Jurassic June: Arctodus
Name: Arctodus (Ark-Toe-Dus)
Name means: "Bear Tooth"
Arctodus (better known as the giant short-faced bear) was one of the largest genus of bear to have been discovered. This large mammal grew to about 2 meters in length (while on all fours) and stood to about 3 meters tall (while on its hind legs), and weighed over 1700 lbs. This animal lived in North America during the Pleistocene Epoch (approximately 2.5 million years ago), living alongside other megafauna such as the Mammoth and Irish Elk, and even alongside prehistoric humans.
This was a fearsome predator. Unlike most ursine, this bear's diet was reserved for meat. It was also capable of running 40 miles per hour in order to catch its helpless prey and had powerful jaws capable of crushing bone. It would regularly fight against other apex predators such as dire wolves and the Smilodon (saber-toothed cat), chasing them off and stealing their prey.
The giant short-faced bear went extinct approximately 12,000 years ago due to climate change and competition with humans, much like other predatory megafauna. While these predators have gone extinct, one of their descendants still remains, the much smaller South American Spectacled bear.