2. Ursus Martimus
Constantine John Phipps--
was the first to describe the polar bear as a distinct species
in 1774. He chose the scientific name Ursus maritimus,
Latin for ‘maritime bear,’ because they are born on land
but spend most of their time at sea.
3.
4. Biologists assume the polar
Bear population consists of
19 suBpopulations and
approximately 20,000–25,000
polar Bears worldwide.
5. Polar bears are native largely within
the Arctic Circle encompassing the
Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas
and surrounding land masses.
6. They are the world's largest
land carnivore and also the largest
bear with adult males weighing
around 350–680 kg (770–1,500 lb),
and females one-half that size.
7. Polar bears are able to
detect seals nearly 1 mi
away and buried under
3 ft of snow.
8. Polar bears are insulated by
up to 10 cm of blubber.
Therefore, they still overheat
in rather cold temperatures
(10°C).
Therefore they are almost
invisible to infrared
9.
10. • the legs are stocky
• the ears and tail are
small
• their paws are very large
(an adult’s can measure
30 cm across.)
• claws are short and
stocky: deeply scooped
on the underside
• have 42 teeth.
11. The polar bear is an excellent swimmer.
They have been spotted 200 mi out in open Arctic waters.
12. Polar bears maintain a speed
that ranges from walking at
3.5 mph to sprinting at
25 mph.
13.
14. The polar bear is the most
carnivorous member of the bear
family.
Most of their diet consists
of ringed and bearded seals.
15. Unlike grizzly bears, polar
bears are not territorial;
they are rather cautious and
choose to escape rather than
fight.
17. Polar bear cubs are born
blind, covered with a light
down fur, and weighing
less than 2.0 lbs.
18. When the ice breaks up in the fall,
each pregnant female digs a
maternity den for her cubs. This is
where they will remain until mid-
February to mid-April.
…
19. In this time, the mother
will be fasting while
nursing her cubs on fat-
rich milk.
20. By the time the mother breaks open
the entrance to the den, her cubs
can weigh around 22 to 33 lb.
21.
22. Polar bears rarely live beyond 25 years. The
oldest polar bear on record died at the age of
23. The polar bear is classified as a
vulnerable species, with eight of the
nineteen polar bear subpopulations in
decline.
24. Some scientists believe the population decline of polar bears
is caused by rising temperature climates, the consumption
of garbage, hunting, and land sales for gas and oil
development.
