonder if they’re related”. And sure enough, they were.

[@etinarcadiaego7424]

Kinda reminds me of the Rune Bears in Elden Ring.

[@alaricbragg7843]

Awesome video! Can you please do another cryptid doco, on McFarlane's (Sic.) Bear?

[@Dr.IanPlect]

MacFarlane's Bear

[@alaricbragg7843]

@@Dr.IanPlect 'My bad! I was reading a tweet!' - Ted.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

@@alaricbragg7843 👍

[@sciencegeekgrandpa8]

Enjoyable, as always! But I'd like to know what the evidence is for saying Arctodus simus was largely herbivorous. That makes about as much sense as claiming a giraffe eats mostly grass. That skull is built to deliver tremendous force, and those limbs are made to run fast. Yes, it has crushing molars, but then so does the exclusively carnivorous Polar Bear. It seems ursines just never developed carnassials. If the evidence is isotopic, I'd like to see it independently replicated.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

"It seems ursines just never developed carnassials" - that's a lazy, throw away comment, and clearly inaccurate along the way

[@sciencegeekgrandpa8]

@@Dr.IanPlect if inaccurate, then which bear has shearing molars?

[@Dr.IanPlect]

@@sciencegeekgrandpa8 This is regarding "It seems ursines just never developed carnassials". I have an example that simply shows this is not so; Polar bears have developed carnassials distinct from its brown bear ancestor, in the direction of a more carnivorous diet. Specifically a more jagged and sharper carnassial profile. That's all is necessary to deem your comment inaccurate. As I stated, that's a lazy, throw away comment, and clearly inaccurate along the way. You may have meant the even more distinctive presentation of a hyena, canid or feline, but your wording wasn't specific enough.

[@sciencegeekgrandpa8]

​@@Dr.IanPlect Regrets if my remarks seemed less than respectful, but can we return to my actual question: what is the evidence concerning the diet of Arctodus simus?

[@camacakegd3714]

Arctodus Simus was not largely herbivorous everywhere; instead its diet depended on its environment. In the southern parts of North America where it was warmer and there were more plants, it ate plants. In the cold north where there were more animals, it ate meat. It was an adaptable omnivore like modern bears, and just like them, was fully capable of hunting when it needed to. Also, bears do have carnassial teeth, they're just not very developed like in other carnivorans

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

Excuse me,are there any written books about these bear's, cats,wolves and dog's.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

'''''''''''

[@godzillakingofthemonsters5812]

Interesting. I had heard of the change to Arctodus' diet, but not for Arctotherium. I wonder then if besides the polar bear there were any really hypercarnivorous bear species. Obviously omnivore bears with meat preferences regionally not included.

[@andrewstripay5987]

am glad that the best human to stand near a 3m tall bear is none other than The Spiffing Brit. How glorious!

[@takenname8053]

Nice

[@inumari3703]

Love the indie, but please give credit to the artists you take your photos from. They work hard and usually free to makes those pictures because they love the science

[@drlawson]

Do a Dr. Polaris marathon and take a shot every time he says "civet." I'll wait.... 😄

[@gregbors8364]

I finally caught the pun in the title. Bearly.

[@pptemplar5840]

If were talking about proportions... isn't everything relative anyways?

[@George_M_]

Arctodus simus is so cool, it looks like a cross between a bear and an orangutan.

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

You're uploads are always 🥺😳😵🤯🤯no need to say anything else.

[@greenflagracing7067]

is this about Bares? shouldn't there be a warning about nudity?

[@Dr.IanPlect]

FOR THOSE UNAWARE, a commenter (posted twice already in this section) called Indy Reno; Dogmatically ignores criticism and continually posts flawed taxonomies. It's always the same; he posts flawed taxonomy, I correct it, he ignores it and posts even more bs. I'm a PhD zoologist and detest this kind of misinformation and ignorance. You can read my responses to his 2 comments below.

[@laurachapple6795]

So you're saying the Bering Land Bridge was Bear-Bearing?

[@HassanMohamed-jy4kk]

Right after the evolutionary history of South American Canid Evolution, why don’t you also get to make a suggestion to create the KZbin Videos Shows about the Eurasian Cave Lions (both Panthera spelaea and Panthera fossilis), also known as the European Cave Lions, or the Steppe Lions in just a couple of weeks to think about that one coming up next?!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍👍👍👍👍

[@ivankwan9264]

The cave lion is Panthera spelaea, and nobody should be following Indy Reno's made up taxonomic schemes that aren't actually supported by published evidence.

[@ivankwan9264]

You never provide any supporting evidence for your made-up taxonomic schemes that are not supported by any actual scientific evidence. Spamming your fantasies do not make them real. You're not an expert. You're a crank.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

@@ivankwan9264 FOR THOSE UNAWARE, this commenter (Indy Reno); Dogmatically ignores criticism and continually posts flawed taxonomies. It's always the same; he posts flawed taxonomy, I correct it, he ignores it and posts even more bs. I'm a PhD zoologist and detest this kind of misinformation and ignorance. Ivan From your own reply, it seems you are aware of this pest. I've been noting his utter drivel for 8 years now. The correct taxon; Panthera spelaea As for his second message of drivel; - NO, Panthera has far more than 4 species (including extinct, as he does), the ignoramus ridiculously states the tiger is in Uncia, the worst I've ever read from Reno! - lio, tigris, spelaea, atrox, onca, pardus, uncia are all concretely Panthera, not the unsupported assertions he claims above - no doubt if I go through that long comment there will be many more examples of nosense too ------------------ Reno; your stubborn adherence to dumping taxonomic drivel serves no one, it's just misleading misinformation and a perversion of my profession. You are a disgrace.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

@@indyreno2933 FOR THOSE UNAWARE, this commenter (Indy Reno); Dogmatically ignores criticism and continually posts flawed taxonomies. It's always the same; he posts flawed taxonomy, I correct it, he ignores it and posts even more bs. I'm a PhD zoologist and detest this kind of misinformation and ignorance. Ivan From your own reply, it seems you are aware of this pest. I've been noting his utter drivel for 8 years now. The correct taxon; Panthera spelaea As for his second message of drivel; - NO, Panthera has far more than 4 species (including extinct, as he does), the ignoramus ridiculously states the tiger is in Uncia, the worst I've ever read from Reno! - lio, tigris, spelaea, atrox, onca, pardus, uncia are all concretely Panthera, not the unsupported assertions he claims above - no doubt if I go through that long comment there will be many more examples of nosense too ------------------ Reno; your stubborn adherence to dumping taxonomic drivel serves no one, it's just misleading misinformation and a perversion of my profession. You are a disgrace.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

@@indyreno2933 Reno, for once, why don't you have a discussion with me about all this taxonomic misinformation you post? Tell me why, what motivates you etc...

[@tyrannotherium7873]

There was a video of a speckled bear They killed a cow and ate it

[@dr.polaris6423]

I’ve heard about that. Even though spectacled bears are strongly herbivorous, they will sometimes attack large ungulates.

[@tyrannotherium7873]

@@dr.polaris6423 Well look like it was eating the poor cow

[@dudotolivier6363]

@@dr.polaris6423 In addition, that was a rare case highly provoked because these specific specimens only actively hunt due to the fact they were hungry and haven't any others food sources due to living in a human density area with big farms, that have reduce their forest and as an effect, their normal food sources.

[@extremosaur]

Largest terrestrial predatory mammal? What about Simbakubwa?

[@JurassicDaikaiju]

Carnivorans are easily my favorite mammals

[@RB-420]

Hello everyone, KZbin viewer here.

[@Dr.IanPlect]

By mysterious coincidence, so am I!

[@paulkokorotsis8215]

Imagine an arctodus simus or an arctotherium angustidens taking on a ground sloth?

[@Dr.IanPlect]

(A)rctodus simus (A)rctotherium angustidens

[@zandorvorkov7257]

I want to pet one.

[@Patrick3183]

There is no way to pet an ancient Animal :( unless we resurrect it somehow

[@zandorvorkov7257]

@@Patrick3183 Says you, pathetic mortal constrained by the linear flow of time.

[@UnwantedGhost1]

If possible, be more careful with them than Black & Brown Bears.

[@jessewoellhof6843]

I like the tophat to get the human to 2 meters lol

[@cyankirkpatrick5194]

Good goodoogly Moodly at that skull

[@thorshammer8033]

love me bears.

[@wnoo5844]

Luv u g

[@sarielle85]

So they entered the Americas via the bear-ing landbridge...

[@tyrannotherium7873]

I have the skull of arctodus simus it cost me 600 something dollars and yes at the time we thought that it was a hyper carnivorous bear but new research confirmed that it is not a hyper carnivorous bear however We don’t know if what part of its diet was when it comes to the plant matter did it just eat berries or did it just eat everything I also heard that the Alaskan specimens went extinct first wild ones from for example California or Montana they went extinct much later on. I also think that it was a super scavenger just like in the documentary prehistoric predators and since modern bears are more scavengers than hunters it would make sense and the competition was very fierce back then but don’t get me wrong it was still hunt

[@Dr.IanPlect]

(A)rctodus simus

[@Reyma777]

The most carnivorous bear, the polar bear still eats berries on occasion. A lot of animals within the suborder caniformia will readily eat fruit and starchy vegetables. Even species such as the Dhole, a canid with hyper-carnivorous adaptations supplements it’s diet with fruit. I think Arctodus due to having more carnivorous dentition would have feed on fruit in a supplementary manner only. Would scavenging provide Arctodus with enough food calories ? Other large predators such as dire wolves, American lions and smilodons would have probably readily scavenged carcasses.

[@tyrannotherium7873]

@@Reyma777 yes of course If a short face bear killed a pre-animal like a horse and it was filled up other scavengers would eat it too but I do think that it is a scavenger than a hunter but they can still hunt don’t get me wrong

[@slappy8941]

Dude, all the kids are using this crazy new thing called punctuation.

[@tyrannotherium7873]

@@slappy8941 what?

[@patrickjustice7371]

Oh, giant bear from elden ring was real

[@Tijaxtolan]

I see the Disney reference there 🧐

[@austinzhang6964]

C’mon guys, we need to do better on the bear joke department