A polar bear is the largest bear, it is the native of the Arctic and its surrounding regions, including Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Norway, and Russia. It is very similar to the brown bear, so the two species can crossbreed with each other. Scientifically a polar bear is known as Ursus maritimus.
A polar bear is used to living in a cold and icy environment, due to this it spends much of their time on the sea ice. It can easily identify with its distinct white fur, which helps it to blend in with its icy surroundings.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) the polar bear is a vulnerable species. Its estimated total population is around 22,000 to 31,000 individuals. Due to climate change, pollution, and energy development a polar bear has to face significant threats.
However, in this article, we will highlight some interesting facts about a polar bear along with its height and physical characteristics. Therefore, if you are curious to know more read this article carefully.
Polar Bear Height
How tall is a polar bear? It is the commonly asked question about polar bears. The polar bear’s height varies when they stand on their four legs, their height is approximately 1 to 1.6 meters from the ground. That is equal to 4 to 5.3 feet. However, polar bears can also stand on their hind legs. In this situation, they look more taller. The height is nearly 10 feet when a polar bear stands up on their hind legs. A male polar bear is usually taller than a female polar bear.
How Tall They Look When a Male and Female Polar Bear Standing Up?
| Male Polar Bear Height | 2.4 to 3 meters | 5.9 to 9. feet |
| Female Polar Bear Height | 1.8 to 2.4 meters | 5.9 to .8 feet |
Physical Characteristics of a Polar Bear
A polar bear has a large body with stocky legs, long snouts, small rounded ears, and shaggy hair. Moreover, it has a thick layer of fat and robust fur that serves as a coat, which keeps it warm in cold winter. In addition, a polar bear has plantigrade paws that act like snowshoes. It helps a polar bear to walk on snow and ice and provides grip at the time of swimming. A polar bear also has a small tail.
| Physical Characteristics | ||
| Attribute | Male | Female |
| Body Weight | 350-650kg (770–1,430 lb) | 150–350kg (330–770 lb) |
| Shoulder Height | Up to 1.7 m (5.6 ft) | Up to 1.7 m (5.6 ft) |
| Body Length | 240–260 cm (95–102 in) | 190–210 cm(75–83 in) |
| Tail Length | 7–12 cm (about 3–5 in) | 7–12 cm (about 3–5 in) |
Lesser Known Facts About Polar Bear
Let’s explore some amazing facts about the polar bear.
- Marine Mammals
A polar bear spends most of its life on the sea ice. Also, it depends upon the ocean for food and habitat. Due to this, a polar bear is also known as a marine mammal. However, it is the only bear species that is considered a marine mammal.
- Black Skin
A polar bear’s fur is translucent, it appears white because it reflects visible light. However, under the thick fur, the real color of the polar bear’s skin is jet black.
- Swim Constantly
A polar bear can steadily swim for hours and can cover a large distance. During swimming, its large paws act as a help a lot. A polar bear uses their paws to paddle through the water. Moreover, it can reach a speed of up to 6mph in water.
- Not Good in Hunting
A polar bear hunting for food its entire life. However, the chances of its success in hunting are very low. In other words, we can say less than 2 percent of polar bear hunts are successful. Seal is the main prey of a polar bear, sometimes it also hunts small mammals, eggs, and vegetation.
Read Also: MegaPvp: Bursting the Bubble
- Largest Bear Species
Male polar bears are double the size of females and can weigh up to 800 kg. It can also reach a height of 3 meters. As a result, it is the world’s largest bear species and the largest land carnivore.
- Strong Sense of Smell
A polar bear has a strong smell power, due to this it can smell the seal breathing holes or prey in the ice up to a kilometer away.
