Ursavus elmensis

Ursavus elmensis
Ursavus elmensis
Temporal range: Miocene
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Subfamily: †Hemicyoninae
Genus: †Ursavus
Species: †Ursavus
Stehlin (1917)
Binomial name
†Ursavus elmensis

Ursavus elmensis is an extinct species of primitive bear endemic to Europe during the Miocene living from ~16—13.7 Mya, existing for approximately 2.3 million years.

This animal was a predecessor of the modern bear and is recognized as the first species of true bear to have existed. Ursavus elmensis appears to have been only the size of a very small dog with dog-like features. It was a ground-dwelling omnivore, or hypocarnivore.[1]

Fossil distribution

  • Hambach mine horizon 6C, Ville Formation, Germany ~16—13.7[2]

In popular culture

It was featured briefly in the National Geographic documentary Evolutions: Bear Necessities.

Resources

  1. ^ Q. Ji, Z.-X. Luo, C.-X. J.R. Yuan Wible, J.-P. Zhang, and J.A. Georgi. 2002. The earliest known eutherian mammal. Nature 416:816-822
  2. ^ Paleobiology database: Hambach mine collection


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