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Post by brobear on Nov 13, 2018 13:40:42 GMT -5
cursos.ciencias.uchile.cl/ecologia/ecologiamolecular2013/modulo2/Ancient%20DNA%20%20bear%20clade.pdf However, many different subspecies or populations disappeared between the LGM and historic times and have never been studied (Blyth 1841; Kurten 1965; Hamdine et al. 1998). In North America, for example, brown bear remains are known as far south as Mexico but no genetic information about the local subspecies (Ursus arctos nelsoni Merriam, 1914) is available (IUCN 1996). In the Mediterranean zone, two extinct subspecies have also been described, one in the Near East (Ursus arctos syriacus Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1828) (Kurten 1965), the other one in the Atlas Mountains of North Africa (Blyth 1841). This last one, often referred to as the Atlas bear (Ursus arctos crowtheri Schinz, 1844), is thought to have disappeared during the mid-19th century, although the most recent skeletal remains were recently radiocarbon dated back to 1600 Before Present (BP) (Hamdine et al. 1998). To enhance our knowledge about recent (post-LGM) variations in the genetic diversity of brown bears, we focused on this last population. Mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from seven North African subfossils from the Holocene period sustain the existence of an extinct, divergent clade of brown bears that was never observed before and hence suggest that the genetic diversity of the brown bear was larger in the past, even in recent periods.
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Post by brobear on Nov 14, 2018 8:36:10 GMT -5
Note: Looking at a world map, it is clear that bears could have entered N.Africa through both Syria and Spain during the last Ice Age. This would make the Atlas grizzly a cross between European and Syrian brown bears.
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Post by King Kodiak on Nov 14, 2018 16:50:48 GMT -5
Note: Looking at a world map, it is clear that bears could have entered N.Africa through both Syria and Spain during the last Ice Age. This would make the Atlas grizzly a cross between European and Syrian brown bears. thats a good theory there Brobear.
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Post by King Kodiak on Feb 25, 2019 19:39:40 GMT -5
What we mostly know about the Atlas bear is that it was about the size of black bears, probably 400-500 lbs. now, that is probably at the end, when they were hunted to extinction. In the Roman era, Atlas bears, (along with the Eurasian brown bears), were the champion of the Roman blood games. Since the bears were undefeated againts lions, i suspect that in that era, the Atlas bear was probably larger than later in the 1800s. Maybe more than 700 lbs of average. Just a thought.
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Post by brobear on Mar 17, 2019 14:01:34 GMT -5
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_bear The names Atlas bear and African bear (Ursus arctos crowtheri) have been applied to an extinct population or populations of the brown bear in North Africa. The Cantabrian brown bear likely was introduced to Africa from Spain by the Romans who imported Iberian bears for spectacles. The Atlas bear was Africa's only native bear that survived into modern times. Once inhabiting the Atlas Mountains and neighbouring areas, from Morocco to Libya, the animal is now thought to be extinct. The Atlas bear was brownish black in colour, and lacked a white mark on the muzzle. The fur on the underparts was reddish orange. The fur was 4–5 inches (100–130 mm) long. The muzzle and claws were shorter than those of the American black bear, though it was stouter and thicker in body. The Atlas bear was said to have been 9 feet long and weighed up to 1,000 pounds (450 kg). It apparently fed on roots, acorns and nuts. The Atlas bear was said to have been mostly herbivorous, but since most bears today are omnivores, the Atlas bear is believed to have been able to eat meat as well. Where the Atlas bear actually originated from is unknown; one genetic study was unable to link it to any brown bear, but it had weak but significant mtDNA links to the polar bear. Polar bears appear in Paleolithic cave paintings in Andalucia Spain, which is a very short swim to the Atlas Mountains for a polar bear. The Atlas bear's ecology is presumed to be similar to that of the other brown bears. The decline of the Atlas bear can be partly attributed to the Roman Empire; as the empire expanded into Northern Africa, the Romans intensely hunted and captured the Atlas bear and many other animals and used them as sport for many of their games. This went on for centuries, during which time thousands of bears were used in the arenas to fight against gladiators, lions, tigers and other animals. They were cruelly treated, often starved and malnourished to increase their desperation and hence their aggression within the arena. Thousands of these bears were also hunted for sport, venatio games, or execution of criminals ad bestias. The Atlas bear became extinct shortly after modern firearms were developed. Over-hunting may have contributed to their decline. Pressure from zoo collectors sealed their fate, with the animals being taken away from one another and unable to reproduce and flourish. The Atlas bear finally became extinct in the late 19th century; the last one recorded to be killed by hunters was in 1870 in the Tetouan Mountains in northern Morocco. Human activity can definitely be said to have played a large role in pushing the extinction of the Atlas bear.
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Post by brobear on Mar 22, 2019 5:30:16 GMT -5
The only bear found in Africa during modern times.
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Post by BruteStrength on Mar 23, 2019 21:29:49 GMT -5
The atlas bear is the bear I wish I really knew more about. I want an exact size for it but no one really knows for sure how big this bear was.
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Post by King Kodiak on Nov 21, 2019 20:07:16 GMT -5
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Post by brobear on Nov 22, 2019 2:33:26 GMT -5
Nice find King Kodiak. Quote: "It may be added that bones of bears are common in the caves of Gibraltar. H.H. Johnston." I would think that some bear-biologists would be there collecting, studying, and measuring those bones.
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Post by King Kodiak on Nov 22, 2019 6:02:30 GMT -5
Nice find King Kodiak. Quote: "It may be added that bones of bears are common in the caves of Gibraltar. H.H. Johnston." I would think that some bear-biologists would be there collecting, studying, and measuring those bones. Yeah, maybe we can get some more info about this bear in the future, like the probable average weighs when it was its prime years, not the 1800s when his weight went down to black bear size.
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Post by BruteStrength on Nov 22, 2019 22:06:28 GMT -5
Interesting to know that the size of the atlas bear was around the same as a american black bear.
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Post by brobear on Nov 23, 2019 5:26:07 GMT -5
Interesting to know that the size of the atlas bear was around the same as a american black bear. Keep in mind that this description comes from a single individual she-bear of unknown age. But yes; it is very possible that the Atlas bear was in the size range of black bears - also Himalayan red bears, Tibetan blue bears, Syrian brown bears, Gobi Bears, barren-ground grizzlies, Yukon grizzlies, and the Mexican grizzly. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_Mountains Note the mostly barren terrain. Bears would have a more "livable" environment in S. Africa. However, very likely, the Sahara Desert was a barrier preventing bears from venturing south.
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Post by brobear on Jan 5, 2020 7:27:46 GMT -5
The North African Bear which lived among Barbary lions.
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Post by King Kodiak on Jun 5, 2020 5:14:24 GMT -5
The Atlas bear would have encountered the Barbary lion....captive Barbary lion here, large and angry, the mane is very thick and coarse:
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Post by brobear on Jun 5, 2020 8:18:14 GMT -5
Asad981 - Since the Great Barbary lion is extinct it does not have any scientific studies on it. Our best source on the habits and accounts of barbary lions come from a French hunter - Jules Gerard The Lion-killer. I will post many accounts and information about North African lions from his books later, stay tuned.
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Post by OldGreenGrolar on Jun 5, 2020 8:47:32 GMT -5
Reply 51. The Atlas bear being around the same size of the American black bear shows it has been downsized.
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Post by King Kodiak on Sept 20, 2020 15:46:20 GMT -5
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Post by brobear on Sept 20, 2020 19:38:53 GMT -5
This is rather frustrating. We can see the pictures; but cannot read any information.
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Post by King Kodiak on Sept 20, 2020 20:14:13 GMT -5
This is rather frustrating. We can see the pictures; but cannot read any information. I just translated that French. It just says "finally cave bear comes out of hibernation! Cave bear bones found in that location"
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Post by brobear on Oct 9, 2020 14:30:02 GMT -5
This is rather frustrating. We can see the pictures; but cannot read any information. I just translated that French. It just says "finally cave bear comes out of hibernation! Cave bear bones found in that location"Newspapers print stupid stuff like this because; to someone not bear-savvy, any prehistoric bear is a cave bear.
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