DID YOU KNOW? |
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION |
--A polar bear's nose is so sensitive that it can smell a seal on the ice up to 20 miles away!
--A polar bear's hair is not white, but is instead a clear, hollow tube filled with air.
--A common misconception is that polar bears eat penguins. This is not true. Polar bears inhabit the Arctic regions of the world and all species of penguin are found below the equator.
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| Class: |
Mammalia |
| Order: |
Carnivora |
| Family: |
Ursidae |
| Genus: |
Ursus |
| Species: |
maritimus |
FAST FACTS |
| Weight: |
330 - 1,760 pounds with males being larger than females |
| Length: |
6 - 10 feet |
| Height: |
Up to 5 feet at the shoulder |
| Life Span: |
Up to 25 years in the wild |
| Gestation: |
6 months |
| # of young: |
1 to 4 |
| Range: |
Alaska, Canada, Norway, Greenland, Russia |
| Diet: |
Carnivore, eats seals, caribou, walrus and beached whales |
Energy & Conservation
Polar Bears and their prey have evolved to live in extreme conditions. They depend on Arctic sea ice to hunt, reproduce and rest. Today, polar bear populations are facing unprecedented threats due to climate change. Although the ultimate effects of climate change on polar bears are not certain, it is recognized that even small changes to the climate could have a profound effect on these bears. |
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