Living Beings
    Source-identified Ursus arctos; Documentary organism photograph. Framed for display
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    Ursus arctos 53067058.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Documentary organism photograph. (c) Dmitry Kulakov, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0

    Field guide · species

    Brown Bear

    Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758

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    The authority credits the formal scientific description of the name. A year records publication of that description.

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    AnimaliaMammaliaCarnivoraUrsidae

    Brown bears are large omnivores with a prominent shoulder hump and powerful forelimbs. Their diets and seasonal routines change with the foods available in different parts of their extensive range.

    Public research profile · final editorial review pending.

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    Tree of lifeScientific lineage
    1. LifeLife
    2. DomainEukaryota
    3. KingdomAnimalia
    4. PhylumChordata
    5. ClassMammalia
    6. OrderCarnivora
    7. FamilyUrsidae
    8. GenusUrsus
    9. SpeciesUrsus arctos
    Advanced classification

    Complete source lineage, including intermediate ranks. The standard view uses Life and the eight principal ranks.

    1. cellular organisms cellular root
    2. Eukaryota domain
    3. Opisthokonta clade
    4. Metazoa kingdom
    5. Eumetazoa clade
    6. Bilateria clade
    7. Deuterostomia clade
    8. Chordata phylum
    9. Craniata subphylum
    10. Vertebrata clade
    11. Gnathostomata clade
    12. Teleostomi clade
    13. Euteleostomi clade
    14. Sarcopterygii superclass
    15. Dipnotetrapodomorpha clade
    16. Tetrapoda clade
    17. Amniota clade
    18. Mammalia class
    19. Theria clade
    20. Eutheria clade
    21. Boreoeutheria clade
    22. Laurasiatheria superorder
    23. Carnivora order
    24. Caniformia suborder
    25. Ursidae family
    26. Ursus genus
    27. Ursus arctos species
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    Physical traits

    Coat shades range from pale to dark brown. Long claws and developed shoulder muscles support digging and other demanding movements.

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    Habitat and range

    Forests, open mountain country and tundra can support bears where food and secure resting areas remain.

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    Diet and nutrition

    Plant foods, invertebrates, fish, other vertebrates and carrion contribute in different proportions according to season and locality.

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    Behavior and activity

    Most adults forage alone. Seasonal denning and intensive feeding before winter are important in many populations.

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    Reproduction and life cycle

    Cubs are born in the maternal den and remain dependent on their mother during an extended learning period.

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    Geographic distribution

    The species occurs in parts of Eurasia and North America. Populations differ considerably in size, connectivity and history.

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    Ecological role

    Bears redistribute nutrients through feeding, digging and movement. They can be predators, scavengers and seed dispersers.

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    Distinctive adaptations

    Fat storage and flexible feeding help meet strong seasonal changes in food supply.

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    Conservation

    Habitat fragmentation and conflict with people can threaten local populations even where the species remains widespread.

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    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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