Polar bear
Ursus maritimus
140 cmAdult male
at the shoulder
at the shoulder
- Mass
- 300–800 kgSamce
Polar bear — size comparison
The polar bear lives along Arctic coasts and on sea ice. It has an elongated neck, a relatively small head and broad paws suited to swimming and moving over sno
Silhouette comparison
Height
Ground barkReference values · details in the profiles
HeightScale in m
00,511,5
140 cm
The scale compares the named dimensions. View direction and measurement points are given for each animal.
Polar bear — size comparison — facts and sources
The polar bear lives along Arctic coasts and on sea ice. It has an elongated neck, a relatively small head and broad paws suited to swimming and moving over snow. The hairs lack pigment, while the skin beneath is black. The coat may appear white, cream or yellowish depending on lighting and condition.
It mainly hunts seals, using sea ice as a platform for approaching prey. It also eats carrion, including whale remains. Although an excellent swimmer, access to a frozen sea enables efficient hunting of its most valuable food. Long ice-free periods reduce hunting time.
Adults usually live alone. A pregnant female prepares a snow den, where she gives birth in winter to very small, helpless cubs. The family stays inside until spring. After leaving, cubs spend a long period learning from their mother how to swim, find food and live on sea ice.
Podręcznik dla przewodników arktycznych opisuje typową wysokość 100–150 cm w barku, podczas gdy większe wartości dotyczą górnej granicy. Plansza używa 140 cm: dużego dorosłego samca na czterech łapach, lecz nie punktu bliskiego maksimum.