Classification of Bears

Here you will find a classification of bears based on their family (Ursidae). You can also see the scientific names as well as the time the bears lived. Also, see all the extinct bears marked with a †. If you want to learn more about a specific species of bear click the link (if available).

   Family:  UrsidaeExtent / Latin Name
Subfamily:  Amphicynodontinae †
      Genus:  Parictis †38 mya. (million years ago)
                   Parictis bathygenus †Parictis bathygenus
                   Parictis dakotensis †Parictis dakotensis
                   Parictis gilpini †Parictis gilpini
                   Parictis major †Parictis major
                   Parictis montanus †Parictis montanus
                   Parictis parvus †Parictis parvus
                   Parictis personi †Parictis personi
                   Parictis primaevus †Parictis primaevus
      Genus:  Allocyon †28.5-29.5 mya.
                   Allocyon loganensis †Allocyon loganensis
      Genus:  Kolponomos †20 mya.
                   Kolponomos clallamensis †Kolponomos clallamensis
                   Kolponomos newportensis †Kolponomos newportensis
Subfamily:  Hemicyoninae †
      Genus:  Ursavus †22 mya.
                   Ursavus brevirhinus †Ursavus brevirhinus
                   Ursavus depereti †Ursavus depereti
                   Ursavus ehrenbergi †Ursavus ehrenbergi
                   The Dawn Bear †Ursavus elmensis
                   Ursavus intermedius †Ursavus intermedius
                   Ursavus isorei †Ursavus isorei
                   Ursavus pawniensis †Ursavus pawniensis
                   Ursavus primaevus †Ursavus primaevus
                   Ursavus sylvestris †Ursavus sylvestris
Subfamily:  Agriotheriinae †
      Genus:  Indarctos †11.1 – 5.3 mya.
                   Indarctos arctoides †Indarctos arctoides
                   Indarctos atticus †Indarctos atticus
                     Indarctos atticus anthracitis †Indarctos atticus anthracitis (subspecies)
                     Indarctos atticus bakalovi †Indarctos atticus bakalovi (subspecies)
                     Indarctos atticus lagrelii †Indarctos atticus lagrelii (subspecies)
                     Indarctos atticus punjabiensis †Indarctos atticus punjabiensis (subspecies)
                   Indarctos oregonensis †Indarctos oregonensis
                   Indarctos salmontanus †Indarctos salmontanus
                   Indarctos sinensis †Indarctos sinensis
                   Indarctos vireti †Indarctos vireti
                   Indarctos zdanskyi †Indarctos zdanskyi
      Genus:  Agriotherium †9-2 mya.
                   Agriotherium africanum †Agriotherium africanum
                   Agriotherium inexpectans †Agriotherium inexpectans
                   Agriotherium roblesi †Agriotherium roblesi
                   Agriotherium schneideri †Agriotherium schneideri
                   Agriotherium sivalensis †Agriotherium sivalensis
Subfamily:   Ailuropodinae20 mya.
      Genus:   Agriarctos †
      Genus:   Ailurarctos †8 mya.
                    Primal Panda †Ailurarctos lufengensis
                    Ailurarctos yuanmouensis †Ailurarctos yuanmouensis
      Genus:   Ailuropoda3-2 mya.
                    Pygmy Giant Panda †Ailuropoda microta
                    Ailuropoda wulingshanensis †Ailuropoda wulingshanensis
                    Ailuropoda baconi †Ailuropoda baconi
                    Dwarf Panda †Ailuropoda minor
                    Giant Panda BearAiluropoda melanoleuca
                      Qinling PandaAiluropoda melanoleuca quinlingensis (subspecies)
Subfamily:  Tremarctinae
      Genus:  Plionarctos †8-7 mya.
                   Plionarctos edensis †Plionarctos edensis
                   Plionarctos harroldorum †Plionarctos harroldorum
                   Plionarctos telonensis †Plionarctos telonensis
      Genus:  Arctodus †5-2 mya.
                   Brazilian Bear †Arctodus braziliensis
                   Buenos Aires Bear †Arctodus bonariensis
                   Giant Short-Faced Bear †Arctodus simus
                   Pampas Bear †Arctodus pamparus
                   Short-Faced Bear †Arctodus pristinus
      Genus:  Arctotherium †
                   Brazilian Short-Faced Bear †Arctotherium brasilense
                   Argentine Short-Faced Bear †Arctotherium latidens
                   Arctotherium enectum †Arctotherium (Pararctotherium) enectum
                   Arctotherium brasiliensis †Arctotherium (Pararctotherium) brasiliensis
                   Arctotherium pamparum †Arctotherium (Pararctotherium) pamparum
      Genus:  Tremarctos2.5 mya.
                   Spectacled BearTremarctos ornatus
                   Florida Cave Bear †Tremarctos floridanus
Subfamily:  Ursinae
       Genus: Ursus4 – 5 mya.
                    Auvergne Bear †Ursus minimus
                       Ursus minimus minimus †Ursus minimus minimus (subspecies)
                       Ursus minimus boeckhi †Ursus minimus boeckhi (subspecies)
                    Ursus abstrusus †Ursus abstrusus
                    Etruscan Bear †Ursus etruscus
                       Ursus etruscus etruscus †Ursus etruscus etruscus (subspecies)
                       Ursus etruscus ruscinensis †Ursus etruscus ruscinensis (subspecies)
                       Ursus etruscus arvernensis †Ursus etruscus arvernensis (subspecies)
                    European Cave Bear †Ursus spelaeus (300,000 years ago)
                    Brown BearUrsus arctos
                       Alaskan Grizzly BearUrsus arctos alascensis (subspecies)
                       Eurasian Brown BearUrsus arctos arctos (subspecies)
                       Kamchatka Brown BearUrsus arctos beringianus (subspecies)
                       California Golden BearUrsus arctos californicus (subspecies)
                       Siberian Brown BearUrsus arctos collaris (subspecies)
                       Atlas Bear †Ursus arctos crowtheri (subspecies)
                       Alaskan Brown Bear †Ursus arctos dalli (subspecies)
                       Peninsula Giant BearUrsus arctos gyas (subspecies)
                       Grizzly BearUrsus arctos horribilis (subspecies)
                       Himalayan Brown BearUrsus arctos isabellinus (subspecies)
                       Amur Brown Bear †Ursus arctos lasiotus (subspecies)
                       Kodiak BearUrsus arctos middendorffi (subspecies)
                       Mexican Grizzly BearUrsus arctos nelsoni (subspecies) (invalid)
                       Tibetan Blue BearUrsus arctos pruinosus (subspecies)
                       Sitka Islands BearUrsus arctos sitkensis (subspecies)
                       Ursus arctos stikeensisUrsus arctos stikeensis (subspecies)
                       Syrian Brown BearUrsus arctos syriacus (subspecies)
                    Polar BearUrsus maritimus
                       Early Polar Bear or Tyrant Sea Bear †Ursus maritimus tyrannus (subspecies)
                       Modern Polar BearUrsus maritimus maritimus (subspecies)
                    American Black BearUrsus americanus
                       Olympic Black BearUrsus americanus altifrontalis (subspecies)
                       New Mexico Black BearUrsus americanus amblyceps (subspecies)
                       Minnesota Black BearUrsus americanus americanus (subspecies)
                       California Black BearUrsus americanus californiensis (subspecies)
                       Queen Charlotte Black BearUrsus americanus carlottae (subspecies)
                       Cinnamon BearUrsus americanus cinnamomum (subspecies)
                       Glacier BearUrsus americanus emmonsii (subspecies)
                       East Mexican Black BearUrsus americanus eremicus (subspecies)
                       Florida Black BearUrsus americanus floridanus (subspecies)
                       New Foundland BearUrsus americanus hamiltoni (subspecies)
                       Kermode BearUrsus americanus kermodei (subspecies)
                       Louisiana Black BearUrsus americanus luteolus (subspecies)
                       West Mexico Black BearUrsus americanus machetes (subspecies)
                       Kenai Black BearUrsus americanus perniger (subspecies)
                       Dall Black BearUrsus americanus pugnax (subspecies)
                       Vancouver Black BearUrsus americanus vancouveri (subspecies)
                    Asiatic Black BearUrsus thibetanus
                       Formosan Black BearUrsus thibetanus formosanus (subspecies)
                       Baluchistan Black BearUrsus thibetanus gedrosianus (subspecies)
                       Japanese Black BearUrsus thibetanus japonicus (subspecies)
                       Himalayan Black BearUrsus thibetanus laniger (subspecies)
                       Ursus thibetanus mupinensisUrsus thibetanus mupinensis (subspecies)
                       Ursus thibetanus thibetanusUrsus thibetanus thibetanus (subspecies)
                       Manchurian Black BearUrsus thibetanus ussuricus (subspecies)
       Genus:  Helarctos
                     Sun BearHelarctos malayanus
                        Borneo Sun BearHelarctos malayanus euryspilus (subspecies)
       Genus:  Melursus
                    Sloth BearMelursus urinus
                       Sri Lankan Sloth BearMelursus urinus inoratus (subspecies)
† – extinct
Ursidae Taxonomy

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