A Brief Overview of Modern Bear Species - Mad Zoologist. Types of bears All types of bears names

Bears or bears (lat. Ursidae) - a family that includes mammals from the order of predatory animals. The difference between all bears and other canine animals is represented by a stockier and well-developed physique.

Description of the bear

All mammals from the order Carnivores originate from a group of marten-like primitive predators, which are known as miacids (Miacidae), who lived in the Paleocene and Eocene. All bears belong to the fairly numerous suborder Caniformia. Everything is supposed to be fine famous representatives of this suborder originated from one canine ancestor common to all species of such animals.

Relative to other families from the order of predatory animals, bears are animals with the greatest uniformity in appearance, size, and are also similar in many features in internal structure. All bears are among the largest representatives of terrestrial modern predatory animals.. The body length of an adult polar bear reaches three meters with a mass in the range of 720-890 kg, and the Malayan bear is one of the most small representatives family, and its length does not exceed one and a half meters with a body weight of 27-65 kg.

Appearance, colors

Male bears are about 10-20% larger than females, and in a polar bear, such figures can even be 150% or more. The fur of the animal has a developed and rather coarse undercoat. The high, sometimes shaggy type of hair in most species has a pronounced density, and the fur of the Malay bear is low and quite rare.

The color of the fur is monophonic, from jet black to whitish. The exception is, which has a characteristic contrasting black and white color. In area chest or around the eyes, there may be light markings. Some species are characterized by individual and so-called geographical variability in fur color. Bears have a marked seasonal dimorphism, expressed by changes in the height and thickness of the fur.

All representatives of the Bear family are distinguished by a stocky and powerful body, often with a fairly high and pronounced withers. Also characteristic are strong and well-developed, five-fingered paws with large non-retractable claws. The claws are controlled by powerful muscles, thanks to which the animals climb trees, dig the ground, and also easily tear their prey. The length of the claws of the grizzly reaches 13-15 cm. Gait predatory beast plantigrade type, characteristically shuffling. Big panda has a sixth additional "finger" on its front paws, which is an outgrowth of the sesamoid radius.

The tail is very short, almost invisible under the fur. The exception is the giant panda, which has a fairly long and well-marked tail. Any bear has relatively small eyes, a large head, located on a thick and, as a rule, short neck. The cranium is large, most often with an elongated facial part and strongly developed ridges.

This is interesting! Bears have strongly developed sense of smell, and in some species it is quite comparable to a dog's sense of smell, but the sight and hearing of such numerous and large predators is an order of magnitude weaker.

The zygomatic arches are most often slightly spaced in different directions, and the jaws are powerful, providing very high bite force indicators. All representatives of the Bear family are characterized by the presence of large fangs and incisors, and the remaining teeth can be partially reduced, but their appearance and structure most often depend on the type of food. Total teeth can vary between 32-42 pieces. The presence of individual or age-related variability in the dental system is often observed.

Character and lifestyle

The Bears - typical predators leading a solitary lifestyle, so such animals prefer to meet each other solely for the purpose of mating. Males behave, as a rule, aggressively and are able to kill cubs that are long time near the female. Representatives of the Bear family are well adapted to a variety of conditions of existence, therefore they are able to inhabit high-mountain regions, forest zones, arctic ice and steppes, and the main differences are in the way of eating and lifestyle.

A significant part of the bear species lives in the plains and mountains. forest areas temperate or tropical latitudes. The predator is somewhat less common in high-mountain zones without dense vegetation. Some species are characterized by a clear attachment to the aquatic environment, including mountain or forest streams, rivers and sea coasts. The Arctic, as well as vast expanses

This is interesting! Arctic Ocean- the natural habitat of polar bears, and the way of life of an ordinary brown bear associated with subtropical forests, taiga, steppes and tundra, desert areas.

Most bears are classified as terrestrial carnivores, but polar bears are semi-aquatic members of the family. Malayan bears are typical adherents of a semi-arboreal lifestyle, therefore they are able to perfectly climb trees and equip themselves with a shelter or a so-called “nest”. Some species of bears choose pits near the root system of trees and crevices of sufficient size as their habitat.

As a rule, representatives of the Bear family and the Predatory order lead night image life, so they rarely go hunting during the daytime. However, polar bears may be classified as an exception to such general rules. Predatory mammals leading a solitary lifestyle unite during the period of " mating games” and mating, as well as for raising their offspring. Among other things, groups of such animals are noted at common watering places and traditional feeding areas.

How long do bears live

The average lifespan of bears in nature can vary depending on the species characteristics of this predatory mammal:

Spectacled bears - two decades;
Apennine brown bears - up to twenty years;
Tien Shan brown bears - up to twenty years or a quarter of a century;
Polar polar bears - just over a quarter of a century;
Gubachi - a little less than twenty years.

In captivity, the average life expectancy of a predatory mammal is usually noticeably longer. For example, brown bears can live in captivity for more than 40-45 years.

Types of bears

Range, distribution

Spectacled bears are the only representatives of the Bear family that inhabit South America, where the predator prefers the mountain forests of Venezuela and Ecuador, Colombia and Peru, as well as Bolivia and Panama. - an inhabitant of the basin of the Lena, Kolyma and Anadyr rivers, most of Eastern Siberia and Stanovoy Range, Northern Mongolia, some regions of China and the border area of East Kazakhstan.

Grizzlies are predominantly distributed in western Canada and Alaska, with a small number of individuals remaining in continental America, including Montana and northwestern Washington. Tien Shan brown bears are found on the Tien Shan ranges, as well as in the Dzungarian Alatau, which has peripheral mountain ranges, and the Mazalays are found in the desert mountains of Tsagan-Bogdo and Atas-Bogdo, where rare shrubs and drain dry channels are located.

Polar bears are distributed circumpolar, and live in the polar regions in the northern hemisphere of our planet. White-breasted Himalayan bears prefer the hill and mountain forests of Iran and Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Himalayas, up to Japan and Korea. Representatives of the species in the summer in the Himalayas rise to a height of three and even four thousand meters, and with the onset of cold weather they descend to the mountain foot.

Gubach live mainly in the tropics and subtropical forests India and Pakistan, in Sri Lanka and Nepal, as well as in Bangladesh and Bhutan. Biruangs are distributed from northeastern India to Indonesia, including Sumatra and Kalimantan, and the island of Borneo is inhabited by the subspecies Helarstos malayanus euryspilus.

Bears in the ecosystem of the planet

All representatives of the Bear family, due to the peculiarities of the diet and impressive size, have a very noticeable effect on the fauna and flora in their habitats. Species White and brown bear are involved in the regulation total strength ungulates and other animals.

All herbivorous bear species contribute to the active distribution of seeds of many plants. Polar bears are often accompanied by arctic foxes finishing their prey.

Bear diet

Spectacled bears are the most herbivorous of the family, and their main diet includes herbaceous shoots, fruits and rhizomes of plants, crops of corn, and sometimes insects in the form of ants or termites. Important role in the diet of the Siberian bear, fish is assigned, and Kodiaks are omnivorous animals that eat both herbaceous plants, berries and roots, and meat food, including fish and all kinds of carrion.

Pika-eating bears or Tibetan brown bears feed mainly on herbaceous plants, as well as pikas, which is how they got their name. The main prey of polar bears is represented by ringed seals, sea hare, walruses and many other marine animals. The predator does not disdain carrion, willingly eats dead fish, eggs and chicks, can eat grass and all kinds of seaweed, and in populated areas looking for food in numerous garbage dumps.

The diet of white-breasted or Himalayan bears is 80-85% represented by plant products, but the predator is able to eat ants and other insects, as well as highly nutritious mollusks and even frogs. Sloth bears, similarly, are adapted to eating predominantly colonial insects, including termites and ants. All biruangs are omnivores, but primarily feed on insects, including bees and termites, as well as fruits and shoots, earthworms and plant roots.

On earth, the bear is considered the largest predator; this species originated on the planet about 6 million years ago.

All about bears

The body length of the predator, depending on the species, varies from 1.2 to 3 meters, the weight can reach up to 1 ton, the jaws are very powerful, and the limbs are slightly curved and short.

The speed of the bear can reach up to 50 km / h, with the help of large and sharp claws, it is easy to climb a tree, tear apart prey, and get plant roots from under the ground.

Most bears are good swimmers.

Life expectancy can reach 45 years. They have a good sense of smell.

The coat of the bear is very hard and thick, the color has various shades from brown to black, white or black and white, gray hair may appear with age.

The tail of predators is almost invisible, only in pandas it is clearly expressed.

Varieties and photos of bears

Zoologists distinguish eight main types of bears and many varieties:

Brown bear

His external characteristics make up: a large head, a rather powerful body, small ears and eyes, the tail is almost invisible, large paws with large claws.

The color of six, depending on the habitat, can be brown, gray or even reddish. There are brown bears in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Polar bear (white)

It is the largest predator of the bear family: the weight can be more than one ton, the body length is about three meters, the head is flattened, the neck is long. The coat color can be pure white or slightly yellowish.

On the soles of the paws, the wool is very thick, which allows the bear to easily walk on the ice without slipping.

Feels comfortable in the water, swims well. It lives in regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Baribal (black)

Unlike the brown bear, it is smaller in size, the color of the coat is very black. It can be more than 2 meters long, the female is 1.5 m.

Elongated muzzle, long legs, short feet, gray or brown color. It lives in the territories of Alaska, Canada, Mexico.

Malayan bear

Very small, as a rule, the length of the body is not more than 1.3-1.5 m, the height at the withers is about 0.5 m. Stocky build, wide muzzle, small ears. Paws are high, feet are long with large claws.

The bear's coat is very hard and has a black-brown color, a white-red spot on the chest. It can be found in Thailand, China, Indonesia.

white-breasted bear

It does not differ in large sizes, the male reaches a length of up to 1.7 m, and the female is even smaller. The body of the bear is covered with dark brown or black silky hair, this bear also has very large ears and a sharp muzzle.

A distinctive feature of this species is a white or slightly yellow spot on the chest. These representatives of the bear family live in Afghanistan, Iran, and the countries of the Far East, as well as in the mountains of the Himalayas.

There is still a huge number of subspecies that can be listed and described indefinitely. prominent representatives predators of this species can be called such bears as: Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus), Gubach bear (Melursus ursinus), Bamboo bear commonly known as panda bear (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), and many others.

Habitat

The habitat of these graceful representatives of the fauna is very diverse, they are present on all continents. They mostly prefer to settle in the forests and lead a solitary lifestyle.

All types of bears are tied to their territory, where they hunt and stay for the winter, the only exception to this rule is polar bear.

Menu for the Predator

Bears eat absolutely everything, it can be berries and mushrooms, nuts and various roots, all kinds of meat and fish, ants, larvae and honey of bees can serve as a delicacy for animals, there are among bears and vegans, these are pandas and koalas.

Among all the variety of bears, polar bears are again pure predators, whose diet includes only fish and meat.

How the animal bear is born

Mating of bears occurs during the mating season (for each of the species this is a different period). Also, depending on belonging to a particular species, the pregnancy period of bears varies and lasts from 180 to 250 days.

Childbirth occurs during wintering, when the animal hibernates. The female gives birth to 1-4 cubs, weighing from 450 grams to half a kilogram, they have neither teeth nor hair.

Milk feeding lasts about a year, and the cubs from the previous litter (petuns) help the mother in raising the babies until they reach the age of two.

Bears reach sexual maturity after at least three years.

In order for the bear to feel most comfortable, spacious enclosures are created, and a habitat as close as possible to the natural one is created.

In addition to trees, stones and various wooden structures, such an aviary should be equipped with a sufficiently large pool.

The diet should be in accordance with the season and include all the elements that animals receive in natural environment habitat.

Bear photo

Bears are powerful predatory animals with thick paws with claws bent down. While walking, they step on the whole foot, for which they received the name "plantigrade". Max Speed, which that predator can develop is fifty kilometers per hour.

Characteristics of different types of bears

According to research, these predatory animals appeared on Earth about five or six million years ago. Now scientists distinguish 8 species in the bear family:

Brown bear,
himalayan,
big panda,
polar bear,
sloth bear,
baribal,
spectacled,
Malay.

All types of these predators have their own diet. For example, a polar bear consumes exclusively meat, a panda absorbs only plants, while others feast on berries, fruits, plants, insects, and meat.

All types of bears have uniform external data, almost the same size and similar structure. Bears are the most large mammals predatory animals living on the earth.

Popular brown bear

This is the most numerous type, because it can adapt to completely different conditions and places of residence. They can be found in desert and mountainous areas, in dense taiga and even beyond the Arctic Circle. IN old times these bears also lived in Japan, but now this species of bears has completely disappeared from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Few such bears in Western and central parts Europe, you can meet them only in mountainous areas. Scientists seriously believe that here this species of bears is on the verge of extinction. But in the regions Far East and Siberia, brown bears live happily ever after a large number varied food.

Due to the large range of their habitat, these bears have acquired numerous subspecies, which differ in appearance, and in size. Weight of representatives of various subspecies brown bears starts from a hundred kilograms and can even reach one ton.

To subspecies of this species big predators include:

Ussuri and Kamchatka bears,
american Grizzly,
brown European bears.

Wool colors in this type of bear it varies from light fawn to very dark brown. The body length of these clubfoot animals is in the range of 200-280 centimeters.

Brown predators lead sedentary life, a piece of land on which one bear lives stretches for tens of kilometers. However, the animal does not really protect the boundaries of its “possessions”, but in this area there are places where the predator seeks food for itself and makes dens, the visit of which by other animals is immediately stopped by the owner.

During the winter season, brown bears hibernate. By that time, the lair, hidden from prying eyes in bad passable place, should be equipped. To do this, the bear lays moss or dry grass on its bottom. Before hibernation, the bear must gain at least fifty kilograms. subcutaneous fat. To achieve this, the bear must consume about seven hundred kilograms of various berries and about five hundred kilograms of pine nuts. And this is all in addition to other types of food..

The bear's diet is mainly berries, nuts, fruits, roots, cereals. Sometimes ants, insects and their larvae appear on their menu, small rodents. Males can also catch small ungulates that live in the forest.

The sleep of a brown bear during hibernation is quite sensitive, but it is not worth waking it up, since a “not slept” bear is a great danger. During hibernation, the cardiac and respiratory activity of a clubfoot predator slows down several times, the intervals between inhalations and exhalations can be up to 4 minutes. The body temperature also drops, it is in the range of 29-34 degrees. This state allows the predator to use fat reserves more economically.

Dangerous Himalayan Bear

This type of bear also called the black bear of Asia. The size of the Himalayan bear is somewhat smaller than the brown one, and in structure it is slimmer. He has a more graceful physique, slightly elongated muzzle and large ears. This species of predators lives in mountainous and hilly areas. East Asia, from formidable Iran to hospitable Japan. You can meet the Asian bear in Indochina, the southern Himalayas, Afghanistan. In Russia, this type of bear can only be seen in the Ussuri region, beyond the Amur, in the northern region.

Himalayan bears are coal-black with a white or yellowish spot on the chest, their hairline is thick, in the head and neck area the hair is longer and slightly raised, forming a kind of mane . Their individuals can reach a length of 170 centimeters., their maximum weight is 140 kilograms. Basically, these bears lead an arboreal lifestyle, so their claws are strong and sharp, thanks to which they cling well to branches.

The basis of the nutrition of the Himalayan representative of the bear family is plants. In summer, he eats fresh grass, plant bulbs, roots, berries, and insects. In spring, pine nuts and acorns left on the ground from last year predominate in its diet. These bears have a big sweet tooth and will never refuse to feast on the honey of wild bees or raid the apiary. Sometimes the diet of the Asiatic bear is enriched with the meat of ungulates, rodents and amphibians.

This species of clubfoot predators poses a danger to people, because these bears are very brave, they can compete for prey and with Bengal tiger, and with a leopard. In Asian countries, many cases of Himalayan bear attacks on livestock have been recorded.

cute giant panda

Pandas live in the forests of central and western China and are under state protection because they have a small population. The birth of each new panda is recorded and considered a joyful event.

These bears have an interesting black and white color , in length they reach 120 cm, their maximum weight is 160 kg. They have a dense body big head They have short legs with small claws. For a long time, scientists argued in which family to “identify” pandas - to bears, or still raccoons. But as a result of numerous studies, it turned out that the body structure of the panda corresponds to the bear, although they have some features that are characteristic of raccoons.

Pandas are slow and thoughtful, therefore they prefer to live alone, however, in the spring for mating, they still approach individuals of the opposite sex.

Pandas eat mostly fresh bamboo shoots, sometimes they can also feast on other plants or fish.

Mighty polar bear

The polar bear is the largest member of the bear family. The weight of individuals ranges from 300-800 kilograms. Moreover, females can reach only 400 kilograms, while males are larger, and some of their representatives can weigh a ton. The body length of such a bear can be up to 3 meters.

White predators live in the northern hemisphere, with large specimens living near the Bering Sea, and less prominent ones on Svalbard. These bears have more long hair, compared to other species, and a flat skull structure. Their coat is white, but sometimes under sunbeams it acquires a yellowish tone, the skin of polar bears is black.

There is almost no plant food in the diet of this species of predators. The main "dish" in the menu of polar bears is seals, but they do not disdain birds, walruses, rodents, whales that are on the shore.

Polar bears pose a great danger to polar explorers. If other types of bears almost never attack people first, then their white counterparts can specifically hunt down a person.

Gubach bear - a resident of tropical countries

The habitat of the sloth bear is the woodland of Ceylon, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It's a slim look bears with long paws crowned with large and sharp claws. His coat is thick, long, black with a V-shaped white mark on the chest, grows in different directions, so the bear has a rather untidy appearance. His muzzle has a pointed appearance, his lips are long, and while eating, the bear folds his lips in such a way that various funny grimaces are obtained.

The sloth bear reaches a length of 180 centimeters, and its weight is within 140 kilograms. During the day, he prefers to sleep soundly, while snoring very loudly, and looking for food for himself at night.

These bears mainly eat fruits of trees and insects. At the same time, he obtains insects by blowing them out of the bark of trees, and then strongly tightening them with air into his mouth. Sharp claws also help to get insects and their larvae, with the help of which the bear easily breaks rotten trees.

black baribal

Baribal lives in North America, in Canada, Alaska, in the region Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic. Baribal resembles a brown bear, but its coat color is black, the muzzle is more elongated and colored yellowish, the dimensions are somewhat smaller than those of the brown counterpart. The body of the baribal is 180 centimeters long, and the weight is in the region of 120-150 kilograms.

Such a bear has long claws that allow him to climb trees well. The black baribal eats only food of plant origin, but there are also insects, their larvae, and small vertebrates in its diet.

Spectacled Bear: South American

This species of clubfoot predators lives in the highlands of the South American continent. The length of his body reaches 170 centimeters, and the weight is in the range of 70-140 kilograms. In addition, this bear has an impressive tail, its length is about 10 centimeters. The bear has a thick coat of black or black-brown color, and the muzzle is decorated with white spots that look like the bear is wearing dark glasses.

Spectacled bears are listed in the Red Book, their population is not numerous, so this species of bears has been studied rather poorly. This bear feeds exclusively on berries, herbs, fruits and roots. It lives in dens, but can settle on a tree for several days, arranging a special nest there from branches bent under itself, and eat juicy leaves or fruits.

small malay bear

The smallest member of the family bears is the Malay bear, or biruang. The length of his body reaches only 140 centimeters, and the weight is within 65 kilograms. The "baby" lives on the territory of eastern India and further to Indonesia.

The coat of the biruang is short, smooth, reminiscent of black plush. The muzzle is shortened and colored either orange or gray, on the chest there is a horseshoe-shaped mark of orange or white. His paws are quite wide, and the claws are strong, have a curved shape.

The Malayan bear is nocturnal, and during the day it sleeps quietly on a tree under the warm sun. The bear eats everything:

plant shoots,
fruit,
insects,
small rodents.

With early childhood we get acquainted with such an animal as a bear. This is an image from a cartoon, a favorite plush toy and even a painting by a famous artist. Did you know that there is a whole Bear family, which includes many representatives?

Lovers of honey and at the same time dangerous predators, huge, but sometimes such funny animals - bears have always fascinated people with their power. Below are articles about various representatives of the Bear family. In them you will plunge into the world wild bears, you will find a lot of interesting things about these curious, strong and ferocious animals.

The giant panda is the mountain bear of Tibet. Description and photo of the big panda

The giant panda is a member of the Bear family. These funny bears will make you smile! In this article you will find detailed description and a photo of a giant panda, you can learn a lot of new and exciting things about the life of this rarest animal.

The polar bear is a large predator of the north. Description and photo of a polar bear

The polar bear (other names for the polar bear: polar bear, northern bear, oshkuy, nanuk, umka, sea bear) is one of the largest predators on the planet, which is a member of the Bear family. The big polar bear is the embodiment of strength. Since ancient times, the polar white bear has become a respected character in the folklore of the indigenous peoples. northern peoples. In this article, you can see a photo and description of a polar bear, learn a lot of new and interesting things about this big and strong predator North.

The Himalayan bear is the owner of the sign of the moon. Description of the Himalayan bear and photo

Himalayan bear (other names: white-breasted bear, black himalayan bear, black Ussuri bear) - this predatory look mammals from the bear family. The Himalayan bear is often referred to as the "moon bear" because of its white patch on its chest, which is shaped like a crescent moon. In this article you will find a description of the Himalayan bear and photos, learn a lot of interesting and new things about this unique animal.

Jackals. Unlike them, clubfoot are more stocky and powerful. Like other canids, bears are predators, but sometimes they feast on berries, mushrooms and honey.

There are also pseudo-toed, not related to canines and even predatory animals. The name bear is given only because of resemblance with true representatives of the genus.

real bears

The second name of bears is plantigrade. Having wide legs, clubfoot fully step on them. Other canids, as a rule, touch the ground with only part of their paws, as if walking on their toes. This is how animals speed up. Bears, on the other hand, cannot develop a speed of more than 50 kilometers per hour.

Brown bear

Included in Russian bear species, the largest and most popular in the country. However, the largest clubfoot was caught outside the Federation, on the American island of Kodiak. From there they took the animal for the Berlin Zoo. I got a bear weighing 1134 kilograms at a rate of 150-500 kilos.

It is assumed that brown came to America about 40 million years ago through the Bering Isthmus. Animals came from Asia, representatives of the species are also found there.

The largest clubfoot in Russia are found on the Kamchatka Peninsula. There giants live 20-30 years. In captivity, with good maintenance, bears live up to half a century.

Polar bear

According to its habitat, it is called polar. The scientific name of the species in Latin is translated as "sea bear". Predators are associated with snow, the expanses of the ocean. In the water, polar bears hunt, catching fish and seals.

The ocean does not prevent the migration of polar clubfoot. On the water, they overcome hundreds of kilometers, working with wide front feet, like oars. The hind legs act as a rudder. Going out onto the ice floes, the bears do not slip, because they have rough feet.

Among ground predators the largest animal. In length, the predator reaches 3 meters. The standard weight is 700 kilograms. So kind of polar bear awesome. In nature, an animal has no enemies other than man.

studying types of bears, only at the polar you will find hollow wool. The hair is empty from the inside. Firstly, it gives an additional layer of air in the fur coat. Gas is a poor conductor of heat, it does not release it from the skin of a predator.

Secondly, the cavities in the white hairs are needed to reflect light. In fact, clubfoot hair is colorless. White hair only looks, allowing the predator to merge with the surrounding snow.

Himalayan bear

Otherwise called the black Asian bear. It is distinguished by large ears, an elegant physique by the standards of clubfoot, and an elongated muzzle.

The habitat of the Himalayan extends from Iran to Japan. The predator prefers mountainous areas. Hence the name of the species. In Russia, its representatives live beyond the Amur, as a rule, in the Ussuri region.

Black bear is named for the dark color of the coat. It is longer on the head and neck, forming a kind of mane. There is a white spot on the chest of the predator. However, there are subspecies of the animal without it.

Maximum weight Himalayan bear is 140 kilograms. The length of the animal reaches one and a half meters. But the claws of a predator are thicker and larger than those of brown and polar individuals. The reason is the way of life of the black bear. Most he spends his time in the trees. Claws help climb them.

The Asian clubfoot cannot be called a formidable predator. From animal food, the bear usually consumes only insects. The basis of the diet are herbs, roots, berries, acorns.

baribal

Alternative name - black bear. He lives in the North, especially in the east of the continent. The appearance of the predator is close to the appearance of the brown clubfoot. However, the baribal has more protruding shoulders, lower ears and, as the name implies, black hair. However, on the muzzle it is lighter.

The name of the animal is similar to the name of the family to which it is assigned. There are no other members of the family. By the way, this also applies to the little panda. She is also one of a kind.

The closest relative of the koala is, but not a bear at all, and not even little panda.

About 30 million years ago, 18 species of marsupial "bears" lived on the planet. There were also unseen modern man true clubfoot. Among them, 5-6 species became extinct.

extinct bears

The number of extinct bears is vague, as the existence of one species is in question. There is a glimmer of hope that the Tibetan clubfoot still exists, although for a long time it does not fall into the eyes of people and into the lenses of video cameras. If you meet, let the scientists know. The bear looks like a brown one, but the front part of the body is reddish. The withers of the animal are almost black. In the inguinal region, the hair is red. The rest of the hair behind the predator is dark brown. The bear lived in the east of the Tibetan plateau.

California Grizzly

It is depicted on the flag of California, but has not been found in or out of the state since 1922. Then they killed the last representative type of animal.

Bear had a golden coat color. The beast was a totemic among the Indians. The Redskins believed that they were descended from the grizzly, so they did not hunt the ancestor. The clubfoot was exterminated by white settlers.

mexican grizzly bear

Officially declared extinct in the 60s of the last century. The animal was large, weighing approximately 360 kilograms.

The Mexican grizzly was distinguished by whitish claws on its front paws, small ears and a high forehead.

Etruscan bear

fossil view lived in the Pliocene. This geological period ended 2.5 million years ago. The second name of the predator is the short-faced bear. This is the one with 13 pairs of ribs.

Skeletons of Etruscan bears are found only in southern latitudes. Therefore, scientists suggest that the beast was thermophilic. It is also known that the extinct animal was large, weighing about 600 kilograms.

Atlas bear

Inhabited the lands from Morocco to Libya. The last individual was killed by hunters in 1870. Outwardly, the animal was distinguished by reddish hair below the body and dark brown above. There was a white spot on the bear's muzzle.

Unlike most bears, the Atlas preferred desert and arid areas. The name of the species is associated with a chain of mountains where clubfoot lived. Zoologists attributed them to subspecies of the brown bear.

Giant polar bear

Appearance polar bear was similar to the modern one. Only here in length the beast reached 4 meters, and weighed 1200 kilograms. Such giants lived on the planet 100 thousand years ago.

So far, scientists have found the only ulna of a giant bear. Found a bone in the Pleistocene deposits of Great Britain.

Survival of modern polar bears also questionable. The number of species is sharply reduced. This is due to climate change. Glaciers are melting. Animals have to do more and more long swims. Many predators get to the shore exhausted. Meanwhile, and full of strength it is not easy for bears to get food in the snowy expanses.