# Polar Bear (*Ursus maritimus*) Polar bears are huge, white bears that live in the cold Arctic. They have thick fur to keep warm and are great swimmers. Polar bears are excellent hunters and can smell seals from far away under the ice. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Habitat:** Arctic regions - **Also known as:** Ice Bear, White Bear ![Polar Bear](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426683/objects/6323.jpg) ## Appearance The Polar Bear is a large, stocky bear with thick, shaggy white fur that can appear yellowish in sunlight. It has a relatively small head, short, rounded ears, and a long neck, distinguishing it from other bears in its stark Arctic habitat. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Ursidae - **Genus:** Ursus ## Interesting facts - A polar bear's stomach can hold 15-20% of its entire body weight in food! - Polar bears can actually sprint up to 40 km/h on land! That's super fast! - They can smell a seal from almost 30 kilometers away, even under thick ice! - They use their keen sense of smell to find buried seal dens for cubs. ## Special abilities - **Insulation Master:** Polar Bears have extremely thick fur and a layer of blubber that helps them stay warm in the freezing Arctic, even in icy waters. - **Swimming Superstar:** Polar Bears can swim incredibly well, using their large paws as paddles and navigating strong currents to hunt seals. - **Ice Walker:** Polar Bears have large, rough paws with non-slip pads and strong claws that help them walk and grip on slippery ice and snow. - **Stealth Hunter:** Polar Bears can hold their breath for a long time underwater and have an excellent sense of smell, helping them ambush prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 200-300 cm - **Weight:** 150-600 kg - **Lifespan:** 15-18 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-3 - **Gestation:** 195-265 days ## Diet & Feeding Polar bears are expert hunters who mostly eat fatty seals to stay warm and energized in the Arctic. - **Age differences:** Cubs start with milk and gradually learn to hunt seals with their mother. - **Primary Foods:** Ringed seals, Bearded seals, Walruses, Bowhead whale carcasses, Birds, Reindeer - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Ringed Seal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ringed-seal) (*Pusa hispida*) — Their primary food source, providing essential fat. - **Hunts:** [Bearded Seal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bearded-seal) (*Erignathus barbatus*) — Also hunted, providing valuable blubber and meat. - **Eats:** [Bowhead Whale](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bowhead-whale) (*Balaena mysticetus*) — Scavenges large carcasses, a crucial food source when found. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Thermoregulating](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/thermoregulating): Thermoregulating organisms maintain a stable internal body temperature despite fluctuations in the external environment. - [Tundra](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tundra): This habitat trait refers to species inhabiting tundras, which are treeless biomes characterized by permafrost, cold temperatures, and low-growing vegetation. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Polar bears are wild animals and should be observed from a safe distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Polar Bear? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Polar Bear? 200-300 cm ### How much does Polar Bear weigh? 150-600 kg ### How long does Polar Bear live? 15-18 years ### How fast can Polar Bear move? 40 km/h ### What does Polar Bear eat? Polar bears are expert hunters who mostly eat fatty seals to stay warm and energized in the Arctic. ### Where is Polar Bear usually found? Arctic regions ### How does Polar Bear hunt? Ambush ## Where to spot - [Alaska Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/alaska-zoo) — Alaska, US · Zoo - [Buffalo Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buffalo-zoo) — New York, US · Zoo - [Detroit Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/detroit-zoo) — Michigan, US · Zoo - [Henry Vilas Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/henry-vilas-zoo) — Wisconsin, US · Zoo - [Memphis Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/memphis-zoo) — Tennessee, US · Zoo - [Oregon Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/oregon-zoo) — Oregon, US · Zoo [View all places to see Polar Bear](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/polar-bear) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Polar Bear: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/polar-bear)