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The polar bear ( Ursus maritimus) is a large bear native to the Arctic and nearby areas. It is closely related to the brown bear, and the two species can interbreed. The polar bear is the largest extant species of bear and land carnivore, with adult males weighing 300–800 kg (660–1,760 lb).
Jun 29, 2024 · The polar bear is the largest and most powerful carnivore on land, a title it shares with a subspecies of brown bear called the Kodiak bear. It has no natural predators and knows no fear of humans, making it an extremely dangerous animal.
At the top of the food chain, polar bears have an important role in the marine environment. Learn how WWF is fighting the biggest threat to polar bears’ survival: loss of sea ice.
How do polar bears survive their Arctic habitat? Is climate change affecting their population? Learn how polar bears have adapted to life on top of the world.
Polar bear. Majestic creature of the far north, the polar bear is the world’s largest terrestrial carnivore. Its Latin name, Ursus maritimus, means ‘sea bear’: an apt name for this amazing animal, which spends much of its life in, around, or on the water – predominantly on the sea ice.
1. Polar bears are classified as marine mammals. Because they spend most of their lives on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean depending on the ocean for their food and habitat, polar bears are the only bear species to be considered marine mammals. © Jon Aars / Norwegian Polar Institute / WWF-Canon.
The Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) is a hypercarnivorous bear found within the Arctic Circle, encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the largest extant bear species, as well as the largest extant land carnivore.
