Living Beings
    Source-identified Ursus thibetanus; documentary image Framed for display
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    Asian Black Bear Ursus thibetanus by Dr. Raju Kasambe 01.jpg · Resized and converted to WebP for display. Dr. Raju Kasambe · CC BY-SA 4.0

    Field guide · species

    Asiatic Black Bear

    Ursus thibetanus

    AnimaliaMammaliaCarnivoraUrsidae

    The Asiatic black bear is a forest-dwelling bear recognized by a pale chest crescent. It combines climbing ability with a varied diet, using resources both in trees and on the ground.

    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 thibetanus
    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 thibetanus species
    Open in taxonomy explorer ↗

    Physical traits

    The coat is usually dark with a conspicuous pale chest patch. Rounded ears, a short tail and strong climbing limbs contribute to its characteristic appearance.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Habitat and range

    Forested mountains and other densely vegetated habitats provide cover and seasonal foods. Elevational movements can track changing conditions and food availability.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Diet and nutrition

    Fruit, nuts, insects and other animal and plant foods are eaten. Diet varies among places and seasons rather than following a single fixed menu.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Behavior and activity

    Asiatic black bears climb and swim effectively. Their activity schedule can change with season and human disturbance, including shifts when feeding near cultivated areas.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Reproduction and life cycle

    Females care for dependent cubs. Reproductive observations from captivity should be distinguished from findings about free-ranging populations.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Geographic distribution

    The Mammal Diversity Database v2.5 records this species in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Iran, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.

    Scientific source 1 ↗ · Scientific source 2 ↗

    Evidence

    Sources

    Connected life

    No reviewed ecological connections in the collection yet.

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