The Atlas bear belongs to the subspecies of the brown bear, but in some cases it is considered as a separate species. Currently, this species is considered extinct. About the Atlas bear and its features will be discussed in this article.
Area
The African continent is home to various species of animals. The warm climate played a significant role in this. Here you can see elephants, lions, giraffes, hippos, rhinos and other animals. It was also possible to meet the Atlas bear in the 19th century, no matter how surprising it may sound. They lived in the Atlas Mountains, the chain of which consists of 4 ranges:
- High Atlas;
- Sahara Atlas;
- Tell Atlas;
- Middle Atlas.
The Moroccan Meseta, a high plateau and plains adjoins these mountains. On the slopes of the mountains were evergreen shrubs and small areas with stone and cork trees. Cedar and mixed forests grew at medium altitudes. They were inhabited by a variety of animals, which were the food for the Atlas bear. However, merciless and meaningless cutting down led to sad consequences. Due to the destruction of the forest, almost all animals that served as food for the bears died or left this area.
Initially, the bear population in these places was quite large. Until then, on the African continent, there were no soldiers of the Roman Empire who treated hunting as entertainment. With their arrival, the population of various animal species began to decline, including Atlas bears. Hundreds of individuals went to Rome to participate in recreational activities, as a result of which bears most often died.
Description
The Atlas bear was the closest relative to the brown bear and lived in the Atlas Mountains, which are located on the territory of modern Libya and Morocco. Currently, this species of bears is considered completely exterminated, however, some scientists disagree with this statement. They suggest that a few individuals remain, thanks to which it is possible to restore the population. The official version says that the last Atlas bear was killed around the 70s of the XX century.
The first scientific description of this species of bears was made at the beginning of the 18th century by French researchers and naturalists. An interesting fact: the basis for describing a new species was the skin of a recently killed bear. In 1830, there was a mention that the brown Atlas bear was caught, and then he was sent to one of the French zoos. This species belonged to the order of predators, but some researchers have suggested that these representatives of the bear family also ate fruits and berries.
Distinctive features
This species of bears differs from others in that it has a growth lower than that of individuals of brown color. The Atlas also has a stocky, battered physique and short muzzle. The back is covered with long and thick coat of dark brown color, and on the stomach - with a reddish tint or red-brown.
The length of the coat reached 10 to 12 cm. There were individuals with a white spot on the face. Otherwise, the external signs are similar to other species of bears, for example, brown. The claws of the Atlas representatives of the bear family were shorter by 3-4 cm than their brown counterparts.
Due to these features of the Atlas bear, some scientists attribute it to a separate species. However, representatives of fundamental science unequivocally claim that this is a close relative of the brown bear.
