Polar bear
Polar bear
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) (/ˈpoʊ.lər ˈbeər/), also known as the white bear, is a large bear species native to the Arctic region.
Etymology
The term "polar bear" is derived from the Latin Ursus maritimus, meaning "maritime bear". The name "white bear" is a direct translation of its traditional indigenous name in many Arctic regions.
Description
Polar bears are the largest land carnivores in the world, rivaled only by the Kodiak bear. They have a distinctive white coat that helps them blend in with their snowy surroundings. Their diet primarily consists of ringed seals and bearded seals, but they are also known to eat walrus, narwhal, and beluga whale when available.
Behavior
Polar bears are solitary animals with a strong sense of territory. They are also excellent swimmers and can swim for long distances in search of food or mates. During the summer months, they spend most of their time on the sea ice, hunting seals.
Conservation Status
Polar bears are currently listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The main threats to their survival are climate change, loss of sea ice habitat, and human activities such as hunting and pollution.
Related Terms
- Arctic
- Carnivore
- Climate change
- Conservation
- Habitat
- IUCN
- Kodiak bear
- Ringed seal
- Bearded seal
- Walrus
- Narwhal
- Beluga whale
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Polar bear
- Wikipedia's article - Polar bear
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