Scientific Name: Ursus spelaeus
Chinese name: 卓越洞熊

~~ Introduction ~~
Cave bear was a representative species of bear that lived during the Pleistocene period. Large quantities of its fossils were discovered in sediments from some Pleistocene caverns in Europe , and specimens from different individuals were found to exist within same layers of sediments, suggesting these bears may live in groups. This behavior of long-term cave dwelling is also the source of their given name, unlike modern bears which are mostly solitary animals, and only dwell in caves during hibernation. Some researchers have argued that only infants and aged cave bear populations exhibit cave-dwelling behaviors.

Cave bears have strong jaw bones, long canine teeth and low molar crowns with small blunt tips. This structure is presumably suitable for chewing vegetations, and paleontologists have theorized that cave bears are herbivores, feeding on grass, leaves and fruits. However, since skeletal remains from smaller animals have also been found near the remains of these bears, some researchers have hypothesized that they may also prey on smaller animals as well.

~~ Age ~~
Pleistocene

~~ Classification ~~
Animalia
  Chordata
    Vertebrata
      Mammalia
        Eutheria
          Ferae
            Carnivora
              Fissiipeda
                Ursidae
                  Ursus spelaeus
 

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