Polar Bear
Scientists believe that Ursus Maritimus, the “sea bear,” evolved about 200,000 years ago from brown bear ancestors. Polar bears are the world’s largest land predators. They top the food chain in the Arctic, where they dine primarily on seals. Polar bears are the largest land carnivore. Male polar bears, which are called boars, grow two to three times the size of female polar bears, which are called sows. Boars weigh about 350 to more than 650 kg that’s 772-1,433 pounds, and they are about 8 to 10 feet long! Sows weigh about 300 to 600 pounds and are about 6.6 to 8.2 ft. long. Pregnant females can weigh as much as 1,102 pounds! The largest polar bear ever recorded was a male weighing 2,209 pounds and measuring and enormous 12 ft. long. Compared to other bears such as the brown and black bears, polar bears have elongated bodies and long slender necks. Mostly used for swimming in the water. Their heavy fur coat can be pure white to creamy yellow to light brown depending on the season and angle of light you’re looking at it. Polar bears hind limbs are longer than the forelimbs. This makes the large, muscular hind end stand higher than the shoulders. Although both their hind and forelimbs are very large and stocky.
