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Polar Bear
Ursus maritimus
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| Range: |
Circumpolar on
the frozen arctic ocean.
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| Habitat: |
Frequently found
where there are stretches of open water. They breed on small, hilly arctic islands.
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| Diet: |
Primarily seals
but also scavange on whale and walrus carcasses.
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Fun Facts:
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- The polar bear is a tireless migrator!
Most of the population migrates uninterupted with the ice drifts in an east-west
direction around the North Pole!
- Each strand of fur is an excellent light
transmitter and allows light to reach the black skin where the heat is absorbed! The
fur is oily, impenetrable to water and is an excellent insulator! Very often, a polar bear
cannot be detected by an infrared camera except by the nose which does radiate heat!
- Adult males weigh 600-1100 pounds and
measure 6.5-8 feet long!
- The forepaws are large, webbed and oarlike
as an adaption for swimming! A polar bear may swim up to 60 miles at a time without
stopping!
- Polar bears rely on smell to hunt, their
most highly developed sense!
- At birth, the cubs are blind, have hair, and
weigh about 1-1.5 pounds! The life span is about 30-35 years!
Back to
the Polar Shores
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