Ursus spelaeus, known as the Cave Bear, was a large extinct bear that lived in Europe during the Pleistocene era. It had a robust body, adapted to cold climates with large sinuses possibly for enhanced sense of smell. Ursus deningeri, its ancestor, lived earlier during the Middle Pleistocene, sharing similar traits but slightly smaller in size.

Ursus spelaeus (the cave bear) and Ursus deningeri are both species of extinct bears that were native to Europe. Ursus spelaeus was predominantly found across various parts of Europe, particularly in mountainous regions and cave sites from Spain to the Urals. Ursus deningeri was an earlier species, thought to have primarily inhabited central and western Europe.

Ursus spelaeus inhabited cold, mountainous environments during the Pleistocene epoch, often seeking shelter in caves, which provided protection from harsh weather conditions and predators. These bears lived in regions characterized by a mix of open grasslands and forests, with a climate that fluctuated between glacial and interglacial periods. Ursus deningeri, being an ancestor of the cave bear, occupied similar environments but during slightly earlier times when Europe was undergoing different climatic conditions.

Both species were primarily herbivorous, feeding on a diet of vegetation that included grasses, fruits, and other plant materials available in their environments. The reliance on caves for hibernation and shelter highlights their adaptation to cold climates, and their ecological role likely included influencing plant communities through their feeding habits, as well as serving as prey for larger predators when vulnerable.