Epiphyseal Fusion in Brown Bears: A Population Study of Grizzlies (Ursus arctos horribilis) from Montana and Wyoming

摘要

This contribution presents results of a study of the timing of appendicular epiphyseal fusion inbrown bears (Ursus arctos) based on the visual examination of 86 modern skeletons ofgrizzlies (U. a. horribilis) of known age and sex from the greater Yellowstone area, in the Statesof Wyoming and Montana (US). The timing of fusion in brown bears was compared with the(scant) information available for the black bear (Ursus americanus); both similarities anddifferences were found. It is still inconclusive whether the discrepancies stem from themethods of study (visual examination vs. X-rays) or whether they reflect real difference infusion ages. It is suggested that data derived from U. arctos can be used profitablyto investigate mortality patterns of extinct bears such as the cave bear Ursus spelaeus.