Ursus maritimus
Range
Polar bears are found across northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland and even Russia.Habitat
Polar bears live on the freezing polar ice pack of the arctic.Body Traits
They have more than 4 inches of fat called “blubber.” This protects them from the extreme cold. Males weigh from 700 – 1,500 pounds, while females are only 300 – 600 pounds. They have huge front paws they use for swimming. Their skin is black and though their fur looks white, polar bears are now known to have transparent fur. This interesting adaptation allows light to be refracted on the clear strands giving it a white appearance. In the summer months their fur looks yellow or grayish-brown. Their fur, which can even be found on the soles of their feet, helps protect them from the Arctic’s extreme weather.Habits
They will attack and eat humans.Diet
They eat mostly seals, making them the only pure meat eater (carnivore) of all the bears in North America.Predators
The only predator that kills polar bears is man, though one polar bear may kill another.Reproduction
Females have 2 cubs in their winter den. Polar bear cubs nurse on milk for more than a year and a half. This helps them survive the cold. More than half of all cubs die in their first year.Lifespan and/or Conservation Status
If they get past the first year, they can live up to 25 years in the wild. They are listed as a “vulnerable” species.
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Ursidae
- Genus: Ursus
- Species: Ursus maritimus