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Description
The Cave Bear (Ursus spelaeus)

One of the largest and most unique of all bears that ruled Ice Age Europe and into Russia. Differentiated from the modern brown bears by the more distinctive domed skull and a unique skull morphology with premolars vanishing in their jaws. On average, a big male could have reached twice the size of the largest Eurasian Brown Bear, however, during larger glacial periods during the Ice Age, they could reach almost four times the size, around 10-11.5ft tall if reared up on their hind legs and up to 2,200 lbs. Only the New World Short-Faced Bears (Tremarctines) could come close to this size.

Despite its size and its bulk, analysis of its bone chemistry, as well as its jaw morphology, indicates that it was nearly exclusively a herbivore. Even more so than its distant relative the extant Brown Bear. Likely it ate a mix of berries, higher quality vegetation that they packed in during the winter.

Despite its vegetarian preference, by no means was this creature a docile animal. In many caves across Eurasia, Cave Lion carcasses have been found in the caves where Cave Bears lived. Studies have found that these lions actually went into caves to prey on the bears while hibernating, many dying in the process.

However, the most prolific hunter was humans. In fact, countless theories have propped up about their function in paleo-religion. Many paleontologists and paleoanthropologists have theorized that early humans and Neanderthals worshiped these creatures. Probably because of their size and power represented a religious symbol or even a God.
Expedition Magazine - Penn Museum
Perhaps killing them would make them be equal to the Gods. That could be why one finds countless artifacts and Cave Bear skulls among paleo-indian cave sites.

These animals likely went extinct due to climate change and also due to overhunting. When it went extinct is up to debate, commonly dated to ~24,000 years ago. However, teeth found in a necklace indicate a later extinction around 12,000 years ago. Another factor could have been the near-total reliance on caves for hibernation, whereas their distant cousins, the Brown Bears could hibernate in dens and only occasionally in caves.
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Bit of a change from the usual Dinosaur profile. This is just something I whipped up again, quite quickly. UPDATE 7/9: Remade using Ulquiorra's new Cave Bear.

The Cave Bear is a really under-appreciated Ice Age Mammal and thought this would be the best place for me to show it off. As far as if it's going to be in PMP, WELL...
I don't know. I'm still working on episode 3, and while I've got the outline done for all the episodes, the next two episodes are quite interchangeable in terms of the animals I'm going to feature. I'm definitely going back to the Ice Age, but as far as where, that's what I'm conflicted on.

Model by and Skin by Ulquiorra:
Cave Bear (Ulquiorra) | ZT2 Download Library Wiki | Fandom

Description
The Cave Bear (Ursus spelaeus)

One of the largest and most unique of all bears that ruled Ice Age Europe and into Russia. Differentiated from the modern brown bears by the more distinctive domed skull and a unique skull morphology with premolars vanishing in their jaws. On average, a big male could have reached twice the size of the largest Eurasian Brown Bear, however, during larger glacial periods during the Ice Age, they could reach almost four times the size, around 10-11.5ft tall if reared up on their hind legs and up to 2,200 lbs. Only the New World Short-Faced Bears (Tremarctines) could come close to this size.

Despite its size and its bulk, analysis of its bone chemistry, as well as its jaw morphology, indicates that it was nearly exclusively a herbivore. Even more so than its distant relative the extant Brown Bear. Likely it ate a mix of berries, higher quality vegetation that they packed in during the winter.

Despite its vegetarian preference, by no means was this creature a docile animal. In many caves across Eurasia, Cave Lion carcasses have been found in the caves where Cave Bears lived. Studies have found that these lions actually went into caves to prey on the bears while hibernating, many dying in the process.

However, the most prolific hunter was humans. In fact, countless theories have propped up about their function in paleo-religion. Many paleontologists and paleoanthropologists have theorized that early humans and Neanderthals worshiped these creatures. Probably because of their size and power represented a religious symbol or even a God.
Expedition Magazine - Penn Museum
Perhaps killing them would make them be equal to the Gods. That could be why one finds countless artifacts and Cave Bear skulls among paleo-indian cave sites.

These animals likely went extinct due to climate change and also due to overhunting. When it went extinct is up to debate, commonly dated to ~24,000 years ago. However, teeth found in a necklace indicate a later extinction around 12,000 years ago. Another factor could have been the near-total reliance on caves for hibernation, whereas their distant cousins, the Brown Bears could hibernate in dens and only occasionally in caves.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Bit of a change from the usual Dinosaur profile. This is just something I whipped up again, quite quickly. UPDATE 7/9: Remade using Ulquiorra's new Cave Bear.

The Cave Bear is a really under-appreciated Ice Age Mammal and thought this would be the best place for me to show it off. As far as if it's going to be in PMP, WELL...
I don't know. I'm still working on episode 3, and while I've got the outline done for all the episodes, the next two episodes are quite interchangeable in terms of the animals I'm going to feature. I'm definitely going back to the Ice Age, but as far as where, that's what I'm conflicted on.

Model by and Skin by Ulquiorra:
Cave Bear (Ulquiorra) | ZT2 Download Library Wiki | Fandom