Polar Bears - Adaptations to Cold
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Picture source:
Getty Images © 1999-2003
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Polar Bears are perfectly equipped for living in cold Arctic regions, traveling on ice and snow, and swimming in freezing water. Their body shape differs a little from that in other bears. Thus, the Polar Bear has a slightly elongated body with a slender neck. This helps the animal swim with ease. When swimming underwater, the Polar Bear will lay the small ears flat for protection.
The hind limbs are a little longer than the forelimbs. The large paws, which can reach the size of 12 inches, enable the Polar Bear to walk steadily on slippery surfaces as they help to evenly distribute the weight of the animal. Besides, the furred soles provide traction. It is interesting to know that Polar Bears walk at the speed of about 5.5 kph and they are known to develop the speeds of 40 kph.
Polar Bears - Heat Retention
The black skin provides for sunlight retention, which is vitally important in cold regions. The species also has a very dense fur that function as a heat retainer. The hairs are covered with natural oils that protect the animal from water and allow it to get dry again after having shaken it out.
Blubber is just another means of thermoregulation. Along with a thick fur, it helps the Polar Bear to keep warm. Moreover, Polar Bears may get overheated sometimes, no matter how funny it may sound. They have to cool their selves in water and move slowly most of time. The heat is released through those body areas where the fur is not so dense.
Polar Bears - Senses
The sensory system of the Polar Bear can be compared to that of a human. They have a good sense of smell and are said to sense the prey at the distance of about 20 miles. The eyesight and hearing are also acute. Although little is known about their sense of touch, it is evident that it is well developed since Polar Bears manipulate various objects with great dexterity.
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Picture source:
Polar Bear Central WWF Canada © 2001
WWF-Canada
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Polar Bears - General Information Links
123spot - Polar Bears - Describes the physical adaptations that help the Polar Bear survive in very cold climates. Details their enormous size.
All About Bears - Polar Bear - Enjoy several photos of the magnificent white bear and read of its natural history. Gives several related links.
allRefer Reference - Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus) - Check out the distribution, habits, characteristics, habitat, anatomy, species, behavior, and diet of the large white bear found on the coasts of arctic North America.
Animal Diversity Web - Polar Bears - Peruse a fact sheet for the bear that is usually found around the North Pole. Understand their behavior and dietary habits.
Animal Trial - Polar Bear Pictures - View this species in its natural habitat from the permanently frozen Arctic Ocean to the harsh edges of the tundra in the Arctic regions.
BBCi - Polar Bear - Features a photo gallery and facts about this mammal's diet, distribution, habits and habitat.
Churchill's Polar Bears - All about Polar Bears, facts, tips, safety and tours.
Defenders of Wildlife - Polar Bears: Environmental Threats - Research the factors that threaten the lives of Polar Bears in the wild. Topics include climate change and pollution.
EnchantedLearning.com - Polar Bears - Shares a simple drawing of the species that includes illustrations of its tracks. Provides some basic facts on its natural history.
Great White Bear - Nature - Public television program spotlights this creature of the Arctic. See Polar Bear photos, or learn about the difficulty in tracking the mammals.
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Picture source:
Polar Bear Web Fan Club
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International Wildlife - Living With the White Bear - Russian scientist recounts his investigation into Polar-bear behavior on to two remote Siberian islands.
MSN Encarta - Polar Bears - Read a reference article describing this bear, its size, senses, and social behavior.
National Geographic Photo of the Day - Polar Bear Swimming - Enjoy Flip Nicklin's photo of a Polar Bear paddling in the waters near Canada's Hudson Bay.
North American Bear Center - Polar Bears - Read a profile of this North American Bear, which describes their populations, physical attributes, diet, and habits.
Polar Bear - Animals of the Arctic - Student handbook covers Arctic animals, including these white bears. Read FAQs, see bear tracks, or hear the Eskimo word for Polar Bear.
Polar Bear - International Association for Bear Research - Learn about these denizens of the Arctic. Discover their life cycle, social behavior, and diet.
Polar Bear Fan Club - Learn of the bear's biology and ecology and view many photos of the animal in captivity and in the wild.
Polar Bear Habitat - Polar Bear habitat and distribution.
Polar Bear World - Journey on a visual extravaganza into the wonderful world of Polar Bear's with photographer Wayne R. Bilenduke.
Polar Bears - Contains information about Polar Bears such as habitat, description, and behavior.
Polar Bears Alive - Preservationist group works to ensure the survival of the species. Read about their goals, find out about cubs and prey, or become a member
Sea World/Busch Gardens - Polar Bears - Shares info on this arctic carnivore, including its habitat, geographic distribution, reproduction habits, and conservation.
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Picture source:
Polar Bear Page
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Smithsonian Magazine - Bear Trouble - Describes the environmental and industrial hazards affecting the population of Polar Bears near Svalbard, Norway.
Species at Risk - Polar Bear - Description, habitat and range, and threats.
TGR Solution Zoo - This site contains over 200 unique pictures of Polar Bears!
What Has Been Happening to Polar Bears in Recent Decades - Authoritative essay detailed on the NOAA Arctic Theme Page on the status of Polar Bear populations in recent decades. Includes gallery of photographs.
World Wildlife Fund Canada - Polar Bear Central - Note physical characters and habitat for this Arctic species. View or capture Polar Bear photos, postcards, desktop wallpaper, and test knowledge via an ICE Q quiz.
Zooregon.org: Polar Bears - Description, distribution, and status.
Polar Bears - Other Polar Bears sites
Polar Bears Pictures - Polar bears are the largest bear species. They tend to weigh between 440 and 1760 pounds with an overall body length of 8 feet 5 inches. These animals have a distinctive all white coat, triangular profile, long neck, and small ears.
The nose, lips and all skin under the fur are black. The bears have very wide front paws, which are very helpful for paddling through arctic waters. These animals use their hind feet as rudders. One of the peculiarities of their appearance is that the bears have no eyelashes. Otherwise, they would freeze in the cold.
Polar Bears - Polar bears (Ursus Maritimus) are the world's largest predatory animals. They can be found anywhere across the polar areas of the northern hemisphere. There is a lot of interest and controversy about this animal's anatomy and behavior. They have long been thought to be relatives of southern bears, but a closer look at both species has revealed a number of considerable structural and behavioral discrepancies between them.
For a long time polar bears have been considered the fiercest and the most dangerous predators for humans. However, some of the latest studies have shed some light on that aspect and proved that rumors about their cosmically terrific nature are frequently sheer exaggerations. It is true that Polar bears are huge and powerful, but those who happened to watch them say, that, just as the majority of predators, they rarely attack humans all of a sudden, except when they are hungry or when protecting their cubs.
