The ShortFaced Bear is actually an entire genus, the Arctodus. This includes two distinct species, the Arctodus pristinus and the Arctodus simus. A. pristinus is considered the type species of the genus and spread throughout most of North America. It is also known as the Lesser ShortFaced Bear due to its smaller size. A. simus was larger and also plentiful throughout the region. It is commonly referred to as the Giant ShortFaced Bear.

Arctodus belongs to the Ursidae family. This includes all bears, including both prehistoric and modern species. Their subfamily, Tremarctinae, has one remaining survivor, the Spectacled Bear. They are part of the Carnivora order, which includes Carnivores. Arctodus is part of the Mammalia class, Chordata phylum, and Animalia kingdom.

DESCRIPTION AND SIZE

The ShortFaced Bear was quite imposing and large, even the smaller species. They could be as tall as 6 feet when standing on all fours and up to 11 feet when standing fully upright on the back two legs. For comparison, the modernday Grizzly bear can be up to 9 feet when standing on two legs, the Polar bear can be up to 8 feet, and the Kodiak stands as tall as 9.8 feet tall. The ShortFaced Bear was taller than even the tallest modernday bears.

They could weigh 2,000 pounds or more. The males were probably larger than the females. Most specimens fall short of the 2,000pound mark. But as more specimens are discovered, scientists start to believe that these large bears were more plentiful than previously thought.

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