Bear Facts
The Sea Bear
The polar bear's Latin name, Ursus maritimus, or "Sea Bear," refers to the animal's close association with the Arctic's chilly waters. The polar bear is the only bear considered a marine mammal.
Polar bears spend as much time on the ice as they do on land. Polar bears are often seen along open leads, where they hunt seals, as well as on the sea ice. They depend on the ice to hunt, breed, and in some cases to den.
Polar bears are champion swimmers and divers, an adaptation that allows them to swim from one ice floe to the next. They have been known to swim more than 60 miles without a rest and have been clocked swimming as fast as six miles per hour. Recent ice loss in the Arctic, however, is testing the limits of the polar bear's swimming ability.
A polar bear's forepaws are partially webbed to assist it in swimming. The massive size of the forepaws help as well. Each measures up to 12 inches in diameter. Another adaptation to an aquatic life is excellent underwater vision.
The polar bear's fat layer, which is three to four inches thick, not only protects it from the cold, but adds to its bouyancy in the water. When a polar bear emerges from the water, it shakes water from its fur like a dog. A polar bear also wrings water from its fur by dragging itself across the ice.
Polar bears spend as much time on the ice as they do on land. Polar bears are often seen along open leads, where they hunt seals, as well as on the sea ice. They depend on the ice to hunt, breed, and in some cases to den.
Polar bears are champion swimmers and divers, an adaptation that allows them to swim from one ice floe to the next. They have been known to swim more than 60 miles without a rest and have been clocked swimming as fast as six miles per hour. Recent ice loss in the Arctic, however, is testing the limits of the polar bear's swimming ability.
A polar bear's forepaws are partially webbed to assist it in swimming. The massive size of the forepaws help as well. Each measures up to 12 inches in diameter. Another adaptation to an aquatic life is excellent underwater vision.
The polar bear's fat layer, which is three to four inches thick, not only protects it from the cold, but adds to its bouyancy in the water. When a polar bear emerges from the water, it shakes water from its fur like a dog. A polar bear also wrings water from its fur by dragging itself across the ice.
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