Fossil Bear Claw Florida Fossils

This Fossil Bear Claw is from the Pleistocene era and found in the Santa Fe River. It is heavily mineralized and solid, making it a unique addition to any collection.

Tremarctos floridanus, also known as the Florida spectacled bear, is an extinct species of bear that inhabited North America during the Pleistocene epoch. It is closely related to the modern spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) of South America. Tremarctos floridanus had a robust build, with a short snout and powerful limbs adapted for both climbing and digging. This bear species occupied diverse habitats, including forests and grasslands, and its diet likely included a mix of plants, fruits, and small animals. Fossil evidence has been primarily found in Florida, giving insight into the region’s prehistoric wildlife and ecological conditions. Tremarctos floridanus is significant in understanding the evolutionary history and biogeography of bears in the Americas.