Today, we make a second announcement about new CollectA prehistoric animal models for 2025.  A CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale giant short-faced bear model will be available next year.  CollectA seem to have listened carefully to the requests of model collectors, and as a result, they have made a replica of Arctodus simus.  We at Everything Dinosaur are not sure when this prehistoric bear figure will be available. Perhaps, we will be able to stock it in the spring.  CollectA have kindly sent us some exclusive images of this new Arctodus simus model.  We can share some of these images with you.

• CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simus).

The new for 2025 CollectA Deluxe giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simus). The figure has a stated scale of 1:20.

The CollectA Deluxe Arctodus simus Model

The CollectA Deluxe giant short-faced bear is depicted rearing up.  The engineering team should be congratulated as they have created quite a dynamic pose, whilst maintaining the model’s stability.  The figure represents a male, and that white flash on the chest is most distinctive.  The closest living relative to A. simus is the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus).  It too, tends to have a lighter coloured chest compared to the rest of its body, which is mainly covered in black fur.

The image of the CollectA Deluxe 1:20 scale A. simus shows the distinctive short snout of this genus. The figure has a disproportionately short snout compared to extant bears within the Ursinae subfamily (polar bear, black bear, brown bear).

The figure has a disproportionately short snout compared to most living bears.  Hence the common name for this taxon – the giant short-faced bear.

To view the range of CollectA Deluxe prehistoric animal models in stock: CollectA Deluxe Prehistoric Life Figures.

The Giant Short-faced Bear

This giant bear inhabited North America during the Pleistocene Epoch. It had an extensive range. Fossils of A. simus have been found as far south as Mexico and in Canada. Once thought to be almost entirely carnivorous, it is likely that, like most extant bears, it was omnivorous. The CollectA model represents a male. Males were much larger than the females. The largest specimens stood nearly 1.7 metres high at the shoulder and would have weighed nearly a tonne.  When rearing up, a large male could stand around three and a half metres tall.

Isotope analysis of fossil teeth and bones suggests that this bear browsed on vegetation.  However, it also consumed other animals such as deer and tapirs.  Large males probably chased predators off their kills, allowing these big animals to feed on the carcase.  The white flash on the face, neck and chest of the CollectA model would have helped to intimidate both diurnal and nocturnal hunters allowing the bear to take over the kill.

The CollectA design team have provided some nice touches of detail on this model. For example, a small fleshy pad can be seen below the left paw. This is the “false thumb” associated with the sesamoid bone. This feature is found in the living member of the Tremarctinae subfamily – the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus). The red arrow points to a torn ear.

The CollectA Arctodus simus Model and the “False Thumb”

The CollectA figure shows lots of detail such as the “false thumb” just below the main pad of the paw.  This hard pad marks the location of the radial sesamoid bone in the wrist.  This anatomical trait is seen in the spectacled bear and also in the distantly related giant panda.  The CollectA figure has a torn right ear (as indicated by the red arrow in the image).

A spokesperson from Everything Dinosaur confirmed that this figure would be in stock next year (2025), but at this time they were not sure when.

Our thanks to CollectA for sending us these fantastic photographs of their new Arctodus simus model.

Visit the award-winning Everything Dinosaur website: Prehistoric Animal Models and Toys.