What is the polar bears scientific classification and name?
A polar bear’s closest relative is the brown bear, ursus arctos. How big are polar bears? Very big! Adult males measure 2.5 to 3 meters (8 to 10 feet) tall and can weigh 250 to 770 kilograms (550 to 1,700 pounds). Adult females measure 1.8 to 2.5 meters (6 to 8 feet) tall and weigh 90 to 320 kilograms (200 to 700 pounds). The largest polar bear ever recorded was a male weighing 2,209 pounds. Wow! How do polar bears survive in the arctic environment? They’re built for it! Polar bears love the Arctic climate, where winter temperatures can plunge to -45º C (-50º F). Polar bears are insulated by two layers of fur and a layer of blubber that can measure 11.5 cm (4.5 inches) thick. Their compact ears and small tail also prevent heat loss. In fact, polar bears have more problems with overheating than they do from the cold—especially when they run. Polar bear feet are covered with small bumps called papillae to keep them from slipping on ice. Their sense of smell is so powerful they can detect
