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What type of bear skull is it?

Discussion in 'Skulls and Skeletons' started by nuclearjunky, Apr 29, 2012.

  1. Apr 29, 2012 #1
    nuclearjunky

    nuclearjunky Member

    56
    1
    Hello,

    a friend of mine has found a beautiful very old bear skull in his grandpa's house (see pictures). He used to hunt in British Columbia, Canada, long ago.
    Now we would like to know what type of bear it is. The skull is 12 10/16 (32.2 centimetres) in length and 8 4/16 (21 centimetres) wide.
    Its molars are large and flat and highly worn down, meaning that the animal must have been old. I have read that it is possible to determinate the species by molar size, but we don`t know how exactly.
    The molars are up to 1 6/16 (3.5 centimetres) in length. We would be happy if you could tell us whether it is an old male black bear or an old female grizzly (its too large for female black and seems too small for male grizzly).
     

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  3. Apr 29, 2012 #2
    Head Hunting Iowan

    Head Hunting Iowan New Member

    1,793
    2
    Fort Dodge, Iowa
    I'd say black bear.
     

  5. Apr 29, 2012 #3
    Sea Wolf

    Sea Wolf Well-Known Member

    13,605
    1,766
    Taxachusetts
    Size would say a black but the muzzle on it says it's a very small grizz. The skull could be either a male or female black actually. Either way, ask Grandpa before you run off with it. :)
     
  6. Apr 29, 2012 #4
    slammerdude

    slammerdude Member

    300
    9
    It is an older sow Grizz for sure. It is a sow based on shape, has closed sutures and is too big for a sow Black Bear. If it was a Black Bear boar the fore head would be broader, probably bigger measurements for age and it would also have a much more defined/bigger sagittal crest on the top of the skull. The two pictures on the left are a dead give away. Lastly, Grizz/Brown Bear molars are always greater than 1 1/4 inches and a Black Bear molar is always smaller than 1 1/4 inches.
     
  7. May 1, 2012 #5
    nuclearjunky

    nuclearjunky Member

    56
    1
    Thanks for you answers.
    So we can be sure that it is a sow grizz?
     
  8. May 1, 2012 #6
    AH7

    AH7 New Member

    1,281
    2
    Yup. Grizz for sure. I have a PhD in carnivore cranial anatomy. You can take my word for it. Cool skull. I'd like it. (But then again, I don't think I've ever come across a skull I didn't want.)