Russia, Pleistocene period, 300,000 to 10,000 years ago. A spectacular example of the manus (forepaw) of a huge cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) that lived during the Pleistocene between 300,000 and 10,000 years ago. Cave bears were purportedly in excess of ten feet or three meters tall when they stood on their hind legs, making it easy to understand why our ancestors revered them. All the phalanges have been strung on wire, making for an articulated museum-quality display. Size: 10.5" L x 5.75" W (26.7 cm x 14.6 cm)

Ursus spelaeus was an enormous omnivorous bear that resided in caves all year-round as opposed to modern bears which only use caves as a shelter to hibernate during the winter months. Beyond their great height, skulls of Ursus spelaeus have been found that have reached some 20 inches in length! The closest relative to Ursus spelaeus is our modern day brown bear; however, the cave bear averages approximately 30 percent greater in size. Beyond this sheer size differential, another way to differentiate a cave bear skull from a brown bear (and all other bears for that matter) is the prominence of the brow and forehead, unique to the cave bear, as modern bear skulls have a more gradual sloping forehead.

Provenance: Ex-Private Orange County, CA

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#119862

Expected appearance as a result of the fossilization process. It has been plaster filled below metacarpals to make it articulated in a lifelike position. Part of ulna remains as well.