Osteometry, Variability, Biomechanics and Locomotion Pattern of the Cave Bear Limb Bones from Croatian Localities

Abstract

The estimated stylo- and zeugopodial bone index is lower for the cavebears from the mountainous region (Cerovaèke peæine caves) than thebone index from the hilly-lowlands caves (Vindija, Velika peæina,Veternica) and indicates that limb loading depends on the body massand palaeoenvironment. The type of movement was similar to thelocomotion of the recent brown bear but with somewhat moreexpressed plantigrady on the hind limbs. At the same time, the sexratio of the studied material depends firstly on the site morphology(endogene or exogene cave), i.e. its function (dense or periodicallyvisited shelter), and also on geological processes and human activity.

Keywords

• Cave bear
• Limb bones
• Rtg-osteometry
• Variability
• Biomechanics
• Locomotion
• Pleistocene
• Vindija
• Velika pećina
• Veternica
• Cerovačke pećine
• Croatia