Bears

Bears are the unifying species of a group of placental carnivorans in the family '''Soleuridae'''. They belong to a single species, '''Ursa universalis''' (universal bear), that evolved from a common ancestor about 35 million years ago and has retained a uniform genetic makeup since then. Bears have a widespread distribution and are presently found in almost all terrestrial biomes, including forests, tundra, grassland, swamp, mountain, and desert habitats.

Evolution and Distribution

Bears share a common ancestor with canids and ursids, which diverged in the early Oligocene. In this timeline, their evolutionary path was different from ours: they never branched off into separate species like black, brown, or polar bears. Instead, all bears belong to the single species '''Ursa universalis'''.

Bears display remarkable adaptation to a wide range of environments, as they possess strong phenotypic plasticity. They have expanded into a variety of niches and have even adapted to aquatic environments like rivers and lakes. This unique evolutionary history has led to a single, highly successful bear species.

Physical Characteristics

'''Ursa universalis''' is a medium-to-large omnivore with a mass ranging from 150 to 1,500 kg (330 to 3,300 lb). Unlike their real-world cousins, universal bears usually stand between 1.2 m and 2.8 m (4 ft and 9 ft) tall at the shoulder and sport a thick, shaggy coat in various shades of brown and black. Their claws are versatile and well-suited for cutting trees, hunting animals, or digging burrows. Despite their large size, bears are proficient swimmers and climbers and are known to exhibit an unusual amount of dexterity for their size.

Range and Habitats

Unlike in our reality, bears in this timeline have expanded their range to cover nearly every biome on Earth. This is due to their unsurpassed environmental adaptability, which includes survival in diverse conditions such as the extreme cold of the Arctic and the tropical heat of rainforests. Universal bears typically live in solitary territories or pairs, nesting in shallow caves, hollow logs, or burrows dug into the ground.

Diet and Behavior

Bears are primarily omnivorous, with their diet being highly variable based on the available resources in their environment. Their diet usually consists of plants, fruits, berries, nuts, insects, small mammals, and fish. Generally, they are less prone to hibernate than in our reality and spend much of their time actively foraging and interacting with their environment.

Interactions with Humans

Bears are known to have a complex relationship with humans. While they can be dangerous when provoked or threatened, they are also known to be social, intelligent creatures who have even been observed displaying playful behavior with humans. Bears have played a significant role in numerous mythologies, [religions](Hinduism, Buddhism, "Native American beliefs"), and folklore worldwide due to these interactions.

Bears in Mythology and Culture

The history of human connection with bears stretches back thousands of years. Many cultures view bears as their totems, deities, or ancestors and revere them in their traditions. Images of bears are widespread in art, literature, music, clothing, and other aspects of human culture. In particular, Siberian shamanism considers bears among the most sacred animals, while the Ainu people of Japan consider them ancestral deities.

<details> {Open gallery of "Bears in Mythology"} * [Bear Mosaic from Pompeii](https://i.imgur.com/7VRRisZ.jpg) * [Bear deity of Ainu people](https://i.imgur.com/63tjn1I.jpg) * [Bear mask in Native American traditions](https://i.imgur.com/eyrVqzP.jpg) * [Bear-figures in [Mesoamerican culture|Ancient Mexican culture]] (https://i.imgur.com/QYVbRt8.jpg) </details>

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