Polar BearsPolar Bears

Cecilia MakCecilia MakJacqueline WongJacqueline Wong

Raymond YangRaymond YangHelen LiHelen Li

Period 3, Life SciencePeriod 3, Life ScienceMS. KWONMS. KWON

ClassificationClassification

KINGDOM: KINGDOM: AnimaliaAnimalia PHYLUM: PHYLUM: ChordataChordata CLASS: CLASS: MammaliaMammalia ORDER: ORDER: CarnivoraCarnivora FAMILY: FAMILY: UrsidaeUrsidae GENUS SPECIES: GENUS SPECIES: UrsusUrsus (bear) (bear) MaritimusMaritimus

(sea)(sea)

Physical CharacteristicsPhysical Characteristics

Male polar bears weigh about 350 to more than 650 Male polar bears weigh about 350 to more than 650 kg while females weigh about 150 to 250 kgkg while females weigh about 150 to 250 kg

Have more slender bodies Have more slender bodies and longer necks/heads and longer necks/heads than other bearsthan other bears

Hind limbs are longer than Hind limbs are longer than forelimbs forelimbs

Have long claws for tearing Have long claws for tearing apart prey apart prey

Have large, furry feet for walking on snow and iceHave large, furry feet for walking on snow and ice Skin is black which enables bear to absorb sunlight Skin is black which enables bear to absorb sunlight

energy to warm its body. energy to warm its body.

Behavioral CharacteristicsBehavioral Characteristics

Most active the first third of the day and least Most active the first third of the day and least active the rest of the dayactive the rest of the day

Sleeps and rests when not Sleeps and rests when not hunting hunting

Mothers frequently touch Mothers frequently touch and groom cubs  and groom cubs  

Mates several times  Mates several times   Aggression occurs during breeding season and Aggression occurs during breeding season and

when food is stolenwhen food is stolen Play fighting can leave scars and broken teethPlay fighting can leave scars and broken teeth

Food SourceFood Source

Eat mainly sealsEat mainly seals Also eat reindeer, fish, Also eat reindeer, fish,

small rodents, ducks, small rodents, ducks, eggs, and birds eggs, and birds

Hunt for foodHunt for food Need 2 kg of food per day to surviveNeed 2 kg of food per day to survive Uses their claws and teeth Uses their claws and teeth Skin and fat are eaten first, then meatSkin and fat are eaten first, then meat

HabitatHabitat Live in the entire circumpolar Arctic regionLive in the entire circumpolar Arctic region Adapted to live in water and Adapted to live in water and

on land. on land.  Are excellent swimmers Are excellent swimmers

and can withstand its and can withstand its cold environment cold environment

Over 40% of all polar Over 40% of all polar bears living today live in bears living today live in Northern CanadaNorthern Canada

Stay in ice packs of their environment because it Stay in ice packs of their environment because it allows them to stay near food source allows them to stay near food source

When summer comes, they swim many miles to When summer comes, they swim many miles to remain on iceremain on ice

AdaptationsAdaptations

Have tiny ears and tails which help cut Have tiny ears and tails which help cut down on heat loss down on heat loss

White fur camouflages themWhite fur camouflages them Blubber is 11 cm. Blubber is 11 cm. thick to keep them wormthick to keep them worm Massive paws help them Massive paws help them

swim, walk on thin ice, swim, walk on thin ice, have better traction have better traction

Sense of smell can allow them to smell a seal at Sense of smell can allow them to smell a seal at 20 miles away20 miles away

Eyesight is adapted for underwaterEyesight is adapted for underwater

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts

They sometimes go into They sometimes go into towns and villages towns and villages

Break into buildings to find Break into buildings to find food food

Advertises coke and ice Advertises coke and ice creamcream

Are not shot, but caught Are not shot, but caught and taken back to the wildand taken back to the wild

Are endangeredAre endangered Countries have laws to Countries have laws to

protect polar bears, but protect polar bears, but hunters still kill them hunters still kill them

CitationsCitations

http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animhttp://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/calia/eumetazoa/coelomates/deuterostomes/chordata/craniata/mammalia/carnivora/polar-bear.htmraniata/mammalia/carnivora/polar-bear.htm

http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/PolarBears/home.html

http://endangeredpolarbear.com/polar_bear_habitat.htm

http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/arctic/pbear.html http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/polar-

bear/behavior.htm http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/polar-

bear/physical-characteristics.htm