Bears are carnivores with eight surviving species, including the giant panda and polar bear. They vary in size and diet, with the brown bear being the most familiar and hunted for its meat and fur. Bears have a flexible omnivorous diet and are found on every continent except Africa, Australia, and Antarctica.
Bears, classified in the family Ursidae, are dog-like carnivores characterized by large size, stubby paws, five non-retractable claws, shaggy hair, a large muzzle, and omnivorous diets. There are eight surviving bear species: the giant panda (vegetarian), the spectacled bear (a relatively small bear native to western South America), the brown bear (the most familiar bear), the American black bear ( slightly smaller than the brown bear), the polar bear (one of the largest land carnivores in existence), the Asiatic black bear (closely related to the American black bear), the sloth bear (an arboreal bear which lives in the lowland forests of the Indian subcontinent) and the Sun Bear (the smallest bear, with short hair, which lives in the tropical forests of South-East Asia).
Members of the family Ursidae display an interesting variety of sizes and diets, despite the fact that there are only eight species. Sun bear males weigh only 66-112 lbs (30-51 kg), while both polar bear and brown bear weigh up to 1,500 lbs (680 kg). Although the polar bear is often cited as the largest land carnivore in existence, it may be equaled by the brown bear or surpassed by large saltwater crocodiles, although these do spend a lot of time in the water. It is best labeled as one of the two largest exclusively terrestrial carnivores in existence.
Bears, which split from their canid ancestors about 38 million years ago, have been dominant land animals for many millions of years, in both North America and Eurasia. While there are many larger animals in the bear’s range, such as hippopotamus, rhinoceros, and elephant, bears are particularly known for outnumbering all of these, having a greater range, and posing a greater danger to humans. The brown bear has been hunted since prehistoric times for its meat and fur, and it features prominently in world mythology.
With native species on every continent except Africa, Australia and Antarctica, bears have a huge range which is testament to their evolutionary success. Except for the giant panda, which eats bamboo exclusively, and the polar bear, which is exclusively carnivorous, bears have a flexible omnivorous diet, including fruits, fresh shoots, nuts, small invertebrates, and vertebrates such as rodents and fish. They are among the most widespread animals, found from Argentina to the furthest reaches of the Arctic.
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