Giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simus) – (Ark-toe-dus sym-mus) - An enormous prehistoric bear and one of the largest terrestrial carnivorous mammals known to science. Arctodus simus fossils have been found throughout North America. The CollectA model represents a male, when rearing up onto its hind legs it would have stood around 3.4 metres tall. It had a short, deep snout compared to most living bears. This feature was the inspiration behind their common name - short-faced bears. The closest living relative is the South American Spectacled bear. This bear (like most bears) probably ate both plants and animals and likely scavenged the kills made by other predators. It became extinct around 12,800 years ago.
