SCIENTIFIC NAME : Ursus maritimus WEIGHT : 800-1300 pounds LENGTH : 6-9 ft. POPULATION : 22000-31000 PLACES : Arctic HABITATS : Arctic sea ice,Polar Regions. | Polar bears are classified as marine mammals because they spend most of their lives on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean. They have a thick layer of body fat and a water-repellant coat that insulates them from the cold air and water. Considered talented swimmers, they can sustain a pace of six miles per hour by paddling with their front paws and holding their hind legs flat like a rudder.
Polar bears spend over 50% of their time hunting for food.A polar bear might catch only one or two out of ten seals it hunts, depending on the time of year and other variables. Their diet mainly consists of ringed and bearded seals because they need large amounts of fat to survive. |
