Facts about polar bears

1.  Although their fur appears white, it is actually transparent.

2. Polar bears have black skin. Black skin helps to soak in the sun’s rays and stay warm

3. Polar bears have about ten cm of blubber under their skin

4. Polar bears have 42 teeth

5. Male polar bears can weigh up to 680 kg (1500 lb).

6. The scientific name for the polar bear is ‘ursus maritimus’ which means sea bear.

7. Polar bears have an excellent sense of smell, with the ability to detect seals nearly a mile away (1.6 km).

8. Polar bears can reach speeds up to 40 kph (25 mph) on land and 10 kph (6 mph) in water.

9. A polar bear is the largest carnivore (meat eater) that lives on land.

10. Seals make up most of a polar bears diet.

COMMON NAME: Polar Bear

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Ursus maritimus

TYPE: Mammals

DIET: Carnivore

AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 25 to 30 years

SIZE: Head and body: 7.25 to 8 feet; tail: 3 to 5 inches

WEIGHT: 900 to 1,600 pounds

SIZE RELATIVE TO A 6-FT MAN:

Polar Bears are endangered due to habitat loss from global warming.

Credit to National Geographic and BBC Earth.