Polar bear Diet and Habitat Diet Polar bears
Polar bear
Diet and Habitat Diet Polar bears feed almost exclusively on ringed seals and bearded seals. They are also known to eat walrus, beluga whale and bowhead whale carcasses, birds' eggs, and rarely vegetation. Habitat The polar bear’s habitat is the Arctic Interesting facts Polar bears have 42 teeth. The scientific name for the polar bear is ‘ursus maritimus’. Polar bears have an excellent sense of smell, with the ability to detect seals nearly a mile away (1. 6 km). Polar bears have black skin and although their fur appears white, it is actually transparent. It is the largest carnivore (meat eater) that lives on land.
Structural adaption Long, stiff hair between pads of bear's feet: - Protect bear's feet from the cold - Provides traction on the ice - Help the bear swim in cold, icy water -Also helps to keep bear from slipping on the slippery ice - Hair usually shakes free any water or ice formed after swimming Hollow fur -Traps air inside, thus making the bear buoyant in water - The layer of air provides insulation between their warm bodies and the cold Arctic air and water - Insulation provided is lost when fur is covered with oil Small and rounded ears -Prevents water from entering the bear's ears and freezing their eardrums, u see, big ears, more water!
Structural adaption Light colour of bear's fur provides camouflage against the ice -When hunting, bear covers black nose with its paws to hide it 6. -Strong swimmers -- Polar bears can travel up to a speed of 10 kph -- Have been known to swim continuously for 100 km -- Enables them to catch prey -Thick layer of fat (blubber) under skin - Up to 11 cm thick - Insulates bear from arctic cold -- Overheating might occur -- To prevent overheating, the bear moves slowly, resting often -- Excess heat is released from the body through areas where fur is absent or where blood vessels are close to the skin (eg. muzzle, nose, ears, foot, pads, inner thighs, shoulders) -- Polar bear swims to cool down on warm days or after physical activity - Skin under fur is black -- This is to ensure that the polar bear has a better heat retention rate.
Behavioral adaptations Polar bears are not territorial, but some aggression does occur between males competing for breeding females, in mothers protecting cubs, and in cases where bears may try to steal or scavenge food from another’s kill. Polar bears use body language and vocalizations to communicate. Polar bears aren't deep hibernators Only pregnant polar bears hibernate during the winter
Behavioral adaptations They fast through their hibernation. They rely on their fat. They give birth while hibernating. Researchers have found that non-hibernating polar bears, during times of food scarcity, can efficiently utilize their energy reserves like hibernating bears.
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