Where is the spectacled bear? Spectacled bear Tremarctos ornatus. Lifestyle and nutrition of the spectacled bear

Spectacled bear ( Tremarctos ornatus), also well known as the Andean bear, is a currently quite rare predatory mammal belonging to the bear family and the genus Spectacled bears.

Description of the spectacled bear

The spectacled bear is the only modern representative belonging to the genus Tremarctos. In North America a close one is known fossil species– Florida cave bear (Tremarctos floridanus). Spectacled bears are direct descendants of the largest American predator Ice Age– a giant short-faced bear (Arctodus simus), whose weight was quite impressive, reaching 800-1000 kilograms.

Appearance

Spectacled bear is a mammalian predator average size. The maximum body length of this animal varies between 150-180 cm, with the length of the tail from 7 to 10 cm. The average height of the predator at the shoulders is 75-80 cm. The weight of an adult female is from 70-72 kg, and a sexually mature male - no more 130-140 kg.

The fur of the animal is quite shaggy, coal-black or black-brown in color. Some individuals are characterized by the presence of well-defined dark red-brown shades in color. Despite the fact that representatives of the bear species have fourteen pairs of ribs, the spectacled bear is characterized by the presence of only thirteen pairs of rib bones.

This is interesting! The main difference between the spectacled bear and other members of the family is not only the characteristic “spectacles” around the eyes, but also a shorter muzzle.

The strong animal, with a short and muscular neck, as well as short and strong limbs, along with other types of bears, moves on its heels. Representatives of the genus are simply excellent climbers, which is due to their large forelimbs compared to their hind legs. Around the eyes of the spectacled bear there are characteristic rings of white or yellowish color, which explains the name of the representatives of the genus. Such rings are connected to a whitish semicircle located in the throat area. In some individuals such spots are completely or partially absent.

Character and lifestyle

The spectacled bear is the most good-natured species of all members of the family. Such a predatory beast never attacks a person first. The exception is when a mammal is experiencing a clear threat to its life or is trying to protect its young. However, no deaths due to spectacled bear attacks have been recorded to date. When people appear, the beast of prey prefers to retreat, climbing onto enough tall tree.

Predatory mammals of this genus never divide territory among themselves, but prefer a closed, solitary lifestyle. In areas that are very rich in all kinds of food, quite often you can observe several, quite peacefully coexisting individuals.

TO characteristic differences from the brown bear in terms of lifestyle also includes complete absence hibernation period. In addition, spectacled bears extremely rarely build dens for themselves. Representatives of the genus prefer to stay awake at night, and during the day such animals rest in special, independently made nests. As a rule, it can be very difficult to find such a unique bear nest among dense thickets of plants.

How long does a spectacled bear live?

The maximum lifespan of a spectacled bear in the wild, as a rule, does not exceed 20-22 years. Mammalian predators kept in captivity are quite capable of living even a quarter of a century. An inhabitant of the Moscow Zoological Park, a spectacled bear named Klausina, according to official data, was able to live to the respectable age of thirty.

Sexual dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism is manifested in the anatomical differences between females and males that belong to the same biological species. It can be expressed by a wide variety of physical characteristics, including the weight and size of the animal. For example, the size of an adult male spectacled bear exceeds the size of a mature female of this species by approximately 30-50%. Also, females are noticeably inferior in weight to representatives of the stronger sex.

Range, habitats

The habitat of spectacled bears is presented western part and southern regions of the South American continent, including eastern Panama, western Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador. Besides this, this carnivorous mammal found in Bolivia and the northwestern part of Argentina.

Today, the spectacled bear is the only representative of the bear family living in the territory South America. The beast prefers mountain forests on the western slope of the Andes, located at an altitude of no more than three thousand meters above sea level. However, such a predator may well appear on open meadow slopes, in low-lying savannas and bush thickets.

Diet of a spectacled bear

Spectacled bears are the most herbivorous of all their relatives, so meat food makes up a very small percentage of their daily diet. The amount of plant food makes up approximately 95% of the diet, and the amount of meat does not exceed five percent. In order to provide the body with protein, such beasts of prey They actively hunt all kinds of rodents and rabbits, as well as not too large ones, some arthropods and birds.

In the hungriest times, spectacled bears are capable of attacking walking livestock, but most often they are content with a variety of carrion to satisfy themselves. Due to the structural features of the muzzle and a rather long tongue, such a mammal periodically feeds on termites or all kinds of insects after their home is dug up and almost completely destroyed.

Food of plant origin is too difficult and takes a long time for the body to digest for many animals, and the spectacled bear is one of the few representatives of predatory animals that internal organs who are able to digest such food. Shoots of herbs, rhizomes and all kinds of fruits, orchid bulbs, palm nuts, as well as foliage are the basis of nutrition for bears of this species.

This is interesting! Spectacled bears have unusually strong jaws, allowing them to eat food that is virtually inaccessible to other animals, including tree bark and bromeliad pith.

The predatory mammal is able to quickly climb large cacti, which allows the animal to get fruits growing at the very top of the plant. In addition, spectacled bears are well known to have a sweet tooth, never turning down any opportunity to enjoy sugar cane or wild honey. In some places, spectacled bears greatly damage corn crops, destroying a significant part of them.

Reproduction and offspring

Spectacled bears come together in pairs exclusively during the breeding season, which lasts from March until October. This feature directly indicates that this predatory mammal has the ability to reproduce almost regardless of the time of year. Representatives of the genus reach full puberty from the fourth to the seventh year of life.

The pregnancy of a female spectacled bear, including the entire latent period, lasts approximately eight months or a little more, after which from one to three cubs are born. Newborn babies are completely helpless and blind, and average weight a born cub, as a rule, does not exceed 320-350 grams. However, the cubs grow quite quickly and actively, so after four weeks they begin to gradually get out of their den. Babies' eyes open around the end of the first month.

Until about six months of age, cubs accompany their mother almost everywhere, who tries to teach her offspring to eat properly, as well as to find plant foods that are useful for the growing body. Most often, cubs of this species do not leave their mother until they are two years old, and only when they are fully grown and have acquired hunting and survival skills do they become completely independent.

This is interesting! The fertilized egg divides, after which it is freely located inside the uterus for several months, and due to delayed implantation, the birth of cubs occurs at a time when the amount of food becomes maximum.

Despite the fact that many scientists classify spectacled and brown bears as animals that are very similar in many characteristics, exchange gene processes between them are impossible, so natural reproductive isolation exists. Despite the possibility of mating between representatives of these species, the offspring that are born will be sterile or completely non-viable.

Spectacled bear endangered bear species on the planet. It is listed in the International Red Book. Many zoos consider it an honor to have this animal in their collection and participate in its breeding program.

The local population is actively exterminating this bear, as they believe that the animal attacks livestock and destroys crops. In addition, it is believed that it gallbladder can cure many diseases.

Due to deforestation and active construction, the habitat of bears is undergoing significant changes and leads to a decrease in the population. This species lives in inaccessible mountainous areas and is therefore little studied.

The animal grows up to two meters, males weigh about 140 kg, females are twice as light, the width at the shoulders is about 80 cm. Spectacled bear, photo which is posted on the page, has shaggy black fur, sometimes with a brown tint.

Its muzzle is slightly shorter than that of its relatives. The name of this species comes from the light spots around the eyes that connect at the neck. Scientists believe that the animal is a direct descendant of the giant short-snout (Arctodus simus), which existed during the Ice Age.

Spectacled bear weight is approximately 500-600 kg, however, individuals have been found reaching 1000 kg. These mammals have a short, muscular neck and strong limbs. Their hind legs are shorter than their front legs, which allows them to climb trees well.

Distinctive feature These principles are the structural features of the skeleton. All representatives of the bear species have 14 pairs of ribs, while the spectacled ones have only 13.

Spectacled bear lives on the South American continent. This is the only bear species that has been discovered in this region. It can be found in Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, western Bolivia and Panama. Preferred habitats are mountainous areas and lowland savannas.

Character and lifestyle

This is the most good-natured type of bear. They never attack people first. Exceptions are cases of obvious threat to life or protection of one’s children. Deaths was not recorded. True, it happened that the aggressor was simply beaten very badly. When a person appears, the animal prefers to climb a tall tree.

These animals never share territory among themselves, although they prefer to lead a secluded lifestyle. In areas rich in food, several individuals can be observed peacefully coexisting.

One of differences between brown and spectacled bears is that the latter never hibernate and very rarely build dens. Preferring to stay awake at night, during the day they sleep in nests that they build themselves and are difficult to detect in dense thickets.

Spectacled bear nutrition

Spectacled bears are the most herbivorous of their relatives. Meat makes up a very small percentage of their diet. These animals mainly hunt rodents, rabbits, deer, arthropods, etc.

In times of famine, they can attack livestock, or be content with carrion. The structural features of the muzzle and the length of the tongue allow the animal to feed on insects and termites, tearing apart their homes. And the love of sweets leads to the destruction of hives to extract wild honey.

Plant food It is very difficult for many animals to absorb, and the spectacled bear is one of the few who consume it. Shoots of herbs, fruits and rhizomes are the basis for the nutrition of this plant.

The strength of his jaws surpasses even the jaws of the giant panda and allows him to eat food that is inaccessible to many animals. The animal can eat tree bark, bromeliad cores, and palm branches, which it breaks and throws to the ground before eating.

They love bears and cacti. They can even climb on them in order to feast on the inaccessible fruits that grow at the top. Sometimes the spectacled ones raid fields that belong to the local population. The subject of their raids is sugar cane.

Reproduction and life expectancy of the spectacled bear

Copulation of animals occurs at any time, but greatest activity observed in spring and early summer before the onset of rains. When a female goes into heat, the males engage in playful fights until the female is ready to mate.

A pair of animals formed only for reproduction remains together for several weeks and mates many times. However, mating games These animals have been studied very little.

A feature of the spectacled animal’s body is involuntary planning of pregnancy. The fertilized egg divides and remains freely in the uterine cavity for several months. Delayed implantation promotes the birth of cubs during a period when food becomes abundant.

After eight months of pregnancy, 1–3 cubs are born. Babies are born blind and weigh approximately 300 g, but are already black in color with characteristic this species yellow spots.

Despite small size In just a month they will go hunting with their mother, and in six months they will weigh about 10 kg. In the animal world, their enemies are only male spectacled bears and pumas.

After birth, the mother of the cubs vigilantly watches, trains and does not let the crumbs go from her for one year. After this, children gain independence and begin to lead their lives without the help of adults.

Although scientists believe brown and spectacled bears very similar, gene exchange between them is impossible, i.e. reproductive isolation manifests itself. This means that mating between animals of these species is possible. However, their offspring will not be able to have children, if at all.

Lifespan brown bear and spectacled bear is approximately the same and amounts to wildlife approximately 25 years old. However, there was a recorded case of a spectacled bear's life expectancy of 36 and a half years in captivity. Live nature so beautiful, you just have to pay attention to it. Love it, study it and never destroy it.

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Spectacled bear ( Tremarctos ornatus) is listed in the IUCN Red List as a "vulnerable species"

Habitat and description

Spectacled bear ( Tremarctos ornatus) - the only representative of the bear family living in South America. It is on the verge of extinction and is therefore listed on the IUCN Red List. Around the eyes of these bears there are white or yellowish rings in the form of “spectacles” (hence the name), going down the muzzle and ending on the chest, where they form spots of different shapes, sizes and colors (some individuals have no spots). By their characteristic pattern, unique to each bear, they can be individually identified (photos 3, 4, 5).

Lifestyle and nutrition

Spectacled bear leads a solitary lifestyle and comes out of its hiding places mainly at dusk and at night. This is the most herbivorous (after the giant panda) bear in the entire family: it feeds on grass shoots, fruits and rhizomes, berries and tree bark (photo 6, 7, 8). Spectacled bears are very fond of the fruits of plants from the bromeliad family, and they sometimes make up up to half of the entire diet of these animals. These bears are excellent tree climbers. Having climbed high up the trunk and discovered an abundance of fruits there, they sometimes settle on the tree for several days. In semi-deserts they eat cacti and their fruits, sometimes appear in fields and feast on corn cobs and sugar cane. Spectacled bears may include insects in their diet: relatively narrow muzzle and a long tongue allow them to penetrate deep into the destroyed home of ants or termites and feast on them. When there is a shortage of food, the bespectacled creatures can eat rodents, birds, and in some cases even attack livestock. In very hungry times, these peaceful animals occasionally hunt deer and guanacos. IN hibernation Spectacled bears do not fall.

Reproduction

Newborn weight spectacled bear cub- 300-360 g. Cubs develop faster than those of other species of bears, and by the age of 8 months they gain full independence and can leave their mother.

Titles: spectacled bear, short-faced bear.

Area: The spectacled bear is the only representative of the family in the fauna of South America. It inhabits mountains (up to 3000 m, and even recorded at an altitude of 4200 m) from Colombia to Northern Chile (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru and Venezuela).

Description: Medium sized spectacled bear. Its coat is shaggy, black or with a brownish tint, with the exception of large white markings around the eyes (hence the name “spectacled”) and spots on the chest, very variable in shape, and in some individuals completely absent. The muzzle is shorter than that of other bears, and the legs are long. Its teeth and jaws are adapted to a vegetarian diet. Females are 30-40% smaller than males. These bears have plantigrade feet, in which both the heel and the toe touch the ground while walking. Long, curved claws are adapted for digging and extracting food from the soil: insects and their larvae.
Spectacled bears have only 13 pairs of ribs, compared to 14 pairs in other bears, and they are the last remaining representatives of the extinct short-faced bears. The spectacled bear is a direct descendant of the bear that was biggest predator in America during the Ice Age and it was known as bulldog bear (Arctodus simus). The largest recorded specimens are estimated to weigh up to 1,000 kg, but on average they weigh approximately 600 kg. Bulldog bears roamed the Americas from approximately 2 million to 10,000 years ago.

Color: The fur is jet black or black-brown, in some individuals it can change to pure brown and even reddish. There are white or yellowish rings around the eyes, connecting with a white semicircle on the throat. Lines or patches white also extend to the chest.

Size: In length it reaches no more than 1.5-1.8 m, on average - 1.65 m. Height at the shoulders: 70-90 cm.

Weight: On average, the weight of spectacled bears is about 127.5 kg. Weight of males: 100-155 kg, females: 64-82 kg.

Lifespan: Lives up to 20-25 years. One bear lived in captivity for 36 years and 5 months.

Habitat: The spectacled bear is a very adaptable animal. It, like the brown bear, is found in widely varying habitats. The spectacled bear lives mainly in mountain wet rain forests, but often appears in mixed and dry forests, on open meadow slopes, in low-growing coastal thickets and thickets of bushes, in areas of steppe vegetation.

Food: It is believed that the spectacled bear is the most herbivorous in the entire family. They have a varied diet depending on the season, altitude and food availability. It feeds on leaves, roots, young seedlings, bulbs, but especially prefers bromeliads, orchids and various fruits.
These bears climb large cacti to get to their fruits located at the top. Spectacled bears have extremely strong jaws, allowing them to eat food that is not available to other animals, such as: tree bark and bromeliad pith. In some places, the spectacled bear damages corn crops.
A small part of their diet consists of nuts, seeds, a few insects and other small animals - animal food makes up only about 4% of their diet.
Bears are known to have a sweet tooth, and they will never turn down the opportunity to feast on wild honey or sugar cane. It happens that they attack deer, guanacos and sometimes kill cattle, if they are starving and no other food is available.
At the zoo, it eats a dry food mixture (called chow), vegetables, including sweet potatoes and carrots, and fruits (apples, oranges and grapes).

Behavior: Bears are crepuscular and nocturnal animals, spending the day in gorges or in dense thickets of vegetation near water. They sleep comfortably between or under large tree roots, on tree trunks or in a cave. They are very cautious and secretive in areas inhabited by people, but in uninhabited areas they can often be found in open areas. Spectacled bears are excellent climbers, their claws are specialized for climbing. They deftly climb up trees and vines and often build artificial platforms from branches, leaves and vines on trees in order to comfortably rest and feed there.
There are cases when they climb to a height of over 10 meters to collect tasty fruits. Since their food is often found at the ends of branches that cannot support their weight, they perch and bend the branches under themselves to build a crude nest. As soon as the nest becomes large, strong and sufficient for sleeping, the bear spends up to 3-4 days on such a tree: it sleeps and eats here.
Spectacled bears do not hibernate, probably because their food supply is available and abundant throughout the year. They are timid and always try to avoid meeting people.

Social structure : They are known to be solitary creatures, with the exception of mothers and their young. In captivity, they use a variety of signals to communicate with each other.

Reproduction: IN mating season the male and female usually stay together for one or two weeks, mating many times. While the female is in estrus, which lasts only one to five days, the male and female go through a ritual of play wrestling until she is ready to conceive.
When the egg is fertilized, it divides for a while and then floats free in the uterus for several months. This causes a delay in embryonic development and helps ensure that the young are born at a time when food is most available and abundant.

Breeding season/period: Mating occurs between May and August. Females give birth from January to March.

Puberty: Females become sexually mature between 4 and 7 years.

Pregnancy: About eight months.

Offspring: Females give birth to 1-3 defenseless young. At birth, puppies are blind and weigh 300-360 grams. The mother takes care and feeds the cubs well, and they grow quickly. After a month, puppies can leave the den with their mother in search of food, and after 6-8 months they can provide their own food.
Often, little bear cubs travel through the forest with their mother, often riding on her back.

Benefit/harm for humans: Spectacled bears are hunted for their meat, fur, fat and bile. The meat is especially popular among local population in northern Peru. The fat is used to treat rheumatism and arthritis. Gall bladders are sold and used in traditional Asian medicine. Recent estimates put the price of one gallbladder at $150, five times the monthly average wages in Ecuador. Previously, poachers killed bears because of the high demand in the market for bear paws, where one paw could fetch from $10 to $20.
South American farmers persecute these bears for attacking their livestock. There were cases when some bears began to kill a cow every day until they themselves were killed. Farmers also view bears as a threat to their corn fields. They treat the fields with special pesticides to keep bears away from them. But sometimes entire families of bears are destroyed by these poisons. The actual damage done by these bears may be overestimated and actually caused by birds and forest rodents.

Population/Conservation Status: The wild population of spectacled bears is estimated to number between 2,000 and 2,400 individuals. Habitat destruction and fragmentation due to agricultural growth are the biggest reasons for the decline in the numbers of these bears. Bears are listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN and are in CITES: Appendix I.

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It lives mainly in mountain forests (at an altitude of up to 3,000 m) on the western slope of the Andes, but often appears on open meadow slopes and even in low-lying savannas and bushes. Its range includes western Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, western Bolivia and Panama.

Nutrition and habits

The biology of the spectacled bear is poorly studied. These are nocturnal and crepuscular animals that do not hibernate (although they can make dens for themselves).

It is believed that he is the most herbivorous (after the giant panda) bear in the entire family. It feeds mainly on grass shoots, fruits and rhizomes; sometimes climbs tall palm trees, breaks branches, and then eats them on the ground. In some places, the spectacled bear damages corn crops. They tear up anthills and termite mounds; a relatively narrow muzzle and a long tongue allow spectacled bears to penetrate deep into the destroyed insect habitat and feed on them. The spectacled bear is also believed to attack deer, guanacos and vicuñas. Does not disdain carrion.

Spectacled bears are usually solitary but not territorial animals.

Population status

The number of spectacled bears is low (an endangered species); they are listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Classification

The spectacled bear is the only one modern representative sort of Tremarctos. In the territory North America known fossil close species Florida cave bear ( Tremarctos floridanus).

Notes

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See what “spectacled bear” is in other dictionaries:

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A predatory mammal of the bear family. Body length up to 1.8 m. There is a light ring around the eyes (hence the name). In the mountain forests and highlands of the South. America. Good at climbing trees. Endangered. In the Red Book of the International Union... ... Big encyclopedic Dictionary

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