science
Extinct Atlas bear ate only plants unlike modern brown bears
Researchers report that an extinct African subspecies of brown bear consumed a plant-based diet. The finding contrasts with the meat-heavy diets of living brown bears.
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The finding differs from the diets of modern brown bears, which regularly consume salmon, elk, and other prey. The extinct population, sometimes called the Atlas bear, maintained a plant-based diet that closely resembled the vegetation eaten by elk hunted by its living relatives.
Researchers said this narrow diet may have reduced direct competition with large carnivores such as lions and leopards that shared the same region. The report did not provide a specific date for when the dietary analysis was completed or name the researchers involved.
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CorroborationModerate · 1 source
