Palaeohistology and life history evolution in cave bears, Ursus spelaeus sensu lato.

ABSTRACT: The abundance of skeletal remains of cave bears in Pleistocene deposits can offer crucial information on the biology and life history of this megafaunal element. The histological study of 62 femora from 23 different European localities and comparisons with specimens of five extant ursid species revealed novel data on tissue types and growth patterns. Cave bear's femoral bone microstructure is characterized by a fibrolamellar complex with increasing amounts of parallel-fibered and lamellar bone towards the outer cortex. Remodelling of the primary bone tissue initially occurs close to the perimedullary margin of the bone cortex around the linea aspera. Although similar histological traits can be observed in many extant bear species, the composition of the fibrolamellar complex can vary great

SUBMITTER: Veitschegger K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6248942 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature