The Atlas bear or North African bear[2][3] (Ursus arctos crowtheri) was a population (or populations) of brown bear native to North Africa that became extinct in historical times.
| Atlas bear | |
|---|---|
| |
| Probable Atlas bear in Roman mosaic | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Ursidae |
| Genus: | Ursus |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | †U. a. crowtheri
|
| Trinomial name | |
| †Ursus arctos crowtheri Schinz, 1844
| |
Range
editThe Atlas bear was Africa's only native bear sub-species 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.[4]
Description
editThe Atlas bear was brownish-black in colour and lacked a white mark on the muzzle. The fur on the underparts was reddish-orange.[5] The fur was 4–5 inches (102–127 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 (2.7 m) long and weighed up to 1,000 pounds (450 kg).[6]
Genetics
editA mitochondrial DNA study of bones of Atlas bears ranging in age from 10,000 to 800 years Before Present found that the specimens belonged to two distinct clades: one, referred to as "Clade V", was indistinguishable from brown bears found in the Iberian Peninsula, while the other "Clade VI", was highly distinct from all other brown bears, either closely related to the polar bear and Alaskan brown bears or outside the group that contains all other brown bear mitochondrial lineages.[7]
Atlas bears do not appear to be closely related to Middle Eastern brown bear populations, despite geographic proximity, which suggests that the colonization of North Africa by brown bears was an event of considerable antiquity.[4]
Ecology
editThe Atlas bear's ecology is presumed to be similar to that of the other brown bears. It apparently fed on roots, acorns and nuts.[8] 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.[6] It was believed that, if it did eat meat, it probably ate small mammals as well as carrion while scavenging.[5] Sympatric predators included the Barbary leopard and Barbary lion.[2][9]
Extinction
editThe 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.[5] Human activity can definitely be said to have played a large role in causing the extinction of the Atlas bear.[10]
References
edit- ^ McLellan, B.N.; Proctor, M.F.; Huber, D.; Michel, S. (2017) [amended version of 2017 assessment]. "Ursus arctos". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T41688A121229971. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T41688A121229971.en. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
- ^ a b Bryden, H. A. (ed.) (1899). Great and small game of Africa Rowland Ward Ltd., London. Pp. 544–608.
- ^ Schaller, p. 220–21.
- ^ a b Calvignac, Sebastien; Hughes, Sandrine; Hanni, Catherine (2009). "Genetic diversity of endangered brown bear (Ursus arctos) populations at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa". Diversity and Distributions. 15 (5): 742–750. doi:10.1111/j.1472-4642.2009.00586.x. S2CID 21666120.
- ^ a b c "Atlas bear (extinct) – Bear Conservation". Retrieved 2020-10-02.
- ^ a b Bob Strauss (4 February 2019). "Atlas bear facts". About Education. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ Calvignac, S.; Hughes, S.; Tougard, C.; Michaux, J.; Thevenot, M.; Philippe, M.; Hamdine, W.; Hanni, C. (2008). "Ancient DNA evidence for the loss of a highly divergent brown bear clade during historical times" (PDF). Molecular Ecology. 17 (8): 1962–1970. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294x.2008.03631.x. PMID 18363668. S2CID 23361337.
- ^ Reid, Mayne (1865). Bruin: The Grand Bear Hunt. Ticknor and Fields.
- ^ Nowell, Kristin; Jackson, Peter (1996). Wild Cats: Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan (PDF). Gland, Switzerland: IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group. pp. 1–334. ISBN 978-2-8317-0045-8.
- ^ The Great Bear Almanac. Guilford, CT. 1993. p. 281.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
- Hamdinea, Watik; Thévenotb, Michel; Michaux, Jacques (1998). "Histoire récente de l'ours brun au Maghreb". Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences (in French). 321 (7): 565–570. Bibcode:1998CRASG.321..565H. doi:10.1016/S0764-4469(98)80458-7. PMID 10877599.
- Day, David (1981). The Doomsday Book of Animals: A Natural History of Vanished Species. Viking Press. pp. 168–170. ISBN 0-670-27987-0.
- "Bears of the Last Frontier, Hour One: City of Bears: Brown Bear Fact Sheet". www.pbs.org. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.
- "The Animal Files". www.theanimalfiles.com. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.
- "Brown Bear- Ursus Arctos". The National Park Service. www.nps.gov. Web. 23 Oct. 2014.
External links
edit
