And how and where does the polar bear live?

In the country of eternal snow, where a polar bear lives, this predator is considered one of the largest and ferocious. But nevertheless, he often prefers food of vegetable origin to meat and does it more often than other predators.

Polar bear. Description

The feeding of polar bears is mixed, and this has affected the structure of powerful canines. The surface of molars in these animals is uneven and flat, which is convenient for chewing any kind of food.

With the help of claws with sharp claws, predators tear prey to pieces and dig out edible fruits and roots from the earth. On each limb there are 5 long fingers, sharp claws on which are not drawn.

Strangely enough, these predatory animals can not boast of an ideal hearing and sharp eyesight . Polar bears do not see objects as large as their eyesight fields overlap. But the sense of smell of animals is much better developed. Predator often in order to understand what is around, you have to get up on your hind legs, turn your head and examine everything with your nose.

The bear is a large animal weighing 400-700 kg, 240-260 cm in length. The female is somewhat smaller - weighs 200-500 kg, and their length is about 190-210 cm.

Adaptation to living in harsh climatic conditions

The size of a bear depends on its type, but the structure of the body is approximately the same for all: strong but short paws, large head, powerful body and short tail. Since in the places where the polar bear lives, it is cold, then it is impossible to do without warm fur. Thick and dense hair helps to keep warm and protects from getting wet body. Moreover, not only the trunk and head are covered with fur, but also the soles of the feet. A thick layer of subcutaneous fat allows you to withstand the severe climatic conditions of the Arctic where the polar bear lives.

Color

The white color of the animal merges with the snow, which serves as an ideal camouflage for hunting in tracking down prey. But there are also individuals with a yellowish shade of fur. It basically depends on the season and lifestyle of the bears.

In winter and late autumn, the animal's hair is pure white, a yellowish shade that it acquires in late summer. If the area where the polar bear lives is surrounded by ice and there is no access to water, then the shade of the animal's fur is more white compared to the fur of animals that spend a lot of time in the water.

Habitat

The polar bear dwells in the Arctic, the land of eternal ice. Animals almost never leave the limits of floating ice floes and the coast. Often bears are met in places with open water areas, as here you can get food. Animals spend hours wandering along the edge of the ice or near the wormwood, looking for prey larger, for example a seal.

While roaming, they often end up on land, and in the event of ice retreat from the shore, they can be permanently stuck on an island. Then they have to eat scum, lemmings, rootlets and branches of dwarf willows.

Reproduction

Female only at the age of 3 years are able to acquire offspring, and males - to 4. The cubs of polar bears appear about once every 3 years, not more often. Growth of animals is a rather slow pace. Part of this is justified by the longevity of bears and their ability to reproduce up to 25 years, and in exceptional cases - up to 30-40.