Living Beings
    Source-identified Ursus maritimus; documentary image Framed for display
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    Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) in the drift ice region north of Svalbard.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Andreas Weith · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Field guide · species

    Polar Bear

    Ursus maritimus

    AnimaliaMammaliaCarnivoraUrsidae

    The polar bear is an Arctic predator whose feeding ecology is closely tied to sea ice. Its relationship with ice makes habitat change especially significant: ice is not just a resting surface, but a platform for reaching prey.

    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 maritimus
    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 maritimus species
    Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

    Physical traits

    A long neck, relatively small head and pale-looking fur distinguish it from other bears. Broad feet support movement across snow and ice and assist swimming.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Habitat and range

    Sea ice and the edges of Arctic marine habitats are central to hunting. Bears also use land, including coastal areas and sites for maternity dens.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Diet and nutrition

    Seals are the principal prey, and energy-rich fat is particularly valuable. Bears also scavenge, but occasional alternative foods should not be mistaken for ecological replacements for seal hunting.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Behavior and activity

    Adults are commonly solitary outside breeding associations and mothers with cubs. Hunting may involve waiting beside places where seals can surface.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Reproduction and life cycle

    Pregnant females use sheltered maternity dens, often in snow. Young are born dependent and accompany their mothers as they learn to travel and feed.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Geographic distribution

    The Mammal Diversity Database v2.5 records this species in Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, United States, Iceland?.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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