# Sloth Bear (*melursus ursinus*) Sloth bears are slow and sleepy creatures that love to munch on tasty fruits and insects! They have long, shaggy fur and a unique white mark on their chests that makes them look special. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Sloth bears live in forests and grasslands in India and Sri Lanka. - **Also known as:** Bear of India, Shaggy Bear ![Sloth Bear](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/SlothBear.jpg&width=800) Photo: Saumitra Newalkar, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SlothBear.jpg) ## Appearance The Sloth Bear has a shaggy, jet-black coat and a distinctive V-shaped white marking on its chest. Its snout is pale with long, curved claws, making it appear somewhat disheveled compared to other bears. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Ursidae - **Genus:** Melursus ## Interesting facts - Moms often carry their cubs on their backs, even while climbing trees! - Sloth Bears can stand on their hind legs to reach yummy high-up fruit. - Their shaggy fur protects them from insect bites and sharp plant thorns. - They don't truly hibernate like other bears, only slow down activities. ## Special abilities - **Sturdy Diggers:** Sloth Bear has long, sickle-shaped claws that help them rip open tough termite mounds and dig for food. - **Nostril Closers:** Sloth Bear can close its nostrils voluntarily that helps them avoid inhaling dust and insects while feeding on termite mounds. - **Keen Sniffer:** Sloth Bear has an exceptional sense of smell that helps them locate hidden insect nests and ripe fruits from afar. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 150-190 cm - **Weight:** 55-190 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-25 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1-3 - **Gestation:** 180-210 days ## Diet & Feeding A Sloth Bear's favorite snacks are termites and ants, but they also enjoy fruits, honey, and sometimes small animals. - **Primary Foods:** termites, ants, honey, mangoes, berries, beetle larvae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Indian Mound-Building Termite (*Odontotermes obesus*) — Primary food source, especially termites. - **Eaten by:** [Tiger](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tiger) (*Panthera tigris*) — Main natural predator, especially of cubs. - **Eats:** Mango (*Mangifera indica*) — Relishes ripe fruits, especially seasonal mangoes. - **Eats:** Giant Honey Bee (*Apis dorsata*) — Raids nests for honey and larvae. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [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. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Sloth 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 Sloth Bear? 150-190 cm ### How much does Sloth Bear weigh? 55-190 kg ### How long does Sloth Bear live? 20-25 years ### How fast can Sloth Bear move? 40 km/h ### What does Sloth Bear eat? A Sloth Bear's favorite snacks are termites and ants, but they also enjoy fruits, honey, and sometimes small animals. ### Where is Sloth Bear usually found? Sloth bears live in forests and grasslands in India and Sri Lanka. ### How does Sloth Bear hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [National Zoological Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/national-zoological-park) — District of Columbia, US · Zoo - [Woodland Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/woodland-park-zoo) — Washington, US · Zoo - [Fresno Chaffee Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fresno-chaffee-zoo) — California, US · Zoo - [Little Rock Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/little-rock-zoo) — Arkansas, US · Zoo - [Sunset Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sunset-zoo) — Kansas, US · Zoo - [Capron Park Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capron-park-zoo) — Massachusetts, US · Zoo [View all places to see Sloth Bear](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/sloth-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: [Sloth Bear: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sloth-bear)