Polar+Bear-+Hoppe

= Polar Bear //(Ursus maritimus)// =

By: Meagan Hoppe

__ Family __
Polar Bears belong to the family Ursidae, which are the bears. All the members in this family have many common characteristics. All have large bodies, thick, strong limbs, and tiny tails. They can also run very fast for short lengths, climb trees, and go into a type of dormancy over the winter however they do not all hibernate. Animals such as the Giant Panda, Red Panda, Grizzly Bear, and Spectacled Bear are all part of this family.





__ Movement __ Polar Bears walk on four legs. They prefer to walk because they can quickly overheat while they are running. Polar Bears can walk 5-6 mph, and can run up to 40 mph- as fast as a horse! Polar Bears have to conserve their energy when they walk or run, because they burn calories two times faster then other animals.

__ Metabolism __ A polar bear’s diet consists of mainly seals, walruses, short-legged reindeer, birds, and even beached whales. Polar Bears are carnivores, which means that they eat meat. Polar Bears can catch their prey in many ways. Most of the time, they patiently wait at breathing holes in the ice. When seals come up for air, the polar bears use their sharp claws and strong limbs to pull the seal up. Another way is seal stalking, where they blend in to the environment and stalk a seal until they are close enough to pounce- usually around twenty feet.

__ Growth and Development __ Polar Bears live their life for about 15-16 years. It takes them about 5-6 years to mature to an adult. Males grow to be anywhere from 775 lbs- 1200lbs. Females can be anywhere from 330lbs – 650 lbs.



__ Classification __ This is how scientists classify Polar Bears: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae Genus: Ursus Species: //Ursus maritimus// __ Reproduction __ Polar Bear mothers usually have two cubs, but some can have singles or triplets depending on the mother’s health.



Polar Bears have cubs when they are 4-8 years old. In their lifetime, they only have about five litters-which is a small about. The gestation period is 6-8 months long. __ Adaptations __ Polar Bears have many adaptations that help them live in their harsh and unforgiving environment. They have dense fur- two thick layers of it. They also have guard hairs (Their external coat) and black skin to trap heat from the sunlight. They also learned helpful techniques to help them survive blizzards. They dig shelters in the snow and cover their noses with their warm paws. __ Evolution __ Evolution is another helpful adaptation. Evolution is when an organism group changes over a long time to better suit itself to its environment. Polar Bears are believed to be brown bears that went through rapid evolution to have lighter fur, better senses, sharper teeth, and a body shape more fit for its environment. These were all helpful evolutions for Polar Bears.

__ Difference Between Males and Females __ The only difference between male and female Polar Bears is that males are much larger than females. Males can weigh double what the females weigh. __ Fun Facts! __


 * Polar Bears live in the North Arctic. They live in Alaska, Canada, Russia, Greenland, and Norway.
 * Polar Bears do not, despite the cold climate, live in Antarctica
 * Polar Bears are one of the smartest animals-they are as smart as monkeys and apes.

Sources:
Pictures- [|www.solcomhouse.com/ polarbears.htm] animalphotos.info __ gowanuslounge.blogspot.com/ 2008/02/bklink-red... __ zainad.blogspot.com __ www.travel-location-blog.com/ largest-land-car... __

Information- []
http://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/Polar_Bear.asp