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Ursidae (bear)

Mammalia - Carnivora - Ursidae

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1825Ursidae Gray
1850Ursidae Bonaparte p. 1
1891Ursidae Flower and Lydekker p. 91
1902Ursidae Ameghino
1902Ursidae Hay p. 762
1911Ursidae Jaekel p. 229
1968Ursidae Kurten p. 118
1974Ursidae Hendey p. 68
1978Ursidae Chorn and Hoffman p. 1
1980Ursidae Kurten and Anderson p. 178
1981Ursidae Thurmond and Jones p. 175
1988Ursidae Carroll
1991Ursidae Nowak
1998Ursidae Hunt, Jr. p. 174
2006Ursidae Salesa et al. p. 381
2009Ursidae Wang et al. p. 757
2012Ursidae Abella et al. p. 2
2017Ursidae de Bones et al. p. 414
2019Ursidae de Bonis et al.

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
subclassSynapsida
—Therapsida()
infraorderCynodontia()
—Mammaliamorpha
—Mammaliaformes
RankNameAuthor
classMammalia
—Cladotheria
—Zatheria
subclassTribosphenida()
subclassTheria
—Eutheria()
—Placentalia
—Boreoeutheria
—Laurasiatheria
—Scrotifera
—Ferae()
—CarnivoramorphaWyss and Flynn 1993
—CarnivoraformesFlynn et al.
orderCarnivora
suborderCaniformiaKretzoi 1943
infraorderCanoidea(Simpson 1931)
superfamilyArctoideaFlower 1869
—Ursida
superfamilyUrsoideaFischer de Waldheim 1817
familyUrsidaeGray 1825
familyUrsidaeGray 1825

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

Fm. Ursidae Gray 1825 [bear]
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+
G. †Agriarctos Kretzoi 1942
+
†Agriarctos depereti Schlosser 1902
†Agriarctos gaali Kretzoi 1942
†Agriarctos vighi Kretzoi 1942
+
G. †Agriotherium Wagner 1837
+
†Agriotherium aecuatorialis Morales et al. 2005
†Agriotherium africanum Hendey 1972
†Agriotherium hendeyi Jiangzuo and Flynn 2019
†Agriotherium inexpetans Qiu et al. 1991
†Agriotherium insigne Gervais 1853
†Agriotherium palaeindicum Lydekker 1884
†Agriotherium sivalensis Cautley and Falconer 1836
Invalid names: Hyaenarctos Falconer and Cautley 1845 [synonym]
G. †Huracan Jiangzuo et al. 2023
+
†Huracan coffeyi Jiangzuo et al. 2023
†Huracan gregoryi Frick 1926
†Huracan qiui Jiangzuo et al. 2023
†Huracan schneideri Sellards 1916
+
Invalid names: Agriotherium coffeyi Dalquest 1986 [synonym]
G. †Indarctos Pilgrim 1913
+
†Indarctos anthracitis Weithofer 1888
†Indarctos arctoides Deperet 1895
†Indarctos atticus Weithofer 1888
+
Invalid names: Indarctos bakalovi Kovachev 1988 [synonym], Indarctos lagrelii Zdansky 1924 [synonym], Indarctos sinensis Zdansky 1924 [synonym]
†Indarctos nevadensis Macdonald 1959
†Indarctos oregonensis Merriam et al. 1916
†Indarctos punjabiensis Lydekker 1884
†Indarctos salmontanus Pilgrim 1913
†Indarctos vireti Villalta and Crusafont 1943
†Indarctos zdanskyi Qiu and Tedford 2003
G. †Ailurarctos Qiu and Qi 1989
+
†Ailurarctos lufengensis Qiu and Qi 1989
G. Ailuropoda Milne-Edwards 1870 [giant panda]
+
†Ailuropoda baconi Woodward 1915
†Ailuropoda fovealis Matthew and Granger 1923
Ailuropoda melanoleuca David 1869 [giant panda]
†Ailuropoda microta Pei 1962
†Ailuropoda wulingshanensis Wang et al. 1982
Invalid names: Aelureidopus Woodward 1915 [synonym], Ailuropus Milne-Edwards 1871 [objective synonym], Pandarctos Gervais 1870 [objective synonym]
Tr. †Indarctini Abella et al. 2012
+
G. †Miomaci de Bones et al. 2017 [pinniped]
+
†Miomaci pannonicum de Bones et al. 2017
G. †Kretzoiarctos Abella et al. 2012
+
†Kretzoiarctos beatrix Abella et al. 2011
Subfm. †Amphicynodontinae Simpson 1945
+
G. †Amphicynodon Filhol 1881
+
†Amphicynodon cephalogalinus Teilhard 1915
†Amphicynodon chardini Cirot and de Bonis 1992
†Amphicynodon gracilis Filhol 1874
†Amphicynodon palustris Aymard 1850
†Amphicynodon rossignoli Filhol 1882
†Amphicynodon speciosus Fafiot 1882
†Amphicynodon teilhardi Matthew and Granger 1924
+
Invalid names: Cynodictis mongoliensis Janovskaja 1970 [synonym]
†Amphicynodon typicus Schlosser 1888
+
Invalid names: Plesiocyon dubius Trouessart 1898 [synonym]
†Amphicynodon velaunus Aymard 1846
Invalid names: Amphicynodon aymardi Filhol 1883 [nomen nudum], Amphicynodon musteloides Schlosser 1902 [nomen nudum], Amphicynodon wortmani Schlosser 1902 [nomen nudum], Cynodon Aymard 1848 [synonym]
G. †Drassonax Galbreath 1953
+
†Drassonax harpagops Galbreath 1953
G. †Pachycynodon Schlosser 1887
+
†Pachycynodon boriei Filhol 1876
†Pachycynodon crassirostris Schlosser 1888
†Pachycynodon dubius Filhol 1882
+
Invalid names: Pachycynodon vulpinus Schlosser 1899 [synonym]
†Pachycynodon filholi Schlosser 1888
†Pachycynodon obtusus Dehm 1935
†Pachycynodon tenuis Teilhard 1915
Invalid names: Paracynodon Schlosser 1899 [synonym]
G. †Parictis Scott 1893
+
†Parictis gilpini Clark and Guensburg 1972
†Parictis major Clark and Guensburg 1972
†Parictis montanus Clark and Guensburg 1972
†Parictis parvus Clark and Beerbower 1967
†Parictis personi Chaffee 1954
†Parictis primaevus Scott 1893
Invalid names: Campylocynodon Chaffee 1954 [synonym], Parietis Scott 1893 [objective synonym]
G. †Proplesictis Filhol 1881
+
†Proplesictis aymardi Filhol 1881
G. †Wangictis de Bonis et al. 2019
+
†Wangictis tedfordi Wang and Qiu 2003
G. †Eoarctos Wang et al. 2023
+
†Eoarctos vorax Wang et al. 2023
G. †Harpaleocyon Hürzeler 1944
Subfm. †Hemicyoninae Frick 1926
+
Tr. †Cephalogalini de Bonis 2013
+
G. †Adelpharctos De Bonis 1971
+
†Adelpharctos ginsburgi de Bonis 2011
†Adelpharctos mirus De Bonis 1971
G. †Cephalogale Jourdan 1862
+
†Cephalogale brevirostris Croizet 1845
†Cephalogale bugtiensis Forster-Cooper 1923
†Cephalogale geoffroyi Jourdan 1862
†Cephalogale meschethense Gabunia 1964
†Cephalogale ursinus Bonis 1973
G. †Cyonarctos de Bonis 2013
+
†Cyonarctos dessei de Bonis 2013
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Invalid names: Cephalogale cadurcensis Filhol 1877 [synonym]
G. †Filholictis de Bonis 2013
+
†Filholictis filholi Filhol 1877
G. †Phoberogale Ginsburg and Morales 1995
+
†Phoberogale bonali Helbing 1928
†Phoberogale depereti Viret 1929
†Phoberogale gracile Pomel 1847
†Phoberogale minor Jourdan 1862
†Phoberogale shareri Wang et al. 2009
G. †Dinocyon Jourdan 1861
+
†Dinocyon aurelianensis Frick 1926
†Dinocyon sansaniensis Frick 1926
†Dinocyon thenardi Jourdan 1861
G. †Hemicyon Lartet 1851
+
†Hemicyon barbouri Colbert 1941
†Hemicyon goriachensis Toula 1884
†Hemicyon grivensis Frick 1926
†Hemicyon mayorali Astibia et al. 2000
†Hemicyon minor Dépéret 1887
†Hemicyon sansaniensis Lartet 1851
†Hemicyon statzlingii Frick 1926
G. †Phoberocyon Ginsburg 1955
+
†Phoberocyon huerzeleri Ginsburg 1955
†Phoberocyon johnhenryi White 1947
†Phoberocyon youngi Xiang 1986
G. †Plithocyon Ginsburg 1955
+
†Plithocyon armagnacensis Ginsburg 1955
+
Invalid names: Hemicyon californicus Frick 1926 [synonym]
†Plithocyon teilhardi Colbert 1939
†Plithocyon ursinus Cope 1875
G. †Zaragocyon Ginsburg and Morales 1995
+
†Zaragocyon daamsi Ginsburg and Morales 1995
G. †Metarctos Gaudry 1860
G. †Proarctotherium Ameghino 1904
+
†Proarctotherium vetustum Ameghino 1885
Subfm. Ursinae Swainson 1835
+
Tr. †Arctotheriini Jiangzuo and Flynn 2020
+
G. †Arctodus Leidy 1854
+
†Arctodus pristinus Leidy 1854
+
Invalid names: Ursus haplodon Cope 1896 [synonym]
†Arctodus simus Cope 1879 [giant short-faced bear]
+
Invalid names: Arctotherium californicum Merriam 1911 [synonym], Arctotherium yukonense Lambe 1911 [synonym], Dinarctotherium merriami Barbour 1916 [synonym]
Invalid names: Dinarctotherium Barbour 1916 [synonym], Tremarctotherium Kraglievich 1926 [synonym]
G. †Arctotherium Bravard 1857
+
†Arctotherium angustidens Gervais and Ameghino 1880
†Arctotherium tarijense Ameghino 1902
†Arctotherium wingei Ameghino 1902
G. †Plionarctos Frick 1926
+
†Plionarctos edensis Frick 1926
†Plionarctos harroldorum Tedford and Martin 2001
G. Tremarctos Gervais 1855
+
†Tremarctos floridanus Gidley 1928 [Florida cave bear]
+
Invalid names: Tremarctos mexicanus Stock 1950 [synonym]
Tremarctos ornatus Cuvier 1825 [spectacled bear]
G. †Aurorarctos Jiangzuo and Flynn 2020
+
†Aurorarctos tirawa Jiangzuo and Flynn 2020
G. †Ballusia Ginsburg and Morales 1998
+
†Ballusia elmensis Stehlin 1917
†Ballusia orientalis QIU et al. 1985
†Ballusia zhegalloi Sotnikova et al. 2021
G. Melursus Meyer 1793
+
Melursus ursinus Shaw 1791 [sloth bear]
+
Invalid names: Arceus niger Goldfuss 1809 [synonym]
G. †Protarctos Kretzoi 1945
+
†Protarctos abstrusus Bjork 1970
Tr. †Ursavini
+
G. †Ursavus Schlosser 1899
+
†Ursavus brevirhinus Hofmann 1887
†Ursavus ehrenbergi Thenius 1947
†Ursavus intermedius von Koenigswald 1925
†Ursavus pawniensis Frick 1926
†Ursavus primaevus Gaillard 1899
†Ursavus sylvestris Qiu and Qi 1990
†Ursavus tedfordi Qui and Wang 2014
Tr. Ursini
+
G. Ursus Linnaeus 1758
+
Ursus americanus Pallas 1780 [black bear]
+
Invalid names: Euarctos vitabilis Gidley 1913 [synonym], Ursus altifrontalis Elliot 1903 [synonym], Ursus amblyceps Baird 1859 [synonym], Ursus amplidens Leidy 1853 [synonym], Ursus californiensis Miller 1900 [synonym], Ursus carlottae Osgood 1901 [synonym], Ursus floridanus Merriam 1896 [synonym], Ursus kermodei Hornaday 1905 [synonym], Ursus luteolus Griffith 1821 [synonym], Ursus machetes Elliot 1903 [synonym], Ursus optimus Schultz 1938 [synonym]
Ursus arctos Linnaeus 1758 [brown bear]
+
Invalid names: Danis ferox Desmarest 1817 [synonym], Melanarctos cavifrons Heude 1898 [synonym], Myrmarctos eversmanni Gray 1864 [synonym], Ursus horribilis Ord 1815 [synonym], Ursus procerus Miller, Jr. 1899 [synonym], Ursus pruinosus Blyth 1854 [synonym]
†Ursus arvernensis Croizet and Jobert 1828
†Ursus boeckhi Schlosser 1899
†Ursus deningeri Reichenau 1904
†Ursus dentrificius Meyer 1839
†Ursus etruscus Cuvier 1823
†Ursus inopinatus Merriam 1918
†Ursus japonicus Koken 1885
†Ursus kokeni Matthew and Granger 1923
Ursus malayanus Raffles 1821 [sun bear]
+
Invalid names: Helarctos euryspilus Horsfield 1826 [synonym]
Ursus maritimus Phipps 1774 [polar bear]
+
†Ursus maritimus tyrannus Kurten 1964
Invalid names: Thalarctos polaris Gray 1825 [synonym], Ursus marinus Pallas 1776 [synonym], Ursus polaris Shaw 1792 [synonym]
†Ursus praemalayanus von Koenigswald 1935
†Ursus priscus Goldfuss 1818
†Ursus spelaeus Rosenmüller 1794 [cave bear]
†Ursus spelaeus spelaeus Rossenbüller 1794
Ursus thibetanus Cuvier 1823 [Asian black bear]
Invalid names: Arceus Goldfuss 1809 [synonym], Arcticonus Pocock 1917 [synonym], Chondrorhynchus Fisher 1814 [synonym], Danis Gray 1825 [synonym], Euarctos Gray 1864 [synonym], Helarctos Horsfield 1826 [synonym], Melanarctos Heude 1898 [synonym], Mylarctos Lönnberg 1923 [synonym], Myrmarctos Gray 1864 [synonym], Prochilus Illiger 1811 [synonym], Selenarctos Heude 1901 [synonym], Thalarctos Gray 1825 [synonym], Thalassarctos Gray 1825 [synonym], Thalassiarchus Kobelt 1896 [synonym], Ursarctos Heude 1898 [synonym], Vetularctos Merriam 1918 [synonym]
Invalid names: Tremarctini [empty]
G. †Ursulus Kretzoi 1954
Invalid names: Agriotheriinae [empty], Myadina Gray 1825 [empty], Phoberocyoninae Ginsburg and Morales 1995 [empty], Taxina Gray 1825 [empty], Tremarctinae Merriam and Stock 1925 [empty]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
partNmean
Upper canine height199.0
Upper canine diameter132.0
Upper canine crown height140.0

Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialsubc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: ground dwellingf
Diet: herbivoref
Diet 2: carnivoref
Reproduction: viviparoussubc
Comments: life habit and diet based on Nowak 1999f
Created: 2005-06-08 10:11:10
Modified: 2005-08-22 19:31:30
Source: f = family, subc = subclass, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Nowak 1991, Ji et al. 2002, Lillegraven 1979, Hendy et al. 2009, Carroll 1988

Age range

Maximum range based only on fossils: base of the Chadronian to the top of the Holocene or 37.20000 to 0.00000 Ma
Minimum age of oldest fossil (stem group age): 33.9 Ma

Collections (838 total)

Oldest occurrences

Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Chadronian37.2 - 33.9USA (Montana) Parictis montanus (16946 16988)
Chadronian37.2 - 33.9USA (Wyoming) Campylocynodon personi (16907) Daphoenus sp. (17045) Parictis gilpini (16933 16998 17024) Parictis sp. (16961 16962 16963 16964) Subparictis parvus (16960)
Chadronian37.2 - 33.9Canada (Saskatchewan) Parictis parvus (16919)
Chadronian37.2 - 33.9USA (South Dakota) Parictis gilpini, Parictis parvus (16885) Parictis major (17006)
Chadronian37.2 - 33.9USA (Nebraska) Parictis gilpini (16958 17040) Parictis sp. (17014)
Orellan33.9 - 33.3USA (Colorado) Drassonax harpagops (17082)
Orellan33.9 - 33.3USA (Wyoming) Parictis gilpini (17147)
Early/Lower Oligocene33.9 - 28.4Mongolia (Övörkhangai) Amphicynodon sp., Amphicynodon teilhardi (180961 201191) Amphicynodon teilhardi (53978)
Early/Lower Oligocene33.9 - 28.4France (Quercy, Midi-Pyrenees Region) Cynodictis gracilis (31583)
Early/Lower Oligocene33.9 - 28.4Mongolia Pachycynodon teilhardi (53979)
Early/Lower Oligocene33.9 - 28.4France (Auvergne Region) Amphicynodon velaunus, Cynodon palustris, Proplesictis aymardi (31767)
Early/Lower Oligocene33.9 - 28.4China (Nei Mongol) Amphicynodon sp. (174759) Amphicynodon sp., Pachycynodon tedfordi (175386) Cephalogale sp. (175387)
MP 2133.9 - 28.4Czech Republic Cephalogale sp. (91467)
MP 2133.9 - 28.4France (Quercy) Cynodictis brachyrostris (36708)
MP 2233.9 - 28.4France (Midi-Pyrenées) Pachycynodon sp., Amphicynodon sp. 2, Pachycynodon boriei, Pachycynodon crassirostris, Amphicynodon typicus, Pachycynodon dubius, Pachycynodon filholi (167537) Pachycynodon sp., Pachycynodon boriei, Pachycynodon crassirostris (167513)
MP 2233.9 - 28.4France (Quercy) Pachycynodon sp. (179142) Pachycynodon sp. 1, Cephalogale sp. (179140)
MP 2233.9 - 28.4France Amphicynodon leptorhynchus, Pachycynodon borei, Cephalogale minor (183452)
MP 2333.9 - 28.4France (Quercy) Adelpharctos mirus, Amphicynodon typicus (36709) Amphicynodon leptorhynchus, Amphicynodon typicus (36711)
Rupelian33.9 - 28.1Germany (Rhineland-Palatinate) Amphicynodon sp. (65088)
Oligocene33.9 - 23.03France Amphicynodon chardini (231273)