Taxonomy and history of the brown bear (Ursus arctos) in Beringia [Russian]

摘要

Standard statistics and discriminant and cluster analyses were used to study the variability of craniometric characteristics in Beringian Ursus arctos L. and to specify its taxonomic status. The eastern Siberian subspecies U. a. jeniseensis, belonging to the "arctos" group. dwells the extreme northeastern territory of Siberia, whereas bears of the Far Eastern "piscator" group are represented by two subspecies - Kamchatkan U. a. piscator and Ussurian U. a beringianus. Large and broad skulls of Kamchatkan bears are similar to those in the bear population (U. a. middendorffi), inhabiting Kod'yak and Afognak Islands. U. a. beringianus has common features with U. a. dalii from Alaska Peninsula and its Pacific coast. U. a. jeniseensis is relative to U. a. horribilis from Central and Northern Alaska. History and migratory routes of various U. arctos forms in Beringian region are discussed.