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Ursus maritimus
Oso blanco, Oso polar (Sp), Eisbär, Polarbär (G), Ours blanc, Ours polaire (F). Also called the white bear.
DESCRIPTION (male) Head and body length 7-9 feet (2.1 to 2.7 m). Tail length 3-5 inches (7.6-12.7 cm). Shoulder height 4-4-1/2 feet (1.2 to 1.4 m). Weight 800-1,000 pounds (362-454 kg), sometimes considerably more. Females are about 25 percent smaller than males.
The polar bear is closely related to the brown bear; in fact, fertile offspring have resulted from brown bear x polar bear crosses in zoos. The polar bear has a streamlined body that has adapted to an aquatic way of life. It has a longer neck than other bears, a relatively small head, long and massive legs, and large feet with hairy soles. The coat is a yellowish-white, which acts to conserve body heat and serves as camouflage in its snowy habitat. Eyes, nose, lips and toenails are black.
HABITAT The shores, islands and pack ice of the Arctic Ocean. Mature males often spend years on the floating ice, while pregnant females come ashore to den.
DISTRIBUTION Polar bears are circumpolar in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring in Asia and North America as well as Europe. Recorded from latitude 88°N, and from as far south as Iceland. Still occupies most of its historic range. The main European area of population is Svalbard.
REMARKS CITES lists as Appendix II
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