The teeth of cave bears from the Valsolda (Lombardy, N. Italy): An hypothesis on their evolutionary level

In this study, the teeth of cave bears from the Valsolda (Como province, near the boundary with Switzerland) have been morphologically and morphodynamically studied in order to indicate the possible evolutionary level of this population. These bears belong to the spelaeus group, and are found within the range of the Italian Alps populations that are generally characterized by medium size, at times higher, but featuring a rather simple dental surface with low or intermediate morphodynamic indices, and consequently a medium or in some case low evolutionary level. With these data only, it is impossible to define the species or subspecies (ingressus?, spelaeus ladinicus?) for the bears from Valsolda.