Short-faced bear

The short-faced bear, also known by its genus name Arctodus ("bear tooth") was an extinct bear from the Pleistocene of North America. It was one of the largest bears to have ever existed.

Description
The short-faced bear could weigh more than 900 kilograms, which would make it the second-largest known bear after its South American relative Arctotherium. It was similar in shape to modern grizzly bears, although they are not related to the Arctodus genus.

Classification
Short-faced bears were part of the bear subfamily Tremarctinae. Their closest living relative is the spectacled bear of the genus Tremarctos. There are two species in the genus: A. simus and A. pristinus.

Discovery
The genus Arctodus was described by Joseph Leidy in 1854.

Diet
The short-faced bear was most probably a carnivore, as analysis of its bones showed high concentrations of nitrogen-15, which is an isotope accumulated by carnivores. Some authors also suggest that the short-faced bear was omnivorous much like many modern bears.