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Femoral morphology, locomotory and biomechanical patterns of the cave bears from Croatia

This paper presents the morphological and biomechanical analyses of cave bear femora from the Pleistocene layers of the caves Vindija, Velika pećina, Veternica (NW Panonnian Croatia) and Cerovačke pećine (Central Croatia) and one femur from a recent Ursus arctos. The results are compared with published data for Ursus spelaeus, Ursus arctos, Ursus deningeri and Ursus sp. (Kunst, 1996). Cross-sectional geometric properties (cortical area, second moment of area) of femoral diaphyses were calculated using equations for a hollow ellipse, while inner bone contours were obtained from biplanar radiographs. The results of this study lead to the conclusion that the morphological and biomechanical variability between separated extinct populations of cave bears were, in the first place, caused by distinct environmental conditions. Along with other skeletal traits, femoral cross-sectional shape in U. spelaeus is interpreted as being indicative of a limb structure designed primarily for static stability.

cave bear; femur; cross-sectional geometric properties; Croatia

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