Polar Bears And Their Brown Relatives

Besides the white color appearance, polar bears also differ from its brown brother with its sizes – polar bears are the biggest among this species, having more stretched body form nearly 3 meters in length and 1,5 meters high. These animals are very specific due to the area of their distribution (in northern Arctic areas) and natural environment they live in. Here some exciting facts about polar bears, which may be certain points of comparison of these two species:

1. Despite their white color, which is their distinguishing feature, polar bears have normal black skin. Moreover, the fur has no pigmentation and during lifetime of the individual it changes the color from white to light yellow because of the influence of sunlight.

2. As polar bears are determined to live on the territory with large water spaces, it is natural that their body structure adapted to such a living. For instance, polar bears have flippers, which allow them to swim on long distances and, therefore, to catch the prey in a very easy way. By the way, as a meal a lot of polar marine species serve, such as seal, walrus, sea hares alongside various fish species. The gourmet items for polar bears are eggs and chicks of polar birds.

3. Polar bears can settle both on the land and on the ice blocks. That is why it happens to see these animals south to the area of their distribution. If in North American and European Arctic polar bears usually settle on land, in Iceland or on other small islands they might be observed drifting on the ice floe. Wool pile on their feet permits them no to slide on it.

4. One more thing to add to this comparison is that hibernation is of less priority to polar bears than to brown ones. Particularly, only pregnant individuals do this. In addition, the birth of polar bears is a very rare occasion as far as it occurs only once in three years and the mortality among young bears achieves nearly 30 per cent.

5. Polar bears are famous for their curiosity, which is also related to their good senses of smell and eyesight. Sometimes they can live not far from people just because of it. If human starts to defense oneself the bear’s curiosity naturally turns into aggressiveness. As a result about 15 people die per year after clashes with these animals.