Archaic and recent Ursus spelaeus forms from Lombardy and Venetia Region (North Italy)

Abstract

[Abstract] Some Ursus spelaeus Rosenmüller-Heinroth, 1784 cranial and mandibular remains coming from Northern Italy (Lombardy Region -Buco dell’Orso Cave, Laglio, Como-) and from Venetia Region (Cerè, S. Donà di Lamon and Velo), are biometrically analysed. The compared fossils could be inserted in two typological forms: archaic and modern. To the first belongs a part of Venetia Region remains and to the second, the Buco dell’Orso Cave fossils and some of the Venetia Region caves too. The probable thesis of derivation of U. Spelaeus by U. Arctos is mentioned, although the phylogenetic hypothesis U. etruscus→U. deningeri→U. spelaeus, is still effective .