Kodiak Brown Bear Male (Ursus arctos) Ursidae

Close View Nasal Conchae Kodiak Brown Bear Skull
Note the complex nasal conchae morphology. Extensive intricate nasal conchae dramatically increase surface area. Increased surface area maximizes membranes and olfactory receptors to warm air and amplify olfaction (sense of smell) respectively. Bears and elephants have the most highly developed sense of smell amongst terrestrial mammals. Elephants can smell water up to 15 miles away as well as detect subterranean water pockets. Black and brown bears can detect a carcass from distances of up to 20 miles and polar bears can sniff out a seal through 5 feet of solid ice.
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Lateral View Mandible Kodiak Brown Bear
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Lateral View Mandible and Molar Teeth of a Kodiak Brown Bear
Did you know that generally greater than 90% of a bears diet comes from plants. Based on skull anatomy and phylogenetic history, bears are classified as carnivores but in terms of diet, bears are truly omnivorous (diverse diet of both plant and animal materials). Note that the molars of a bear are similar to human teeth in form and function and indeed man and bear have similar diets.
black bear ursus americanus mandible skull anatomy
Lateral View Kodiak Brown Bear and Wolverine Skulls
Although these two carnivores are members of different families, they are closely related in terms of phylogenic history. The skulls are strikingly similar; each has massive zygomatic arches, highly developed supra occipital and nuchal crests as well as tall coronoid processes. The canines and incisors are nearly identical in relative size and form; the posterior teeth is where the skulls differ. Bear posterior teeth are clearly omnivorous and not unlike human molars while wolverine post canine teeth are adapted to a more strict carnivorous diet. Wolverine premolar morphology resemble those of felids and hyaenids including hyena-like conical cusps that come in handy for crushing bone and dismembering carcasses.
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Maxillary Canines Kodiak Brown and Black Bears
Size difference maxillary canines from a kodiak brown bear and black bear. The kodiak brown bear canine measures 90mm compared to the 62mm black bear canine.
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Ursid Interspecific Size Comparison
The monumental skull of Kodiak brown bear compared to that of a Pennsylvania black bear.
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Ursid Interspecific Size Comparison
Posterior view Kodiak Brown Bear (left) and a Pennsylvania black bear.
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Lateral View Kodiak Brown Bear Skull
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Lateral View Kodiak Brown Bear Skull
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Anterior View Kodiak Brown Bear Skull
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