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How many different species of bear are there? -

Across four continents in all sorts of climates, there are eight species of bears in the world today. Fossil records show, however, that there were once bears roaming every continent on Earth besides Australia and Antarctica.

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Two layers of fur -

Most bears are actually equipped with two layers of fur that help them with all sorts of tasks, from keeping warm to wicking away water as quickly as possible.

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Solitary animals -

There isn't a single species of bear that works or lives in packs like other animals such as wolves. Besides mother bears and their cubs, bears prefer to go it alone.

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Momma knows best -

That being said, momma bears and their offspring do spend a good deal of quality time together. Grizzly cubs, for example, can spend up to three years in the protection of their mother.

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Heavy sleepers -

One of the most commonly known facts about bears is that they hibernate. It might come as a surprise, however, that some bears go through a different process called torpor, which is a state of deep sleep that bears can wake up from when they choose, as opposed to hibernating bears, who won't wake up for anything until winter is over. And some bears, like male polar bears, don't rest during the winter at all.

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The glorious grizzly -

The grizzly bear is one of the most instantly recognizable species of bear on the planet. But while their big, fuzzy coats may make them look cuddly, their menacing teeth indicate otherwise.

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Gone fishin' -

Grizzly bears in Alaska are famous for their annual fishing trips during the Alaskan salmon run. During the warmer summer months, when salmon are swimming in droves upstream to their ancestral homes, grizzly bears have a field day catching fish and eating to their heart's content.

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Moth munchers -

Although known for their penchant for salmon, grizzlies have another, much smaller favorite snack: moths. Grizzly bears are estimated to regularly eat tens of thousands of moths a day. And, yes, that's one single bear.

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Polar bears -

Polar bears, the solitary wanderers of the Arctic, are known for their massive size and their beautiful white coats of fur. As a matter of fact, their outer layer of fur is translucent, with a white underlayer. Underneath that, polar bears actually have black skin to help them retain more heat.

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The world's biggest carnivore -

Most bear species are omnivores, but there isn't exactly an abundance of foliage in the Arctic, so polar bears have adapted to a carnivorous diet. Not only are they one of the largest species of bear in the world, they are also the world's largest carnivore.

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The nose knows -

Searching for food across the barren deserts of the Arctic can be a tough job, but thankfully polar bears are blessed with some of the best noses in the game. They can smell a fish or a seal swimming underwater from almost a mile (1 km) away.

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Fast swimmers -

Once they've locked onto their underwater meals, polar bears have to be quick enough to catch them. Thankfully, they are also marvelously adept swimmers, and can reach speeds of up to 6 miles (10 km) an hour.

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Beautiful black bears -

One of the most common species of bear, especially in North America, is the American black bear. While not as big as grizzlies or polar bears, these beautiful forest dwellers can still weigh up to 660 pounds (300 kg).

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North America's favorite bear -

American black bears are the most numerous bears in North America, and one of only two species of bear in the world that isn't in danger of extinction. Across the continent, black bears can be seen in forests, national parks, and occasionally even the backyard.

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Clingy climbers -

Unlike their grizzly neighbors, American black bears are excellent climbers, and can climb trees at dizzying speeds. Once up there, they're perfectly content to rest amongst the branches.

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The marvelous moon bear -

The Asiatic black bear goes by many names, depending on its region, but is perhaps best known as the moon bear, because of the markings on its chest that resembles a crescent moon.

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Human impersonators -

For whatever reason, moon bears are big fans of walking on their hind legs, and they can do so for up to a quarter of a mile (over 400 m) with ease.

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Precious panda bears -

The world's favorite bear, despite being terrible at almost everything it sets its mind to, is, of course, the panda bear. Native to the mountainous forests of China, these cuddly-looking balls of fluff are recognizable by their distinct black and white markings.

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Camouflage kings -

These markings might not seem to have any rhyme or reason, but they are actually a brilliant camouflage technique. When it snows, as it often does in their home region, their white fur helps them blend in while on the move. Their black fur helps them blend into the shade of the trees when they stop to rest.

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Great grabbers -

Although pandas are known for being terrible breeders and maybe not the most diligent parents in the world, there is one thing they excel at: grabbing stuff. In order to hold on to all that bamboo they eat, pandas are equipped with an elongated wrist bone that operates like a thumb to help them keep a hold on their shoots.

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Lazy bums? -

A day in the life of a panda consists of two things: sleeping and eating. While pandas don't sleep for long periods of time like other species of bear do, they consistently take three- to four-hour-long naps throughout the day and night.

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Big eaters -

When they're not asleep, pandas are busy eating. Since the bamboo that makes up the lion's share of their diet isn't very nutritionally sound, pandas have to dedicate around 12 hours a day to munching down up to 84 pounds (38 kg) in order to stay in peak physical form.

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Splendid sun bears -

Sun bears are in many ways the odd ones out in the bear family. Many of their physical features are unique to them alone, and they possess more than a few personality quirks that set them apart as well.

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The world's smallest bear -

For starters, sun bears are considerably smaller than most other species of bears. The average male sun bear only weighs 150 pounds (68 kg), making them about half the size of an American black bear.

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…with the longest tongue -

One thing they do have over other species of bear, however, is their comically enormous tongue. A sun bear's tongue can extend to over 10 inches (25 cm), and is used to dig deep into beehives for honey.

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Home in the trees -

Sun bears are also some of the best climbers in the bear family. They are equipped with uniquely long claws that help them easily maneuver through the trees, where they spend most of their day.

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Great communicators -

Another fascinating aspect of sun bears is the way they behave with each other. Unlike any other species of bear, sun bears have been observed mimicking each other's facial expressions both to communicate and to play.

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Bears in danger -

As is tragically the case for countless species of animals across the world, the habitats for most species of bears are shrinking at alarming rates. There are only two species of bear left in the world who aren't at risk of extinction (which would be the brown bear and the American black bear).

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What we can do to help -

If we want to continue to share our world with these beautiful bears, who are such an important part of so many ecosystems across the world, we must do everything we can to stop climate change, act against deforestation, and remember the importance of our natural surroundings and our animal neighbors who share the Earth with us. 

Sources: (Our Endangered World) (WWF) (Animal Stratosphere)

See also: Meet the world's most poisonous animals

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