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Post by brobear on Feb 19, 2020 6:31:28 GMT -5
I have mentioned this several times and those mentions are scattered-out within numerous topics. So, I'm thinking perhaps some of our poster might wish to discuss this topic here ( where it can be found ).
The Big White V is a mark that can be clearly seen the chests of all of the smaller bear species of Asia. It is a big white mark ( sometimes a pale yellow ) usually resembling the letter "V" on the chest of the bear. Does this mark serve a purpose? Yes it does.
The Big White V is a warning sign to tigers or other big cats. The tiger ( like all cats ) is an ambush predator. His hunting method is to get as close as possible to his unsuspecting prey, then launch an attack from the rear or to one side. The tiger will not attack a bear that is facing him. This big V is a sign that warns the tiger that the bear can see him and knows he is there. This might save the bear from a very dangerous situation.
I have noticed that many American black bears have rudimentary white markings on their chests. Leftovers from when there were multiple big cat species in N. America during the Pleistocene. Not as often, but some grizzlies also show fragments of those leftover markings. Might it be that the Pleistocene grizzly had a big white V on his chest?
 
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Post by brobear on Feb 19, 2020 6:33:29 GMT -5
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Post by brobear on Feb 19, 2020 6:39:20 GMT -5
The Andean bear is a very distant relative of the Ursus bears. Rather than a big white V on his chest, he has facial markings that likely serves the same purpose.  |
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Post by King Kodiak on Feb 19, 2020 7:14:05 GMT -5
Well, you make a really good observation brobear. That V mark is clearly a morphological evolutionary adaptation of these smaller bears. We are just not 100% sure for what purpose really. The Asiatic black bears, Sloth bears, and sun bears still have it, (they still live with tigers and leopards), But yes, some American black bears have a disappearing V mark, could it be that they dont need it anymore as the really big cats from the Pleistocene epoch are gone? Maybe. I would love to see a scientific study on this.
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Post by brobear on Feb 19, 2020 7:30:52 GMT -5
I actually read about this idea within a scientific study. Wish I could remember what the actual topic was. The mention of the "V" was simple not much more than a mention, but really caught my attention. One of those moments where I slap myself and think, "why didn't I think of this?" Not much different from the idea of a man wearing a face-mask on the back of his head to prevent a tiger attack.  |
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Post by OldGreenGrolar on Feb 19, 2020 7:33:14 GMT -5
I think the Pleistocene grizzly might have the v mark due to the fact it lived with smilodon populators and other extinct big cats as well as giant short faced bears. The American black bears used climbing as their primary defended but the exceptionally large ones might have needed to become more aggressive and possess the v mark during the days these extinct big cats existed. An exceptionally large American black bear might have been too heavy to climb especially if they reach grizzly size.
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Post by brobear on Feb 19, 2020 7:41:51 GMT -5
I think the Pleistocene grizzly might have the v mark due to the fact it lived with smilodon populators and other extinct big cats as well as giant short faced bears. The American black bears used climbing as their primary defended but the exceptionally large ones might have needed to become more aggressive and possess the v mark during the days these extinct big cats existed. An exceptionally large American black bear might have been too heavy to climb especially if they reach grizzly size. Smilodon populator lived in S. America, but the Pleistocene grizzly did live among Smilodon fatalis, scimitar cats, and the American lion. A big white V would not impress a giant short-faced bear. Asiatic black bears and sun bears climb trees as their primary defense also, but they wear the V. They are on the ground a great deal of the time. |
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Post by King Kodiak on Feb 26, 2020 6:24:56 GMT -5
Here we have a recreation of Arctodus Simus with a V on his chest.
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Post by brobear on Mar 28, 2020 5:27:33 GMT -5
Quote: Here we have a recreation of Arctodus Simus with a V on his chest.
*I would not be surprised if even the giants sported the "Big White V" or else ( more likely ) facial markings like their much-smaller descendants.
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Post by King Kodiak on Mar 28, 2020 7:58:26 GMT -5
Quote: Here we have a recreation of Arctodus Simus with a V on his chest. *I would not be surprised if even the giants sported the "Big White V" or else ( more likely ) facial markings like their much-smaller descendants. |
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Post by brobear on Nov 19, 2020 8:18:37 GMT -5
animals.fandom.com/wiki/Sloth_Bear Sloth bear fur is completely black (rusty for some specimens), save for a whitish Y- or V-shaped mark on the chest. This feature is sometimes absent, particularly in Sri Lankan specimens. This feature, which is also present in Asian black bears and sun bears, is thought to serve as a threat display, as all three species are sympatric with tigers.
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