Bears
Bears
Bears (pronunciation: /bɛərz/) are a group of large mammals found in all continents. They form the family Ursidae, in the order Carnivora. There are 8 species of bears: brown bears, polar bears, American black bears, Asian black bears, sun bears, sloth bears, spectacled bears, and the giant panda.
Etymology
The English word "bear" comes from Old English bera and belongs to a family of names for the bear in Germanic languages, such as Swedish björn, also used as a first name. This form is conventionally said to be related to a Proto-Indo-European word for "brown", so that "bear" would mean "the brown one".
Description
Bears have large bodies with stocky legs, long snouts, shaggy hair, plantigrade paws with five nonretractile claws, and short tails. While the polar bear is mostly carnivorous, and the giant panda feeds almost entirely on bamboo, the remaining six species are omnivorous with varied diets.
Related Terms
- Carnivora: The order to which bears belong.
- Ursidae: The family of mammals that includes bears.
- Hibernation: A state of inactivity and metabolic depression in endotherms. Bears are known for their ability to hibernate during the winter months.
- Omnivore: An animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Most bears are omnivores.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Bears
- Wikipedia's article - Bears
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