Polar bears are stocky, with a long neck, relatively small head, short, rounded ears, and a short tail. The male, which is much larger than the female, weighs 410 to 720 kg (900 to 1,600 pounds). It grows to about 1.6 metres (5.3 feet) tall at the shoulder and 2.2–2.5 metres in length.

Characteristics

• comparatively slim body with long neck.
• narrow head with small eyes and outer ears.
• paddle-like paws with webbed toes.
• short tail (7 to 13 centimetres)
• five short, non-retractable claws.
• body covered with hair, with the exception of the lips, the nose and part of the soles of the feet.

Ursus maritimusPolar bear / Scientific name The polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is the largest of the extant bear species and is classified as a marine mammal.

Polar bears' personalities will vary due to life experiences, but at their core all bears have the same basic nature. They're very intelligent, playful, and curious. We've never given them reason to be fearful of us, so our mutual curiosity and respect translates into amazing, on-foot encounters.

Top 10 facts about polar bears

• Polar bears are classified as marine mammals.
• A polar bear skin is actually black.
• They can swim constantly for days at a time.
• Less than 2% of polar bear hunts are successful.
• Scientists can extract polar bear DNA from just their footprints.
• They face more threats than climate change.

Interestingly, the polar bear's coat has no white pigment; in fact, a polar bear's skin is black and its hairs are hollow. They have a thick layer of body fat, which keeps them warm while swimming, and a double-layered coat that insulates them from the cold Arctic air.

Polar bears have white fur so that they can camouflage into their environment. Their coat is so well camouflaged in Arctic environments that it can sometimes pass as a snow drift. Interestingly, the polar bear's coat has no white pigment; in fact, a polar bear's skin is black and its hairs are hollow.

Genetic models show that the emergence of the polar bear could have taken place as recently as 70,000 years ago or as many as 1.5 million years ago. For many years, a fossil found at Kew Bridge in London was considered the oldest polar bear specimen. The fossil then placed the evolution around 70,000 years ago.

Common characteristics of modern bears include large bodies with stocky legs, long snouts, small rounded ears, shaggy hair, plantigrade paws with five nonretractile claws, and short tails.

25 Cool Facts About Polar Bears

• They're the largest carnivores on land.
• Technically, they're marine mammals.
• They're higher on the food chain than we are.
• Polar bears are loners
• 5. but are sometimes willing to share.
• They're picky eaters.
• They spend a lot of time fasting.
• They will travel far to find dinner.

Three adaptive features of polar bears which help them survive in the extremely cold polar regions are:

• The layer of fat under the skin for insulation. (1 mark)
• Long curved and sharp claws to walk and run on slippery ice. (1 mark)
• Presence of thick white fur.

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