Arctotherium

Arctotherium was an extinct genus of giant bears that lived during the Pleistocene epoch, primarily in South America. These bears were significantly larger than modern-day bears, with some species weighing over 1,000 pounds. They were omnivorous, feeding on a mix of meat, plants, and scavenged carcasses, and likely played a prominent role in their ecosystems as top predators and scavengers. Their fossils help scientists understand the evolution of bears and how large mammals adapted to different climates and environments in the past. Arctotherium species went extinct roughly 10,000 years ago, likely due to climate changes and human activity.