The 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]
Descriptionedit
The 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]
Geneticsedit
A 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]
Ecologyedit
The 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]
Extinctionedit
The 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]
Referencesedit
^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.
^ abBryden, H. A. (ed.) (1899). Great and small game of Africa Rowland Ward Ltd., London. Pp. 544–608.
^ abCalvignac, 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.
^ abBob 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. ISBN978-2-8317-0045-8.
^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. ISBN0-670-27987-0.
"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 linksedit
Wikispecies has information related to Ursus arctos crowtheri.
atlas, bear, north, african, bear, ursus, arctos, crowtheri, population, populations, brown, bear, native, north, africa, that, became, extinct, historical, times, probable, roman, mosaicconservation, statusextinct, 1870, iucn, scientific, classificationdomain. 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 bearProbable Atlas bear in Roman mosaicConservation statusExtinct 1870 IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass MammaliaOrder CarnivoraFamily UrsidaeGenus UrsusSpecies U arctosSubspecies U a crowtheriTrinomial name Ursus arctos crowtheriSchinz 1844 Contents 1 Range 2 Description 3 Genetics 4 Ecology 5 Extinction 6 References 7 External linksRange 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 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Hamdinea Watik Thevenotb Michel Michaux Jacques 1998 Histoire recente de l ours brun au Maghreb Comptes Rendus de l Academie 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 nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Ursus arctos crowtheri Atlas bear at the Encyclopedia of Life nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Atlas bear amp oldid 1194751356, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
