Polar bear fur is made up of a layer of dense underfur and an outer layer of "guard hairs", which appear white to tan but are actually translucent. [4], As adults, male bears fight with each other over a female each male fluffs out his coat of fur to make himself look bigger. Males weigh about 408 kilos (900 lbs) and females about 226 kilos (500 lbs). With the help of over 7,000 of the world’s best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, Arkive.org featured multi-media fact-files for more than 16,000 endangered species. The nose is broad and black. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Humans probably cause most polar bear deaths by hunting and by destruction of problem animals near settlements. The cub is born in December, when the mother is hibernating. [7]. Adult females … Polar bear fur is translucent, and only appears white because it reflects visible light. They grow up to a length of 8.3 feet (253 cm). The fur keeps them very warm. They have a long thin but well developed neck, highly developed hindquarters and a straight profile (Brown 1993, p 51). The muzzle is elongated with a "Roman-nosed" (slightly arched) snout. The polar bear or the sea/ice bear are the world's largest land predators. Description. The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a large bear which lives in the Arctic. Therefore, they can absorb sunlight efficiently. Males weigh 900–1,600 pounds (410–720 kilograms). [3] It is also called white bear or northern bear. Numerical changes to each population occurring between 1998 and 2013 are shown. They are able to move easier in water though as they are very good swimmers. Cubs weigh less than 1 kg at birth and are not weaned until after they are two years old. By the time they are two years old, the cubs have grown into large bears. Polar bears are also the largest species of bear. A polar bear's paws are perfect snowshoes for them. Polar bears mate in April or May. Longevity in the wild is 25 to 30 years, but in captivity several polar bears have lived to more than 35 years old. They live in very cold climates which is why they have thick, white fur to keep them warm. People think polar bears can become 25–30 years old in nature, but in captivity (for example, in zoos), they can become up to 45 years old. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Polar bear paws are ideal for roaming the Arctic. In swimming the polar bear uses only its front limbs, an aquatic adaptation found in no other four-legged mammal. Teeth. It grows to about 1.6 metres (5.3 feet) tall at the shoulder and 2.2–2.5 metres in length. Each hair on a polar bear is hollow, and the skin beneath its fur is black. The cub stays in the den with the mother until March, then, they all come out. The weight of an adult male is estimated at 1760 lbs (800 kg). Young polar bears may die of starvation or may be killed by adult males, and for this reason female polar bears are extremely defensive of their young when adult males are present. Except for one subspecies of grizzly bear, the polar bear is the largest and most powerful carnivore on land. Polar bear, (Ursus maritimus), also called white bear, sea bear, or ice bear, great white northern bear (family Ursidae) found throughout the Arctic region. [9] Inuit people knew that eating the liver could cause sickness and death. The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a carnivorous bear whose native range lies largely within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). A large male can weigh more than 1,700 pounds, while a large female is about half that size (up to 1,000 pounds). Sometimes, because of global warming, this is impossible and the cubs die before they have had a chance to live. Adult males normally weight 350 to more than 600 kilograms (775 to more than 1,300 pounds). Introduction to Polar Bears This is a very powerful bear with sharp claws that they use for hunting. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/animal/polar-bear, SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment - Polar Bear, The National Wildlife Federation - Polar Bear, polar bear - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), polar bear - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), International Union for Conservation of Nature. Omissions? When ice is very thin, polar bears extend their legs far apart and lower their bodies to distribute their weight even more. This fantastic PowerPoint will teach you a whole bunch of facts about polar bears and some fun polar bear habitat facts. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and are capable of swimming for days without break. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership - Now 30% off. This fauna, together with the vegetation that feeds the lemming, ptarmigan, and caribou, forms a tight ecological…. Females first reproduce at four to eight years of age and breed every two to four years thereafter. The snow den is where the mother polar bear will give birth to her babies and where they spend the winters. A baby polar bear has fluffy white fur which protects the cub from extreme Arctic chill. The male, which is much larger than the female, weighs 410 to 720 kg (900 to 1,600 pounds). The polar bear travels long distances over vast desolate expanses, generally on drifting oceanic ice floes, searching for seals, its primary prey. Their tail adds another 3 to 5 in… It has black skin under the white fur. In 2015 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Polar Bear Specialist Group designated polar bears as a vulnerable species. Wildscreen's Arkive project was launched in 2003 and grew to become the world's biggest encyclopaedia of life on Earth. Male polar bears are much larger than the females. This page was last changed on 30 December 2020, at 02:18. A boar (adult male) weighs around 350–700 kg (770–1,540 lb), while a sow (adult female) is about half that size. Both male and female polar bears live to be as much as 30 years old (in a zoo). Polar bear males are larger than females. The bear spends more than half of its life in water which is why it is also called marine mammal. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... See how a polar bear preys on a walrus in this video. Their diet mainly consists of ringed and bearded seals because they need large amounts of fat to survive. They practice using their strong paws, and they show off their big, sharp teeth. The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a hypercarnivorous bear whose native range lies largely within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. A polar bear is a great white northern bear (family Ursidae) found throughout the Arctic region. Males mature at about the same age as females but do not breed until a few years later. …strong swimmers, most notably the polar bear. The polar bear was the most dangerous animal to hunt. These rules help keep the polar bear population where its at today. Corrections? Polar bears are apex predators. [30] [9] Several groups of European polar explorers were seriously ill after eating livers. They also eat sea lions, walruses, reindeer, arctic hares, penguins, seagulls, small whales, lemmings, crabs and carrion. It has black skin under the white fur. Polar bears live in the Arctic which is near the North Pole. Female polar bear weighs over 990 lbs (450 kg) and it averages up to 7 feet (214 cm) in the overall length. A polar bear is a great white northern bear (family Ursidae) found throughout the Arctic region. The sharp claws help grip the ice. They leave their mother and strike off into territory of their own. It has no natural predators and knows no fear of humans, making it an extremely dangerous animal. Polar bears are solitary and overwhelmingly carnivorous, feeding especially on the ringed seal but also on the bearded seal and other pinnipeds. Young Polar bears stay with their mothers for 1–2 years, and they become mature when they are 5–6 years old. Polar bears are listed under a variety of classifications depending on international, national, and regional regulations. Mother polar bears will do anything to protect their young. Description of the Polar Bear When you think of a polar bear, you think of thick, white fur. But they cannot live on their own. Models developed by some scientists predict an increase in polar bear starvation as a result of longer ice-free seasons and a decline in mating success, since sea-ice fragmentation could reduce encounter rates between males and females. Bears, however, lack the physiological characteristics (lower heart rate, body temperature, breathing rate, and blood pressure) exhibited by animals that truly hibernate. Polar bears prefer ice that is subject to periodic fracturing by wind and sea currents, because these fractures offer seals access to both air and water. Although it is the sister species of the brown bear, it has evolved to occupy a narrower ecological niche, with many body c… 2) These are seriously big bears, gang. Sunlight can pass through the thick fur, its heat being absorbed by the bear’s black skin. At birth, a baby cub weighs less than 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms). The polar bear digs a den in the snow, whereas grizzlies build large mounds of dirt in front of their dens. Polar bears are ready to mate when they are five or six years old. It has no natural predators and knows no fear of humans, making it an extremely dangerous animal. Laws have been passed in many areas of the world to protect bears from hunters and the destruction of their habitat. The broad feet have hairy soles to protect and insulate as well as to facilitate movement across ice, as does the uneven skin on the soles of the feet, which helps to prevent slipping. Model forecasts by the U.S. Geological Survey suggest that habitat loss may cause polar bear populations to decline by two-thirds by the year 2050. For bears, height is usually measured at the shoulder when the animal is on all fours, according to Polar Bear International. The babies are born six weeks after their mother mates. Young remain with their mothers until they reach sexual maturity. It has no natural predators and knows no fear of humans, making it an extremely dangerous animal. During the first year, the cubs begin to eat solid food but still nurse from their mother. Then they come closer and touch noses. Additionally, polar bears are opportunistic as well as predatory: they will consume dead fish and carcasses of stranded whales and eat garbage near human settlements. They circle around each other for a while, grunting. The cub leaves its mother in 2-3 years. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the category of vulnerable, as distinct from the category of endangered, means that polar bears have a slightly lower risk of extinction than if they were endangered. They begin to learn to hunt and swim. [6] They are strong and can swim very well. Description: A polar bear has an elongated body, with low, well-developed shoulders. No, polar bears are not an endangered species, but they are threatened. They are strong and fast, and can run as fast as 25 miles (40 km) an hour for a short distance. It one particular case, a polar bear was spotted swimming for 9 days at a stretch covering a distance of 687 kilometers across frigid Bering Sea. The Polar Bear is the largest of the bear species. A polar bear can crawl across ice too thin for a human to walk on. Because of continued global warming, a substantial reduction in the coverage of Arctic summer sea ice—prime habitat for polar bears—is expected by the middle of the 21st century. Polar bears are actually black, not white. Brown bears are a large species of bear that ranges throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere. Another adaptation is polar bears’ use of only their front limbs when swimming, which is found in no other four-legged mammal. Young polar bears wrestle in the snow to build their strength and skills. They are adults by this time and weigh 330 to 660 pounds (150 to 300 kilograms). Polar bear facts for kids is a collection of some of the most amazing and interesting facts about polar bears.The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is the largest terrestrial carnivore in the world. A Polar Bears skin, visible only on the nose and footpads, is black. One important adaptation of polar bears to their unique climate is the transparency of their thick fur, which allows sunlight to pass through and reach their black skin, where heat from the sun is then absorbed. Beneath all that thick fur, their skin is jet black. The polar bear eats seals, fish and fruits (berries). Including the delay, gestation may last 195–265 days, and one to four cubs, usually two, are born during the winter in a den of ice or snow. Females are about 2 metres (6.5 feet). A polar bear learns the seasonal pattern of movements as a cub during the 2 years it remains with its mother (Stirling and Guravich 1990, p 68). Polar bears have been known to kill people. At the turn of the 21st century, an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears existed in the wild. The Inuit gave thanks and respect in turn. External Description. The polar bear's liver contains a lot of vitamin A. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. While adult polar bears are perfectly insulated by the dense white fur, baby polar bears develop lighter furs in the initial days following the birth. The bear stalks seals resting on the ice, ambushes them near breathing holes, and digs young seals from snow shelters where they are born. They are massive animals, and the only bear species larger than brown bears is polar bears.In fact, brown bears are closely related to polar bears, and share some of the same habitat. They can live off of one seal for many days, but it will make them hungry if they do. Polar bears and grizzly bears can be dangerous to people, especially when they are sharing a habitat, but for the most part, bears are shy and are easily frightened of humans. Scientists have even seen a mother polar bear stand up and leap at a helicopter to keep it away from her cubs. Polar bear is a big bear by any standards. Updates? Map of polar bear populations in the vicinity of the Arctic Ocean in 2013. Bears do not generally communicate by sound and usually are quiet, but they do growl at times when feeding, when being challenged by another bear or by humans, and when competing for mates.…, These include the polar bear (as much a marine as a terrestrial animal), caribou, arctic wolf, arctic fox, arctic weasel, arctic hare, brown and collared lemmings, ptarmigan, gyrfalcon, and snowy owl. It is also called white bear or northern bear. Polar bears live in one of the planet's coldest environments and depend on a thick coat of insulated fur, which covers a warming layer of fat. Mating occurs in spring, and implantation of the fertilized ovum is delayed. The bear's blubber, meat, and fur all help the Inuit survive. On average, polar bears on all fours are 3.5 to 5 feet (1 to 1.5 meters) tall, but when standing on its hind legs, an adult male polar bear may reach more than 10 feet (3 m). They eat immediately after hibernating. As their prey is aquatic, polar bears are excellent swimmers, and they are even known to kill beluga whales. Their feet are incredibly large as well, measuring 12 in. But they play with other bears they meet. Polar bears have 42 teeth, which they use for catching food and for aggressive behavior. Young polar bears testing their strength. After swimming for so long, the bear reached the ice far from land. It was also greatly respected for its strength and spirit. Polar bears are stocky, with a long neck, relatively small head, short, rounded ears, and a short tail. A polar bear might catch only one or two out of 10 seals it hunts, depending on the time of year and other variables. However the cub’s fur is not thick enough to prevent them from cold if they get wet. After a hunt, they held a celebration that lasted for several days. Adult females are smaller, normally weighing 150 to 290 kilograms (330 to 650 pounds). By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Mother polar bears usually give birth to one to three cubs at a time. They can kill a predator with just one swat of their powerful front paws. Except for one subspecies of grizzly bear, the polar bear is the largest and most powerful carnivore on land. They are about seven to eight feet long, measured from the nose to the tip of their very short tail. The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a large bear which lives in the Arctic. They eat the ringed seal as well as the bearded seal and other pinnipeds. Due to the absence of human development in its remote habitat, it retains more of its original range than any other extant carnivore. In May 2008 the U.S. government listed the polar bear as a threatened species. It is also called white bear or northern bear. Adult polar bears can measure over 2.5m long and weigh around 680kg. The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a large bear which lives in the Arctic. Strong, sharp claws are also important for gaining traction, for digging through ice, and for killing prey. When polar bears hunt, they often wait at holes in the ice, where the seals come up to breathe. Description. A polar bear's head is oblong and relatively small compared to body size. Description. After 24 hours, people's skin began to peel off. The tail is 7–12 cm (3–5 inches) long. Polar Bear Description. They hunt and live alone. They can be found in the Artic, the U.S. (Alaska), Canada, Russia, Denmark (Greenland), and Norway. Finally, the bear's skull was set on an ice floe to release its spirit back into the Arctic. Although polar bear meat is consumed by aboriginals, the liver is inedible and often poisonous because of its high vitamin A content. Polar bears are easily recognizable by their white fur, which yellows with age. 1) Polar bears are found in the frozen wilds of the Arctic, in Canada, Alaska (US), Greenland, Russia and Norway. Polar bears investigate the submarine USS Honolulu 450 kilometres (280 mi) from the North Pole The polar bear is found in the Arctic Circle and adjacent land masses as far south as Newfoundland Island. It is the largest extant bear species, as well as the largest extant predatory carnivore. © … Paws:polar bear paws are perfect for roaming the Arctic. While they do spend most of their time in the water, they also spend time on land. With their small ears and tails and short legs, polar bears are adapted to … Internationally, they are listed as a vulnerable species by the IUCN. In Russia, polar bears are classified as a Red Data Book species, a listing that includes animals considered rare or endangered. The skin is not white; it is black. They are strong and fast, and can run as fast as 25 miles (40 km) an hour for a short distance. Polar bear scientists call this "the cowboy walk." [9], From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, This article is about the animal. It has black skin under the white fur. They are strong and fast, and can run as fast as 25 miles (40 km) an hour for a short distance.[4][5]. Save 30% off a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) lives in the Arctic beyond the Arctic Circle in Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Russia, and in the areas covered by sea ice around the North Pole.It does not hibernate during winter, and stays in areas with sea ice, which helps him to move from one place to another and hunting for seals, mainly ringed and bearded. The mother feeds the babies milk, which makes them grow fast, and after 10 weeks, the cubs weigh about 20 to 25 pounds (9.1 to 11.4 kilograms). When two polar bears meet, they have a special way of greeting each other. Polar bears have 42 teeth. Polar bears live in countries in the Arctic Circle, including these: The breeding time is 8 months. A male Polar Bear standing on its back legs may be 3 metres (10 feet) tall. Polar bears use their incisors to shear off pieces of blubber and flesh. Males are about 2.6 metres (8.5 feet) from head to tail. Then, a polar bear dance was held. They eat mostly seals and fish. Except for one subspecies of grizzly bear, the polar bear is the largest and most powerful carnivore on land. Polar bears are mostly carnivorous. The bottoms are wide and covered with fur to help keep the bear from slipping. Adult polar bears have no natural predators, though walruses and wolves can kill them. The world's largest land carnivore, a male polar bear can reach two to three metres in length and weigh between 300-800 kilograms. Polar bears are strong swimmers, and individuals have been seen in open Arctic waters as far as 200 miles from land, although swimming long distances is not preferred since it requires so much energy for adults and can be fatal to younger bears. Polar bear is also called arctic bear or white bear. Polar Bear Appearance. Their huge size and weight make them the … Paws measure up to 12 inches across and help distribute weight when treading on thin ice. Polar bears are the largest carnivorous land mammals on Earth. Polar Bears have a thick fur coat either white or cream in colour, which helps them blend into their surroundings and stay hidden from prey although their black noses sometimes gives them away. 22. Each of these countries either banned hunting or established rules for how many polar bears could be … Then they use their claws to slowly push themselves across the ice.[8]. Under the skin is a layer of insulating fat. The bears are hunted especially by Inuit people for their hides, tendons, fat, and flesh. Then, he swaggers along, growling, to scare off his rival. [9] The symptoms included drowsiness, wanting to sleep, being irritable, headaches, and vomiting. It is the most carnivorous species of all bears. They spread out their legs and lay their bellies flat on the ice. It is a large bear, approximately the same size as the omnivorous Kodiak bear (Ursus arctos middendorffi). These bears are massive, with the largest ever recorded standing just over 11 ft. tall on its hind legs! Polar bears are similar in size to a normal bear but have a slimmer neck, longer legs and fur. The babies are … Compared to brown bears, polar bears have an elongated body and face. across on adults. Polar bears rely heavily on sea ice for traveling, hunting, resting, mating and, in … They are mostly carnivorous. Polar bears are opportunistic as well as predatory; they will consume dead fish and carcasses of stranded whales and eat garbage near human settlements. They can be up to 250cm long and 160cm tall and weigh up to 600kg. They stand just over 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall at the shoulder and can reach a length of 8 feet (2.5 meters). For other uses, see, 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T22823A14871490.en, https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Polar_bear&oldid=7234614, Беларуская (тарашкевіца)‎, Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. Lengthwise, they are 7.25 to 8 feet (2.2 to 2.5 m) from head to rump. 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