Why is the polar bear considered a Marine animal?
Polar Bears are considered marine mammals for a variety of reasons; they get most of their food from the marine environment, and they have a layer of insulating blubber (like seals and whales) and partially webbed paws — key adaptations for swimming (which they’re good at and do quite a bit). The marine environment is central to Polar Bear ecology, and so they’re formally considered marine mammals. Their scientific name — Ursus maritimus — means “sea bear”, and they’re officially considered marine mammals under the international Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972.
