Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park (2024)

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Animals

Volume 14

Issue 17

10.3390/ani14172541

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Article

by

Iliana Stefanova Ruzhanova-Gospodinova

Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park (6)Iliana Stefanova Ruzhanova-Gospodinova

1,

Silvi Vladova

2,

Tomasz Szara

3,*Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park (9),

Faruk Tandir

4,

Ewa Szara

5Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park (12),

Ebru Eravci Yalin

Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park (13)Ebru Eravci Yalin

6 and

Ozan Gündemir

7Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park (15)

1

Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Animal Sciences, University of Forestry, 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria

2

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Forestry, 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria

3

Department of Morphological Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland

4

Department of Basic Sciences of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

5

Division of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Agriculture, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland

6

Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, 34320 Istanbul, Türkiye

7

Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, 34320 Istanbul, Türkiye

*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Animals 2024, 14(17), 2541; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172541 (registeringDOI)

Submission received: 18 July 2024 / Revised: 30 August 2024 / Accepted: 31 August 2024 / Published: 31 August 2024

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Simple Summary

This study explored the differences in skull and mandible shapes between male and female brown bears using advanced 3D imaging techniques. The main goal was to understand how and why these shapes vary, focusing on whether these differences are due to size or sex. The research found that male brown bears have longer and thinner skulls, with notable changes in specific areas like the back of the head and jaw muscles. These differences are likely linked to the larger body size of male bears, which may require stronger muscles and a different skull structure to support their greater weight and chewing needs. The study highlights the importance of these shape variations for the bears’ adaptation to their environment. Understanding these differences can help conserve and manage brown bear populations by providing insights into their physical development and needs. This knowledge is valuable for wildlife biologists, conservationists, and anyone interested in the natural world, offering a clearer picture of how animals adapt over time.

Abstract

The present study aimed to describe the skull and mandibles of the brown bear (U. arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park using advanced 3D morpho-geometric techniques. The objective was to explore how sexual dimorphism and size influence cranial structures using advanced 3D geometric morphometric methods. Three-dimensional models of the skulls and mandibles of 12 brown bears were used. Differences in skull morphology between male and female brown bears were observed in this study. The male brown bear skull, larger than the female, exhibited a more pronounced extension of the upper part of the nuchal region towards the posterior. Additionally, the posterior part of the frontal region appeared notably thinner in male brown bears compared to females. Analysis of the mandible revealed that the masseteric fossa was more developed in males than females. These shape differences between males and females were found to be influenced by body size. Statistical analyses indicated a significant allometric effect of body size on skull PC1 values, suggesting that giant bears tend to have more elongated skulls. This implies a relationship in which larger individuals exhibit greater cranial elongation. In contrast, mandible PC1 values showed no size-related variation, indicating that mandibular shape is less influenced by overall body size. However, PC2 values in the mandible increased significantly with larger specimens, indicating a larger masseteric fossa in larger bears. This morphological adaptation potentially enhances feeding efficiency and bite strength in larger individuals, reflecting functional adaptations in brown-bear mandibular morphology. These findings contribute to our understanding of sexual dimorphism and size-related morphological adaptations in brown bears, providing insights into their adaptation biology and ecological roles within their habitats.

Keywords: carnivore; cranium; shape analysis; veterinary anatomy

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MDPI and ACS Style

Ruzhanova-Gospodinova, I.S.; Vladova, S.; Szara, T.; Tandir, F.; Szara, E.; Yalin, E.E.; Gündemir, O. Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park. Animals 2024, 14, 2541. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172541

AMA Style

Ruzhanova-Gospodinova IS, Vladova S, Szara T, Tandir F, Szara E, Yalin EE, Gündemir O. Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park. Animals. 2024; 14(17):2541. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172541

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ruzhanova-Gospodinova, Iliana Stefanova, Silvi Vladova, Tomasz Szara, Faruk Tandir, Ewa Szara, Ebru Eravci Yalin, and Ozan Gündemir. 2024. "Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park" Animals 14, no. 17: 2541. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172541

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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MDPI and ACS Style

Ruzhanova-Gospodinova, I.S.; Vladova, S.; Szara, T.; Tandir, F.; Szara, E.; Yalin, E.E.; Gündemir, O. Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park. Animals 2024, 14, 2541. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172541

AMA Style

Ruzhanova-Gospodinova IS, Vladova S, Szara T, Tandir F, Szara E, Yalin EE, Gündemir O. Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park. Animals. 2024; 14(17):2541. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172541

Chicago/Turabian Style

Ruzhanova-Gospodinova, Iliana Stefanova, Silvi Vladova, Tomasz Szara, Faruk Tandir, Ewa Szara, Ebru Eravci Yalin, and Ozan Gündemir. 2024. "Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park" Animals 14, no. 17: 2541. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14172541

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Morpho-Geometric Description of the Skulls and Mandibles of Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) from the Dancing Bear Belitsa Park (2024)

FAQs

What does Ursus arctos represent? ›

One of these, well known to those living in Sweden, was the brown bear. To it, Linnaeus gave the binomial name Ursus arctos, from the words for “bear” in both Latin and ancient Greek, respectively.

Is 6 Ursus arctos the for a brown bear? ›

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a large bear native to Eurasia and North America. It is one of the largest land carnivorans, rivaled in size only by its closest relative, the polar bear, which is much less variable in size and slightly bigger on average.

What is the behavior of the Ursus arctos? ›

In general, brown bears attempt to avoid human contact and will not attack unless startled at close quarters with young or engrossed in a search for food. They are unpredictable in temperament, however, and often exhibit impulsive and petulant behavior.

Which species of bear has the scientific name Ursus arctos? ›

Grizzly bears, Ursus arctos horribilis, are a member of the brown bear species, U. arctos, that occurs in North America, Europe and Asia.

What do bears represent in Greek mythology? ›

In the myths of Ancient Greece, bears were considered an attribute of certain deities. One of these was Artemis, the goddess protector of animals and hunting, who is represented as a bear together with her priestesses, sometimes known as “l*ttle she-bears”.

What does the bear represent in native culture? ›

Most Native American tribes revere the bear. Like the turtle, each tribe's cultural view of the bear varies; however, at the core, the bear represents authority, good medicine, courage, and strength. The bear is said to be a healer and protector.

What does Arctos mean? ›

arctos comes from Greek arktos, meaning bear.

What is the rarest brown bear? ›

The Gobi bear, found exclusively in Mongolia's Gobi Desert, is the world's rarest brown bear, with an estimated population of only 31 individuals. These bears face challenges such as habitat loss, climate change and low genetic diversity.

What do Ursus arctos eat? ›

Food. Brown bears are very adaptable and like humans, they consume a wide variety of foods. Common foods include salmon, berries, grasses, sedges, cow parsnip, ground squirrels, carrion, and roots.

How tall are Ursus arctos? ›

Ursus arctos is one of the largest living carnivores. However, the size and weight of this bear varies considerably between populations. It is a consequence of both genetic factors and nutrition. The Brown Bear is 1 to 3 m in length from head to rump and 90 to 150 cm tall at the shoulder.

Which organism is most closely related to Ursus arctos? ›

Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) and brown bears (Ursus arctos, also called grizzly bears) are related species with Holarctic distributions.

What does the name Ursus mean? ›

The name is derived from the Latin ursus, meaning bear. Ursus. Temporal range: Pliocene–Holocene, From top to bottom: brown bear, American black bear, polar bear, Asian black bear.

What is the taxonomy of Ursus arctos horribilis? ›

ABBREVIATION : URARH COMMON NAMES : grizzly bear grizzly brown bear TAXONOMY : The currently accepted scientific name for grizzly bear is Ursus arctos horribilis. It is 1 of 6 subspecies of brown bear (Ursus arctos).

Why are grizzly bears called Ursus arctos horribilis? ›

The grizzly bear is so named because its hair is grizzled, or silver tipped, yet the name is commonly believed to be derived from “grisly,” meaning “horrible.” DESCRIPTION: A subspecies of brown bear, the grizzly bear is distinguished by its large size and a distinctive hump between the shoulders.

What is a female bear called? ›

Adult female bears, called sows, weigh about 175 pounds. Adult male bears, called boars, weigh around 400 pounds. Black bears are about 3 feet high when standing on all four feet and 5 feet to 7 feet tall when standing upright.

What does the Inuit bear symbolize? ›

"Polar bears are greatly respected by Inuit hunters as the most intelligent animal in the Arctic, and as a symbol of the resilience, patience and determination that is need to survive in the harsh climate.

What does arctos mean in Greek? ›

arctos comes from Greek arktos, meaning bear.

What does the Kodiak bear spirit animal mean? ›

The Kodiak Bear has a presence of a warrior. The meaning for the Kodiak Bear Totem is Ferocity and is a symbol to beware; as it is among the fiercest of the animals one can encounter. Bear is a symbolic embodiment of the Great Spirit, the Creator and Master of the universe.

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