Science & Nature • Paleontology

Short-faced bear

Short-faced bear is the common name for extinct bears in the subfamily Tremarctinae, especially the genus Arctodus in North America and Arctotherium in South America.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Short-faced bear is the common name for extinct bears in the subfamily Tremarctinae, especially the genus Arctodus in North America and Arctotherium in South America. The best-known species, the giant short-faced bear (*Arctodus simus*), was one of the largest terrestrial mammalian carnivores in North America during the Pleistocene. The group is named for its proportionally short muzzle compared with modern bears.

Taxonomy and naming

Short-faced bears belong to the bear subfamily Tremarctinae. The name comes from their proportionally shortened face or snout, especially visible in skull anatomy compared with most living bears.

Species and distribution

The group includes the living spectacled bear in South America and extinct forms such as *Arctodus* in North America and *Arctotherium* in South America. Fossils of *Arctodus* have been found across much of North America.

Size and biology

The giant short-faced bear (*Arctodus simus*) is described as an especially large Pleistocene bear, with estimates placing it among the largest land carnivores in North America. Sources describe it as tall, long-legged, and capable of covering ground efficiently.

Ecology and extinction

Evidence from bones and skull anatomy has been used to infer a strong sense of smell and a scavenging or opportunistic feeding strategy in *Arctodus simus*. Most short-faced bears disappeared at the end of the Pleistocene, likely amid climate change and ecosystem turnover.

Key facts

Short-faced bears are an extinct group of bears in the subfamily Tremarctinae.
The group includes the living spectacled bear and several extinct genera and species.
In North America, *Arctodus simus* was the giant short-faced bear and is often described as one of the largest land carnivores on the continent.
Fossil evidence shows short-faced bears ranged widely across North America, from Alaska to Mexico and across both coasts.
Most short-faced bears became extinct near the end of the Pleistocene.

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Canadian context

Short-faced bears are relevant to Canadian readers because their fossils occur in northern North America, including Alaska and areas connected to the continent’s late Ice Age ecosystems. They are part of the broader Pleistocene mammal record studied in Canadian and Arctic palaeontology.

Frequently asked questions

What is a short-faced bear?

It is an extinct bear group in the subfamily Tremarctinae, named for its relatively short snout. The best-known member is the giant short-faced bear, *Arctodus simus*.

Was the short-faced bear the largest bear?

It was among the largest bears known, and *Arctodus simus* is often described as one of the largest terrestrial mammalian carnivores in North America.

Did short-faced bears live in Canada?

Yes. Fossils of short-faced bears are reported across northern North America, including Alaska, and the group ranged widely across the continent.

What did short-faced bears eat?

Sources commonly describe *Arctodus simus* as an opportunistic feeder or scavenger, though exact diet is still debated.

When did short-faced bears go extinct?

Most short-faced bears disappeared near the end of the Pleistocene, around 11,000 years ago for the best-known North American forms.

References

American Bear Association — https://bear.org/bear-facts/the-giant-short-faced-bear/
Supports: Common name, giant short-faced bear identity, and size-related claims.
Beringia Interpretive Centre — https://beringia.com/exhibit/ice-age-animals/giant-short-faced-bear
Supports: North American size estimates and description as a large Ice Age bear.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short-faced_bear
Supports: Subfamily Tremarctinae, included genera, living spectacled bear, and extinction timing overview.
U.S. National Park Service — https://www.nps.gov/kova/blogs/ice-age-mammal-bones-of-northwest-alaska-5.htm
Supports: Range across North America, carnivory, body size, and estimated extinction timing.
U.S. National Park Service — https://www.nps.gov/bela/learn/historyculture/giant-short-faced-bear.htm
Supports: Scavenging interpretation and skull/anatomy-based inferences.
National Geographic — https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/a-short-faced-bears-mammoth-picnic
Supports: Identification of *Arctodus simus* from skull and jaw characteristics.