# Cave bear (*Ursus spelaeus*)

Canonical page: https://creaturedata.com/animals/cave-bear  
Data as of: 2026-11-11

The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) is a mammal in the bear family Ursidae, part of the order Carnivora. It falls in the giant size class, with an adult body mass of 1 tonne (1,000 kg) and a height of 3.5 m. The species was named by Rosenmüller in 1794 and is placed in the genus Ursus, suborder Caniformia.

## Quick facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | 1 t |
| Length | Not recorded |
| Height | 3.5 m |
| Lifespan | Not recorded |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Main food | Not recorded |
| Habitat | cave |
| Young per litter or clutch | Not recorded |
| Conservation status | Not recorded |
| Countries on record | Not recorded |

## Classification

- kingdom: Animalia
- phylum: Chordata
- class: Mammalia
- order: Carnivora
- family: Ursidae
- genus: Ursus
- species: *Ursus spelaeus* Rosenmüller, 1794

## Common questions

### What kind of animal is the cave bear?

The cave bear is a mammal in the bear family Ursidae, within the order Carnivora.

### How heavy is a cave bear?

An adult cave bear has a body mass of 1 tonne, or 1,000 kg, which places it in the giant size class.

### How tall is a cave bear?

The cave bear has a height of 3.5 m.

### What is the scientific name of the cave bear?

The scientific name of the cave bear is Ursus spelaeus, placing it in the genus Ursus.

### Who named the cave bear and when?

The cave bear was named by Rosenmüller in 1794.

### What family does the cave bear belong to?

The cave bear belongs to the family Ursidae, in the suborder Caniformia.

## Sources

- [Catalogue of Life eXtended Release](https://www.checklistbank.org/dataset/316691), CC BY 4.0, 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life (2026). Catalogue of Life eXtended Release, version 2026-10-16 XR. Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgzlf
- [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org), per file (CC0 / public domain / CC BY green, CC BY-SA amber, anything else not displayed), 2026-11-11. Wikimedia Commons contributors. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org (each file credited to its author under its own licence).
- [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org), CC0 1.0, 2026-11-11. Wikidata contributors. Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org (data retrieved via the Wikidata Query Service).
- [Wikipedia (English)](https://en.wikipedia.org), CC BY-SA 4.0, 2026-11-11. Wikipedia contributors. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org (text under CC BY-SA 4.0; each block names its article and revision).

Cite as: Cave bear (Ursus spelaeus). Retrieved from https://creaturedata.com/animals/cave-bear