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More About Polar Bears ...
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The Polar Bear (Thalarctos maritimus or Ursus maritimus) is a large mammal of the order Carnivora, family Ursidae. It is a circumpolar species found in and around the Arctic Ocean. It is the world's largest land carnivore. Adult males weigh from 400 to 600 kilograms and occasionally exceed 800 kilograms. Females are about half the size of males and normally weigh 200 to 300 kilograms. Adult males measure 240 to 260 centimeters and females 190 to 210 centimeters. At birth, cubs weigh 600 to 700 grams.
The Polar Bear is instantly recognisable by its white coat. Unlike other arctic mammals it never sheds this coat for a darker colour in summer. The hair is not actually pigmented white; it is unpigmented and hollow, like white hair in humans.
An interesting feature of the coat is that it appears black when photographed with ultraviolet light. A number of people have suggested that this is because the hairs channel the light to the black skin of the bear to help it stay warm during the cold, sunless winters. Measurements show, however, that the hairs strongly absorb violet and ultraviolet rays. This is why Polar Bear's pelt often appears yellow. More colourful Polar Bear have occasionally been reported. In February 2004, two Polar Bears in a Signapore zoo appeared to turn green as a result of algae growing in their hollow hair tubes. A zoo spokesman said that the algae had formed as a result of Singapore's hot and humid conditions. The bears were washed in a peroxide blonde solution to restore their expected colour. A similar algae grew in the hair of three Polar Bears at San Diego Zoo in the summer of 1979. They were cured by washing the algae away in a salt solution.
The Polar Bear (Thalarctos maritimus or Ursus maritimus) is a large mammal of the order Carnivora, family Ursidae. It is a circumpolar species found in and around the Arctic Ocean. It is the world's largest land carnivore. Adult males weigh from 400 to 600 kilograms and occasionally exceed 800 kilograms. Females are about half the size of males and normally weigh 200 to 300 kilograms. Adult males measure 240 to 260 centimeters and females 190 to 210 centimeters. At birth, cubs weigh 600 to 700 grams.
The Polar Bear is instantly recognisable by its white coat. Unlike other arctic mammals it never sheds this coat for a darker colour in summer. The hair is not actually pigmented white; it is unpigmented and hollow, like white hair in humans.
An interesting feature of the coat is that it appears black when photographed with ultraviolet light. A number of people have suggested that this is because the hairs channel the light to the black skin of the bear to help it stay warm during the cold, sunless winters. Measurements show, however, that the hairs strongly absorb violet and ultraviolet rays. This is why Polar Bear's pelt often appears yellow. More colourful Polar Bear have occasionally been reported. In February 2004, two Polar Bears in a Signapore zoo appeared to turn green as a result of algae growing in their hollow hair tubes. A zoo spokesman said that the algae had formed as a result of Singapore's hot and humid conditions. The bears were washed in a peroxide blonde solution to restore their expected colour. A similar algae grew in the hair of three Polar Bears at San Diego Zoo in the summer of 1979. They were cured by washing the algae away in a salt solution.
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Source: Wikipedia Read more about Polar Bears
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INFO LINKS
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Polar Bear
PBS
Profile. Good site for kids. "Polar bears are the biggest carnivores on land! They're twice as big as a tiger". Read More
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Polar Bear
National Geographic - Creature Feature Archive
Polar Bear fun facts. Simple language. Good site for school work Read More
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Polar bear
BBC Nature: Wildfacts
categorized information on life span, statistics, physical description, distribution, habitat, diet, behavior, reproduction, etc. "has a reputation as the only animal that actively hunts humans". Read More
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Polar bear
Canadian Wildlife Service
Interesting information. Categorized and detailed information on distribution and abundance, habitat and diet, physical capabilities, life history,economic value, conservation, etc. "Known to scientists as Ursus maritimus, which is Latin for bear of the s Read More
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Polar Bear
National Geographic
Polar Bear fact sheet and pictures; video clip; audio clip Read More
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Polar Bear
Polar World
Includes cute polar bear pictures in the gallery Read More
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Polar Bear
Blue Planet Biomes
Brief description of Polar Bear with additional references Read More
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