6-Million-Year-Old Fossil Reveals New Giant Bear Species

Paleontologists in Russia have identified a new giant bear species from fossil remains dating back nearly six million years, marking a significant addition to the study of prehistoric wildlife.

The fossil, found in the Stavropol Territory of southern Russia, belonged to a massive bear believed to have been both fast and predatory, similar in size to today’s largest brown bears.

The discovery was announced Nov. 3 by Alexey Lopatin, director of the Borissiak Paleontological Institute at the Russian Academy of Sciences. He said the extinct species belonged to a group related to modern giant pandas.

Naming honors the pioneer of fossil bear research

The bear has been named Borissiak huracana, combining a nod to an ancient wind god and the surname of Academician Alexei Borissiak, the institute’s founding director who made major contributions to the study of fossil bears.

Lopatin explained that the remains represent only one individual, but the find highlights how much is still unknown about ancient bear lineages.

He added that researchers expect more undiscovered species to surface in various regions, including Russia, due to the limited study of prehistoric bears so far.

New giant bear species adds to evolutionary knowledge

The fossil, estimated to be between 5.5 and 6 million years old, offers a rare glimpse into a little-known branch of bear evolution and helps fill critical gaps in the scientific record.

In a separate development earlier this year, researchers from Russia and South Korea completed a genetic study of the extinct Dokdo sea lion.

That study confirmed the species as the oldest known sea lion lineage and found evidence of interbreeding with fur seals, which likely improved their adaptability to changing environments.

The identification of this new giant bear species adds to a growing body of work focused on understanding ancient ecosystems and how prehistoric animals survived in shifting climates.