Ursus etruscus Cuvier, 1823 from the Early Pleistocene of Monte Argentario (Southern Tuscany, Central Italy).

Ursus etruscus fossils have been recovered in the Monte Argentario site (late Villafranchian, Early Pleistocene, Tuscany). Teeth and bones show the typical morphology of the Etruscan bear. The occurrence of this species in the Early Pleistocene Monte Argentario faunal assemblage and other coeval sites (i.e. Pirro Nord) is very important in the framework of the Early Pleistocene biochronology. The occurrence of Etruscan bear at Monte Argentario and Pirro Nord confirms that Ursus etruscus persists in the Early Pleistocene assemblages, representing therefore an European carnivore coexisting with new taxa dispersing from Africa and Asia.