Similarities Between Andean and Panda Bears.

[brobear]

There are two living bear species today which are closer in relationship to the short-faced bears than to the genus Ursus. They are the Andean bear and the panda bear. 
   
1 - Neither of these two bears hibernate. 
2 - Neither of these two bears catches and consumes fish. 
3 - Behaviorally, the spectacled bear is very similar to the giant pandas of China. Like pandas, they love to eat bamboo and tend to spend a calm lifestyle.
They are solitary, but not very territorial. Individuals can be seen feeding together without any conflicts.   
4 - What do pandas and Andean bears have in common? The two of them have huge heads in comparison with their bodies! 
5 - Both have exceptionally strong jaws. 
6 - Both have markings which resemble a mask around their eyes. 
7 - These two bears are the most vocal of all living bear species. 
8 - Both are well over 90% vegetarian. 
9 - The Spectacled Bear is one of the most endangered bear species in the world, the most endangered being the Giant Panda Bear which is their closest living relative today. 
10 - Both are small in terms of being bears. 250 pounds ( 113 kg ) to 350 pounds ( 158 kg ). 
11 - Other than the Andean bear digging for ants and termites, these two bears are not diggers. 

[brobear]

Perhaps the giant panda and the Andean bear are leaving us with a few clues into the life of the giant short-faced bears: 

1 - Maybe the giants had more decorative markings than bears of the genus Ursus.   
 
2 - Maybe the giants were more vocal than bears of the genus Ursus.  
 
3 - Maybe the giants never caught and consumed fish ( other than scavenging ). 
  
4 - Maybe the giants never dug into the earth is search of food.   
 
5 - The giants probably never hibernated. 
 
6 - Though the giants were loners, maybe they were more social with their own kind ( able to share a carcass ). 
   
7 - The giants had big heavy skulls with an extremely powerful bite.   
 
8 - Maybe the giants were not territorial. 

[brobear]

Note: A mature male panda bear is normally slightly below 300 pounds while the mature male Andean bear is normally slightly above 300 pounds.

[BruteStrength]

Below 300 pounds? I never knew this. I would have assumed 400.