There is no such species name for bears. Brown bear. The area where the brown bear lives
The size of brown bears is subject to great individual and geographic variability. The body length of males of the southern subspecies is 140-150 cm, body weight up to 190 kg; males from the Russian Far East are much larger: body length 245-255, height at the withers - 120-135 cm, body weight up to 500-520 and even 640 kg. Female brown bears are much smaller.
The brown bear's body is stocky, slightly elongated, hump-shaped at the shoulders; The neck is short and thick. The head is large, with a wide forehead; muzzle profile from straight to slightly concave in the orbital area. The ears are of moderate length (up to 155 mm), rounded, protruding from the winter fur. The fore and hind limbs are strong, almost equal in length, with the same supporting area. The claws are large, slightly curved (up to 8 cm long); on the forelimbs they are almost 2 times longer than on the hind limbs. The undersides of the hand and foot are bare, with tufts long hair. The carpal pad is reduced (only its outer half is preserved). The tail of brown bears is short (0.6-2.1 cm).
Hair of brown bears
The hairline is coarse, often shaggy. In winter, it is dense, with thick underfur (6-8 cm) and long (up to 10-15 cm) guard hairs; summer fur is shorter and sparse. Hair length and fur color are very variable. The color is most often brown, varying geographically and individually from almost black to brown, golden or off-white; In summer, the fur often fades. On the chest, especially at a young age, there is sometimes a small light spot. The base of the hair is dark. Brown bears from southern parts habitat are lighter in color, their fur is sparser and coarser than that of northern and eastern bears. The claws are dark, in some subspecies they are light.
Distribution and habitat of brown bears
The brown bear has a Holarctic range. Inhabits the forest, forest-steppe, partly tundra and steppe zones of Eurasia (south to Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Himalayas, Tibet, the Korean Peninsula and Hokkaido Island) and Northern. America (to Mexico). Until the first quarter of the XIX V. found in northwest Africa (Atlas). For the most part Western Europe, Western Asia, China and the USA were exterminated.
The northern border of the brown bear's range coincides with the border of the forest zone and forest-tundra. In spring and summer, bears go far into the tundra. On Kola Peninsula They regularly visit the mountain tundra, attracted by the abundance of berries. To the east of Kolyma and Chukotka it stays constantly in the tundra.
In the European part former USSR in the historical past (XVI-XVII centuries), the brown bear inhabited the entire region of mixed and deciduous forests and forest-steppe and through uremny forests penetrated into steppe zone to the mouths of the Dniester and Yuzh rivers. Bug and Dnieper. Back in the 18th century. found in the steppes of Podolia and Orenburg region, lived in floodplain thickets along the Samara and Bolshaya Kinel rivers. Later, the area of distribution gradually retreated to the north, the bear disappeared in most densely populated areas of Ukraine, Belarus, the Baltic republics and European Russia. The modern southern border of the range runs along the west of the Leningrad and Pskov (Remdovsky reserve) regions and the east of Belarus (Lepelsky and Borisovsky districts, Berezinsky reserve), reaching in the south the Bryansk and, possibly, Oryol region Russia. Then it goes around the Moscow region from the north, descends south to Mordovia, Tambov and Ulyanovsk regions, then passes north of the mouth of the Kama and reaches the Perm Territory. Along the Ural ridge, the bear is distributed to approximately 53° N. w.
To the south of the main range there are separate habitats of brown bears in mountainous areas: Carpathians, Greater and Lesser Caucasus, Talysh, Kopetdag (not permanently inhabited), Pamir-Alai, Tien Shan and Dzungarian Alatau. Possibly still preserved in Tarbagatai and Saur. There were no brown bears in Crimea in the historical past. In the Far East it is found on the Shantar, Sakhalin, and some Kuril islands (Paramushir, Iturup, Kunashir); in the past lived on the islands of Shumshu and Karaginsky.
In Asia, the brown bear inhabits the mountainous regions of Turkey, Syria and possibly Iraq; until the beginning of the 20th century. came across in Lebanon and Palestine. It is found in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Himalayas (east to Bhutan), Mongolia, China (including Tibet), the Korean Peninsula and Japan (Hokkaido). Absent in arid deserts, but an isolated habitat is located in the Trans-Altai Gobi.
Origin and evolution of brown bears
Most researchers agree that the brown bear originated in Eurasia from U. etruscus. In the Middle Pleistocene, it penetrated into Africa, and in the mid-Pleistocene it settled in North America. Molecular biology data indicate that cave and brown bears diverged no later than 1.2 million. The time of divergence between brown bears of the western and of Eastern Europe estimated from 0.85 to 0.35 million.
The early brown bear includes the species U. dolinensis from the locality of Trinchera Valley, Atapuerca in Spain, which is dated to early c. Pleistocene (0.78-0.9 million). The authors of the description note that U. dolinensis has a primitive dental morphology close to the putative ancestor of U. deningeri and the brown bear. The similarity with the brown bear is significant: the lower edge of the mandibular bone is straight, the articular process lies at the level of the chewing surface of the cheek teeth, there are alveoli of the anterior premolars, the cheek teeth are small. Among the characters that distinguish U. dolinensis from the brown bear are the following: the presence of a tiny third tooth on the m1 metaconid and an additional anterior tooth on the m2 metaconid. The dentary is higher than that of the similar sized brown bear (U. Arctos), the anterior edge of the coronoid process rises more steeply, as in cave bears. In such primitive cave bears of Europe as U. rodei from UntermaBfeld, U. savini from Bacton Cromer Forest Bed, U. deningeri suevicus from Jagsthausen and U. d. deningeri from Mosbach, the teeth are noticeably larger on average. The lower carnassial tooth m1 in U. dolinensis is relatively very narrow; According to the average values of the ratio of the width of this tooth to its length (40%, n = 4), the sample from Atapuerca is inferior to those from Untermassfeld (44%, n = 6), Becton (50.5%, n = 11), Jagsthausen (47%, n = 28) and Mosbach (48%, n = 20). In the Pleistocene and modern brown bear (U. Arctos) and in U. etruscus, the lower carnassial tooth is relatively even wider (on average more than 49%). The authors of the description note that the new species is similar to the brown bear (U. Arctos) in the ratio of the length and height of the distal phalanges. Several metatarsals from Trinchera Valley also resemble brown bear bones in proportion. Thus, U. dolinensis is unique, but in most respects it belongs to the brown bear (U. Arctos).
The stratigraphic and geographical variability of the brown bear (U. Arctos) on different chronological sections is known only in the most general outline, and the system of its Pleistocene subspecies has not been developed. The preliminary scheme established for Europe includes 4 subspecies: in the north lived large bears of the subspecies U. a. kamiensis Verestchagin (cf. Pleistocene) and U. a. priscus Goldfuss (p. Pleistocene), in the south there were small bears of the subspecies U. a. prearctos Boule (cf. Pleistocene) and U. a. bourguignati Lartet (Pleistocene).
Brown bears from the northern regions of Europe inhabited taiga and periglacial landscapes during glacial periods and were probably migrants from Siberia. Southern populations were associated with deciduous forests that persisted in mountain refugia of the Iberian, Apennine and Balkan peninsulas. During the interglacial period, bears from southern refugia spread northward, as was established for the brown bear (U. Arctos) in the Holocene.
Lifestyle of brown bears
Inhabits a variety of coniferous, small- and broad-leaved forests on the plains and mountains. Prefers clearings and banks of forest rivers and streams, rich in tall grass, which serve as feeding places. Periodically or constantly found in the tundra and steppes. In the mountains it makes seasonal migrations, often rising to the upper border of the forest and above it. On the plateaus of Mongolia and Tibet it lives in treeless semi-desert areas. On the Kola Peninsula, the Russian Far East and Alaska, it often reaches the sea coasts. In the north of European Russia, in search of berry places in June-July along forested river valleys, the brown bear penetrates far into the tundra and migrates to the south in the second half of August.
The brown bear lives alone, sedentary. Only females stick together with their offspring, protecting them and caring for them; Sometimes adoption of a cub or mixing of litters occurs. There is a hierarchy in the relationships between different individuals: adult males have the highest social rank, followed by females with cubs and, finally, immature animals. In places with abundant food, subordinate individuals try to avoid contact with dominant ones. When encountering bears, dominant animals approach with necks outstretched, ears flattened and fangs bared. At the same time, subordinate individuals turn sideways, lower their heads low and turn to the side; they often sit, lie down, or retreat. Sometimes fights arise between animals of similar social status, which can end in the death of the weaker. In fights, the forelimbs are often used to push the opponent in the chest or shoulder area, sometimes the blow is aimed at the head or neck. The brown bear is characterized by cannibalism.
The brown bear stays in certain areas, but is not a strictly territorial animal and does not defend its territory. It marks it, leaving marks of claws and teeth, remnants of fur on the trunks of trees, mainly conifers, or makes odorous marks on the trail. When there is an abundance of food (large carrion, waste dumps, salmon channels, berry fields), bears concentrate in small areas. The area of individual plots is extremely variable (from 300 to 800, sometimes up to 2500 hectares), its size depends on the sex, age, social status of the animal, the method of obtaining food, and the distribution and availability of shelters. Females keep a smaller territory than males, which reduces the likelihood of encountering aggressive males and increases the safety of the female and her cubs. Large males need a lot of food and move long distances in search of it. The home ranges of sexually mature males often overlap those of several females in estrus, which increases the likelihood of mating. Seasonal feeding movements often take on the character of real migrations. In the Caucasus, in August-October, animals migrate to rich food areas, using certain routes along which up to 10-25 individuals pass per night; in November they migrate to their winter dens.
Can be active at any time of the day. Activity changes according to conditions environment: weather, abundance of food, human presence, etc. In spring, when food is scarce, it feeds day and night, in summer mainly at night. In human-inhabited areas it remains secretive and nocturnal. Silent except when wounded, frightened or attacked. Cries of displeasure are emitted by hungry or offended cubs and adults. Disturbed animals can snort to intimidate; aggressive actions are often accompanied by growls and grunts. Of the sense organs, the sense of smell is the most highly developed; it can sense a person in a headwind at a distance of 300-400 m.
Typically, brown bears move slowly, at a walk, but can run quickly over short distances and swim well. As an adult, a brown bear tall trees does not climb, but the cubs, in case of danger, escape to the trees. The burrow does not dig, although it digs earthen or snow dens, breaks up the burrows of rodents and their underground storerooms, and extracts bulbs and rhizomes of plants from the ground. In search of insects and their larvae, it strips bark from fallen trees and turns over stones.
Nutrition of brown bears
The diet of brown bears is varied, with a predominance of plant foods. Eats green parts of plants (especially juicy herbs), as well as roots, tubers, bulbs, flowers, berries, nuts, fruits, cones, mushrooms, moss. Enters agricultural lands, where it feeds on oats. The brown bear willingly eats meat, which, in terms of the amount eaten per day, can significantly exceed food of plant origin. Eats various insects, especially ants, as well as small rodents, birds and their eggs, honey, and carrion. Hunts ungulates up to the size of elk inclusive, especially weakened animals harsh winters, diseases or wounds, and their young, which are tracked by smell. Moose are pursued in the spring along the crust; reindeer are waylaid when the herd is crossing rivers or on the banks of a river, stream or lake. Female moose are hunted during calving and after it, when they are less active and try to protect their young. Attacks livestock, most often calves or animals grazing in bear feeding areas; kills them by biting them in the neck or head, ripping open the abdominal cavity.
The composition of feed varies with the seasons and geographical areas. In the northern regions in the spring, the brown bear hunts moose, less often reindeer, eats ants and their larvae, last year's lingonberries and cranberries, plant rhizomes, bark and green shoots of aspen and rowan. The summer diet is dominated by plant foods, mainly herbaceous ones, as well as insects and their larvae, bird eggs, and small animals. In autumn, it eats blueberries, lingonberries, cranberries, rowan fruits, and visits oat crops; in the Urals and Siberia it feeds on pine nuts. In the Caucasus it feeds on tall grasses, especially umbelliferous grasses, as well as ants, beetles and their larvae; closer to autumn - raspberries, blackberries, oak and beech acorns, wild apples, plums; in times of famine it can hunt chamois, wild boars, and consume carrion. In the mountains of Sr. Asia eats the fruits of apple trees, apricots, hawthorns, various herbs, and hunts gophers and marmots by digging their holes. On Sakhalin and Kamchatka it goes to the coast, where it picks up sea waste (fish, shellfish), and in the fall it catches salmon fish spawning in the rivers. Fishing methods vary depending on the hydrographic features of the river and the abundance of fish. In Alaska, he catches salmon in shallow water or on river rifts and waterfalls, and grabs fish jumping out of the water with his mouth. In Kamchatka, a fishing bear can dive headlong.
Wintering of the brown bear
For the winter, the brown bear lies down in a den and goes to sleep, accumulating fat reserves in the fall, amounting to up to 30% of total mass. Adipose tissue protects against cold and serves as a source of energy reserves necessary for the period of winter sleep and the first days following the spring awakening. Adult males and pregnant females lie in dens alone, but sometimes 2-3 animals spend the winter in one cave. Before going to bed, he stops feeding, the digestive tract is cleared of food debris, and a kind of plug of plant debris and hair forms in the rectum. During sleep, the heartbeat decreases from 40-50 beats per minute in the summer to 8-10 during hibernation; Body temperature, which fluctuates from 36.5 to 38.5 °C in the active state, decreases by 4-5 °C in a sleeping animal. Due to feeding their cubs during winter sleep, females lose more of their autumn weight (40%) than males (22%). The timing of occurrence depends on the abundance of food, weather conditions. Brown bears that have accumulated a sufficient reserve of fat go to their den earlier, while individuals with a small reserve continue to feed until the onset of winter cold. Females with cubs usually go to wintering earlier than adult males and leave the den later. The duration of winter sleep ranges from 75-120 (Caucasus) to 180-185 days (Kola Peninsula). He sleeps lightly and leaves the den in case of danger. Interruption of winter sleep is risky for adults and often fatal for young. The timing of exit from the den depends on the fatness of the animal and weather conditions. In the Caucasus it awakens in March, in the Leningrad region. - at the end of March-April, on the Kola Peninsula - at the end of April-May. After leaving the den it does not feed for 10-14 days. During the years of abundant food harvest in the Southern Transcaucasia, many bears do not hibernate. In Siberia, on the contrary, the appearance of “connecting rods” is associated with a poor harvest of berries and cedar seeds; hungry bears attack moose and wapiti, and cases of cannibalism have been observed. During the day they travel from 2 to 13, sometimes up to 30 km.
Winter dens are usually located in a dry place under a windbreak, on islands in a swamp, along the shores of taiga lakes, in rock crevices, scatterings of large stones, holes, under inverted roots or in hollows big trees. Less often, bears occupy natural horizontal caves. There are known cases of occurrence in haystacks. In the tundra, dens are dug along river slopes, using natural depressions. Sometimes bears lie down openly for the winter, on a large anthill or in earthen pits, on mountain slopes. In the north, where winter thaws are rare, dens are usually located in the mountains on the southern slopes; in the southern regions, on the contrary, in the northern ones, which protects them from flooding during the thaw. In the Caucasus, dens are made in all altitude zones; in low mountains they are often semi-closed (a depression in the ground covered by the roots of trees or branches of bushes), in the middle mountains they are closed (located in tree hollows, rock crevices, karst cavities). The size and shape of the den varies. This can be a simple tray with a bedding made of moss and spruce branches, or a nest with an entrance hole with a diameter of 60-90 cm, which leads directly into the inner chamber or into the entrance tunnel. The nesting chamber has an earthen floor or is lined with moss, tree branches, and dry grass. Some winter dens are used for several years.
IN summer time arranges temporary bedding areas near feeding areas. They are located in dry, secluded places with good review, usually among tall grass, along the banks of forest rivers, on an excavated ant heap, under a rock overhang, sometimes in caves.
Reproduction of brown bears
The rut occurs in May-July, sometimes later; lasts 10-30 days. Accompanied by “lifting” of bark on trees, loud roars, and fights between males pursuing one female. In the Caucasus, a female and a male stay together for 3 to 5 days; they often rise to the subalpine zone, where several males join them, forming a “mating aggregation” of 4-6 individuals. Copulation lasts 10-60, on average 23 minutes. Females may mate with 2 males in a day or with several males over the entire breeding season, but only a few adult males mate successfully. The duration of pregnancy, according to observations in captivity, is 174-257, with an average of 221 days. Pregnancy has a long latent pause (about 5 months); only in the fall does the active development of the embryo begin, which lasts 6-8 weeks.
Cubs 1-5, usually 2-3. They are born from late December to March, most often in January. Newborns weigh about 500 g and are covered with sparse hair. The openings of the external auditory canal open on the 14th day, the eyes - on the 30-32nd. Lactation lasts from 5 months to 1.5 years, sometimes up to 2.5 years; milk is very fat (up to 17%) and rich in proteins. During the first months of life, cubs often have a V-shaped light collar around their necks, which disappears in the second year of life. Before leaving the den they grow rather slowly. At 3 months they weigh 15 kg and have fully erupted baby teeth. At 6 months their replacement with permanent teeth begins; the last permanent molar appears at 10-12 months. When the female comes into heat, she drives the cubs away, but then takes them back. Together with the young of the year (“lonchaks”), last year’s cubs (“pestuns”) sometimes stay near the female bear and spend the winter with her in the same den; in rare cases, cubs stay with their mother for up to 4 years. Cubs of the same litter can maintain contact with each other, play and eat together, sometimes up to 4.5 years.
Reaches sexual maturity at 3-4 years, full development at 10 years. Females begin to participate in reproduction at the age of 3-6 years, sometimes later; males - at 4.5 years. The female brings offspring after a year or after 2-3 years; in case of death of the cubs, she can mate in the same year. Life expectancy is up to 25 years (in captivity up to 47 years).
She sheds once a year, from April-June until the end of summer.
In the Russian Far East, brown bears sometimes become prey to tigers. The brown bear is dangerous for humans, especially the “rod bears” in eastern Siberia.
Subclass - animals
Infraclass - placental
Squad - predatory
Suborder - canids
Family - bears
Genus - bears
Species – brown bear
Literature:
1. Fauna of the USSR. Baryshnikov G.F. "Bearish" 2007.
The Bears are considered the largest predators currently living on our planet. Despite this, they are more likely than others carnivorous mammals, give preference to plant foods over animal meat.
Appearance of the bear
Teeth and claws: Bears' fangs are quite powerful, like those of other predatory animals. Molars have a flat, uneven surface that is easy to chew. This is due to a mixed diet; bears eat both animal and plant foods. Each paw has five long toes with large, sharp claws that do not retract. With the help of this tool, bears dig up edible roots and fruits from the ground. In addition, the predator uses its sharp claws to tear its prey into small pieces.
Sense organs: Bears have small eyes set close to each other. The fields of vision of both eyes overlap, so the animal sees objects in volume. In general, bears have poor eyesight. Hearing is also not very well developed. The bear has a better developed sense of smell. The bear will often stand on its hind legs and move its head to explore with its nose and gain information about its surroundings.
Communication: Bears communicate with each other using sounds and body movements. For example, the position of an animal's ears conveys information about the owner's mood. Having met, the bears raise their heads to each other and growl without opening their mouths. The bear's flat teeth can grind any food. A giant brown bear catches fish in the rivers.
Travel methods: Bears have fairly short limbs. They walk using the entire surface of their feet. Bears' paws are curved in the shape of the letter "O", so these animals have club feet and walk, waddling from side to side. But when danger arises or when chasing prey, bears are able to trot and even gallop. In case of danger, the bear stands on its hind legs. Cubs and adults of some species climb trees and swim, and the polar bear is the only mammal, which swims only with the help of its forelimbs.
Body Structure: Various They differ in size, but their structure is similar: a powerful body, short strong legs, a massive head and a very short tail.
Coat: Bear fur comes in several types, from the thick yellowish-white coat of the polar bear to the long, fluffy coat of the Sloth. The fur of most types of bears is brown in color and perfectly camouflages animals in the forest.
Did you know? That the giant brown bear living in North America is called “Kodiak” in other languages. This is the name of the island where these representatives of the subspecies are found. A bear standing on its hind legs can reach up to 3 m in height.
The polar bear can be found in the open sea at a distance of 80 km from the coast.
Bears walk slowly, waddling, but if necessary they can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h. The grizzly bear's menu consists of 80% plant foods.
The habitats of the polar bear and the arctic fox are located in the Far North. This hardy mammals. Almost all bears are on the verge of extinction and are protected by law.
Once upon a time, there were many brown bears in Europe. Now their numbers have decreased, but they still remain the most numerous species in family. The polar bear was a subject of hunting in the past. People ate its meat and made clothes from its skin.
The polar bear has acclimatized better than other animals to the permafrost region.
Seven species of bears belonging to four genera live primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. Only the spectacled bear lives in the south. All bears, with the exception of the polar bear, which inhabits snowy arctic deserts, are inhabitants of deep forests. Their only enemy is man. Currently, only two species of bears are not threatened with extinction.
Origin of bears
The first bear, the ancestor of all modern species bears (Ursavus), who lived on Earth 20 million years ago. It was the size of a small dog and inhabited the area modern Europe, where at that time a hot subtropical climate, rich in lavish vegetation, prevailed. Bears, along with foxes, dogs and raccoons, descend from their common ancestor - a small predator of the family Miacidae, who lived 30-40 million years ago and climbed trees. As a result of evolution, new species of bears arose, which gradually became larger, larger and stronger. Many, including the cave bear, which was larger in size than modern bears, became extinct. The youngest species in the family is the polar bear, which appeared 70,000 years ago.
- Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus): body length 1.3-1.8 m. The only representative of the family in South America.
- Malayan bear(Helarctos malayanus): body length 1-1.4 m. This small representative of the family lives in tropical forests South-East Asia. Rarely seen.
- Slothfish (Melursus ursinus): body length 1.4-1.8 m. Lives in the jungles of India and Sri Lanka. Herbivorous. It collects termites and insects with its lips and tongue.
- Polar bear (Ursus maritimus): body length 1.8-3 m. Inhabits the northern regions of the Arctic, feeds mainly on seals.
- Brown bear (Ursus arctos): 2-3 m long, lives in North America, Europe and Asia. There are several subspecies: grizzly bear, giant brown bear and European brown bear.
- Baribal, black bear ( Ursus americanus): body length 1.3-1.8 m, found in the forests of North America. Like other members of the family, it feeds on mixed food.
- White-breasted bear(Ursus thibetanus): body length 1.4-2 m. Lives in forests and most spends time in the trees. It feeds on herbs, fruits and berries.
Bear breeding
Bears live solitary lives, meeting only during the breeding season. The mating period, depending on the species, falls on different time of the year. Some species of bears, in particular the Malayan, can breed throughout the year - they live in tropical rainforests, where they have plenty of food. In addition, the Malayan bear is a monogamous species. After mating, the male and female separate. Only the she-bear is responsible for raising her offspring.
The duration of pregnancy is 180-250 days and depends on the type of bear. A bear litter consists of 1-4 cubs, which are born blind, toothless, and covered with sparse hair. They spend at least a year in family nest feeding on mother's milk. The polar bear never lacks food and therefore does not fall into winter sleep. However, pregnant females and mothers with cubs hibernate. In the spring, the she-bear leaves her den, accompanied by fluffy and playful cubs. The cubs follow her relentlessly, learning to find food and recognize danger. The Bears various types reach sexual maturity at the age of 2.5-5 years.
Lifestyle of bears
Bears are territorial animals. Each individual is the owner of a fairly large area, controls where it hunts and hibernates. Females live with their cubs for up to two years. Bears are avid loners, but in places rich in food, for example, in a berry meadow, several individuals can be found at once. Having had their fill, they disperse. But the bear has invaded someone else's territory and is awaiting a meeting with its owner, which could end in a clash. Searching for food takes a lot of time, so bears are active both day and night. Bears sleep in camouflaged shelters - dens, which are located in recesses under the roots of trees. A white-breasted bear makes a nest in a tree. Bears of the genus Ursus, living in cold climates, hibernate in winter. Winter sleep lasts from 78 to 200 days. Exact times vary by area. During hibernation, bears make a den for themselves among the windfall, under the roots of trees, or dig it on the slope of mountains and hills. They line and insulate their dens with grass, leaves and moss. Bears hibernate for a long time in order to survive the hungry winter period.
Bears are one of the smartest creatures on our planet. This huge animal has always inspired fear and apprehension in us humans. These predatory animals belong to the bear family. There are different types of bears living in nature, which have much in common, but are very different from each other.
According to scientists, bears appeared on our planet approximately 5 - 6 million years ago. Many species of these animals became extinct in the process of evolution, only four species remained: the brown bear (this includes the grizzly bear and the Kodiak bear), the baribal bear, the polar bear and the Himalayan bear.
Appearance. General characteristics of all types of bears
All types of bears are quite large in size and weight. The smallest are representatives of baribals (from 40 to 236 kilograms with a body length of 140 – 200 cm). Himalayans are slightly heavier than their relatives, they weigh 120 - 140 kilograms, and their length is from 150 centimeters.
Brown look It is distinguished by the presence of even larger individuals: the average weight of representatives of this species is from 500 kilograms, and the body length is from one and a half meters. But the largest among all bears are considered white. The body length of an adult is from two meters or more, and they weigh up to 1 ton!
Representatives of each species also differ in coat color. Browns have a color from light fawn to almost black. Baribals are pure black with a light spot on the nose or chest. Polar bears have a color corresponding to their name (i.e., white). The fur of the Himalayan bear is shiny, glossy, it has a mainly black tint, sometimes brown or red. There is a light spot on the chest.
A distinctive feature of polar bears is the presence of a swimming membrane between their toes, this allows them to easily move and hunt in the water.
Distribution of bears in nature
These predatory animals live in northern Europe, on the continent of North America and in the Asian part of the Eurasian continent.
The territory occupied by brown bears is the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Apennines, some parts of Iraq and Iran, the island of Hokkaido in Japan, the USA, and Russia. Polar bears live in the polar regions of the northern hemisphere. Baribals are inhabitants of the North American continent. The Himalayan representative of the bear family lives in Iran, Pakistan, China, Russia (Far East) and Vietnam.
Animal lifestyle and behavior
Brown bear and baribal are forest dwellers. The polar bear lives on drifting ice floes. And the Himalayan is a semi-arboreal animal.
Brown bears are solitary animals, with the exception of the female. who initially lives with young offspring. They are active mainly during daylight hours. In winter, brown bears hibernate.
Baribals are crepuscular animals leading a solitary life. In cold weather they go to their dens and hibernate.
Polar bears are nomadic animals with excellent hearing and sense of smell, allowing them to sense prey living underwater or located several kilometers away.
Forages for food in trees. But trees are not only a way for him to find food, but also to escape from enemies and harmful insects. Spends the winter season in hibernation.
Bear food
The basis of nutrition of brown and Himalayan bears is animal plant food. Both of these species eat nuts, acorns, grass stems, fruits of berry bushes, as well as insects, meat of other animals (sometimes livestock), and fish.
Two polar bears share a whale carcass. Seagulls are hovering nearby - the bears' eternal companions. They eat mainly animal food: sea hare, ringed seal, walrus, fish and others.
The Himalayan bear's diet is based on plant foods. He eats the fruit berry plants, grass shoots, acorns, nuts. Sometimes insects, frogs, and mollusks come to him for “lunch.” He does not disdain carrion.
Bear breeding
In brown bears, the female's pregnancy lasts from 6 to 8 months, after which 2 to 3 cubs are born. At the age of 4–6 years, the cubs become fully grown. A brown bear lives in nature from 20 to 30 years.
In baribals, the female bears offspring for 220 days and gives birth to 1 to 5 cubs. Usually, babies are born in the first months of winter. At the age of 2 – 5 years, small baribals fully mature. In conditions wildlife these bears only live up to 10 years.
Polar bears give birth to cubs 250 days after mating. There are from 1 to 3 cubs in a litter. A polar bear gives birth once every 2-3 years. In the wild, polar bears live 25–30 years.
Himalayan bears give birth to 1–2 cubs, which become fully mature individuals at 3 years of age. And these bears live for about 25 years.
Himalayan bears are only black in color and have a white or yellow V-shaped patch on their chest. Menacing brown bears are majestic guardians of forests. This beautiful animal is considered a symbol of Russia, although numerous habitats can be found in all corners of our planet. Since the brown bear is in danger of complete extinction, it is listed in the Red Book. This animal mainly lives in Russia, the USA and Canada. Not a large number of bears survived in Europe and Asia.
The lifestyle of this important “master of the taiga” is very interesting. How long does a brown bear live? What weight can it reach? Most Interesting Facts We will tell you about the life of the brown clubfoot in this article.
Brown bear: description of appearance
This animal is very strong. The powerful body is covered with thick hair, and the withers are clearly visible on the back. It contains a large number of muscles that allow the bear to deliver crushing blows with its paws, fell trees or dig the ground.
His head is very large, with small ears and small, deep-set eyes. The bears' tail is short - about 2 cm, barely noticeable under the layer of fur. The paws are very strong, with large curved claws reaching a length of 10 cm. When walking, the bear evenly transfers the weight of the body on the entire sole, like a person, and therefore it belongs to the species of plantigrade animals.
The fur of the famous “master of the taiga” is very beautiful - thick, evenly colored. Brown bears have a tendency to shed - in spring and autumn they renew their fur coat. The first coat change occurs immediately after hibernation and is very intense. Its manifestations are especially noticeable during the rutting period. Autumn molting proceeds slowly and continues until hibernation.
How long does a brown bear live?
The lifespan of a clubfoot depends on its habitat. In the wild, a brown bear can reach an age of 20 to 35 years. If the animal is kept in a zoo, this figure almost doubles. In captivity, a bear can live about 50 years. The onset of puberty occurs between the ages of 6 and 11 years.
Dimensions and weight of the animal
The standard body length of a clubfoot predator ranges from one to two meters. The largest bears live in Alaska, Kamchatka and the Far East. These are grizzlies, true giants, whose height reaches three meters when standing on their hind legs.
The maximum weight of a bear (brown) can be 600 kg. These are real heavyweight giants. The average weight of an adult male is 140-400 kg, and the weight of a female is 90-210 kg. The largest male was discovered on Kodiak Island. His body weight was enormous - 1134 kg. However, animals living in central Russia weigh much less - about 100 kg.
By autumn, this animal accumulates a large fat reserve for the upcoming hibernation, and therefore the weight of the bear (brown) increases by 20%.
Habitats
Bears mainly live in dense forests and swampy areas. They can often be seen in the tundra or alpine forests. In Russia, this animal occupies remote northern regions. Brown bears are very common in Siberia. The calm forests of the taiga allow the clubfoot to feel spacious and free, and here nothing interferes with their existence.
In the USA, bears live mainly in open areas - on the coasts, alpine meadows. In Europe they mainly live in dense mountain forests.
Brown bear populations can also be found in Asia. Their range occupies small areas of Palestine, Iran, northern China And Japanese island Hokkaido.
What do bears eat?
Omnivorousness and endurance are the main qualities that help the animal survive in difficult conditions. The brown bear's diet consists of 75% plant foods. The clubfoot can eat tubers, nuts, berries, grass stems, roots and acorns. If this is not enough, the bear can go to the crops of oats or corn, or feed in the cedar forests.
Large individuals have remarkable strength and hunt small young animals. With just one blow of a huge paw, a bear can break the spine of an elk or deer. He hunts roe deer, wild boar, fallow deer, mountain goats. Without problems, brown bears can feed on rodents, larvae, ants, frogs, worms and lizards.
Skilled fishermen and maskers
Bears often feed on carrion. The clubfoot skillfully covers the found remains of animals with brushwood and tries to stay nearby until it completely eats its “find.” If the bear has recently eaten, it may wait a few days. After some time, the meat of the killed animal will become softer, and he will enjoy it with pleasure.
The most amazing activity of bears is fishing. They go to the Far Eastern spawning rivers, where salmon accumulate en masse. Bears and their offspring especially often hunt here. The mother skillfully catches salmon and takes it to her cubs.
Up to 30 bears can be seen on the river at the same time, and they often engage in battle for prey.
Behavior
The bear has very developed sense of smell. He clearly feels the smell of decomposed meat, even being 3 km away from it. His hearing is also very well developed. Sometimes the bear stands on its hind legs to listen to a sound or sense the direction of the smell of food.
How does a bear behave in nature? The brown “master of the taiga” begins to walk around his property at dusk or early in the morning. In bad weather or during rainy periods, he can wander through the forest all day in search of food.
Speed and agility are the distinctive qualities of the beast
At first glance, this huge animal seems very clumsy and slow. But that's not true. The big brown bear is very agile and easy to move. In pursuit of a victim, it can reach speeds of up to 60 km/h. The bear is also an excellent swimmer. He can easily cover a distance of 6-10 km on water and enjoys swimming on hot summer days.
Young bears quickly climb trees. With age, this ability dulls a little, but does not disappear. However deep snow is for them ordeal, since the bear moves along it with great difficulty.
Breeding period
Having regained strength after a long sleep, brown bears are ready to mate. The rut begins in the spring, in May, and lasts about a month. Females signal their readiness to mate with a special secretion that has a strong odor. Using these marks, males find their chosen ones and protect them from rivals.
Sometimes for a female there are fights between two bears brutal fighting, in which the fate, and sometimes the life, of one of them is decided. If one of the males dies, the winner may even eat him.
During the mating season, bears are very dangerous. They make a wild roar and can attack a person.
Reproduction
Exactly after 6-8 months, cubs are born in the den. Usually the female brings 2-4 cubs, completely bald, with underdeveloped organs of hearing and vision. However, after a month, the cubs’ eyes open and the ability to catch sounds appears. Immediately after birth, the cubs weigh about 500 g and their length reaches 25 cm. By 3 months, all baby teeth have erupted in the cubs.
For the first 6 months of their lives, babies feed on mother's milk. Then berries, insects, and greens are added to their diet. Later, the mother brings them fish or her catch. For about 2 years, babies live with their mother, learn habits, the intricacies of hunting, and hibernate with her. Independent life a young bear begins at the age of 3-4 years. The father bear never takes part in raising his offspring.
Lifestyle
The brown bear is a fickle animal. It feeds in one place, sleeps in another, and can move several kilometers away from its usual habitat to mate. A young bear wanders around the area until it starts a family.
The brown owner marks his domain. Only he can hunt here. He marks boundaries in a special way, tearing off the bark from trees. In areas without plantings, a bear can peel off objects that are in its field of vision - stones, slopes.
In summer, he can rest carelessly in open meadows, lying directly on the ground. The main thing is that this place is secluded and safe for the bear.
Why connecting rod?
Before hibernating for the winter, the bear must gain the required amount of fat reserves. If it is not enough, the animal has to wander further in search of food. This is where the name comes from - connecting rod.
Moving during the cold season, the bear is doomed to death from frost, hunger or a hunter's gun. However, in winter you can find not only connecting rods. Often a bear's sleep can simply be disturbed by people. Then this well-fed animal is forced to look for a new shelter in order to plunge into hibernation again.
Finding a den
The bear chooses this winter refuge with special care. For dens, reliable, quiet places are chosen, located on the borders of swamps, in windbreaks, on river banks, in secluded caves. The shelter should be dry, warm, spacious and safe.
The bear arranges its den with moss, laying out a soft bedding from it. The shelter is camouflaged and insulated with tree branches. Very often a bear uses a good den for several years.
The life of brown bears consists of searching for food, especially before hibernation. Before falling asleep, the animal diligently confuses its tracks: it walks through swamps, meanders and even walks backwards.
Quiet and relaxing holiday
Bears sleep in a cozy den throughout the long, frosty winter. Old males leave their shelter first. The female bear and her offspring stay in the den longer than others. Hibernation of brown bears lasts 5-6 months. It usually starts in October and ends in April.
Bears do not fall into deep sleep. They remain sensitive and vital and are easily disturbed. A bear's body temperature during sleep is between 29-34 degrees. During hibernation, little energy is consumed, and the clubfoot only needs the fat reserves acquired during active time. During winter holiday the bear loses about 80 kg of its weight.
Features of wintering
All winter the bear sleeps on its side, curled up comfortably. Poses on the back or sitting with the head down are less common. Breathing and heartbeat They slow down during hibernation.
Surprisingly, this animal does not defecate during winter sleep. All waste products in the bear's body are reprocessed and converted into valuable proteins necessary for its existence. The rectum is closed by a dense plug consisting of pine needles, compressed grass and wool. It is removed after the animal leaves the den.
Does a bear suck its paw?
Many naively believe that during hibernation, the clubfoot extracts valuable vitamins from its limbs. But that's not true. The fact is that in January the skin on the bear's paw pads is renewed. The old dry skin bursts and causes severe discomfort. To somehow moderate this itching, the bear licks its paw, moistening and softening it with its saliva.
Dangerous and strong animal
A bear is first and foremost a predator, powerful and terrible. A chance meeting with this angry beast will not bring anything good.
Spring rut, winter search for a new shelter - during these periods the brown bear is most dangerous. Descriptions or photographs of animals that live in nurseries and are kind to people should not deceive you - they grew up there under completely different conditions. In nature, a seemingly calm animal can show cruelty and easily blow your head off. Especially if you wandered into his territory.
Females with offspring should also be avoided. The mother is driven by instincts and aggression, so it is better not to get in her way.
Of course, the behavior of a clubfoot depends on the situation and time of year. Bears often run away on their own when they see a person in the distance. But don’t think that since this animal can eat berries and honey, this is its favorite food. The best food for a bear is meat, and he will never miss an opportunity to get it.
Why clubfoot?
This nickname is firmly attached to the bear. And all because when walking he steps alternately on his right and left paws. Therefore, from the outside it seems that the bear is clubbing.
But this slowness and clumsiness is deceptive. When a dangerous situation arises, this animal instantly breaks into a gallop and easily overtakes a person. The peculiarity of the structure of the front and hind legs allows him to show unprecedented agility when climbing uphill. He conquers peaks much faster than he descends from them.
It took more than one millennium for such a complex system of habitat and life of this amazing animal to form. As a result, brown bears have gained the ability to survive in areas where harsh conditions are present. climatic conditions. Nature is amazing, and one can only admire its wisdom and immutable laws that put everything in its place.
The bear is the most large predator on the ground. This animal belongs to the class mammals, order carnivores, family bears, genus bears ( Ursus). The bear appeared on the planet about 6 million years ago and has always been a symbol of power and strength.
Bear - description, characteristics, structure. What does a bear look like?
Depending on the species, the body length of a predator can vary from 1.2 to 3 meters, and the weight of a bear varies from 40 kg to a ton. The body of these animals is large, stocky, with a thick, short neck and a large head. Powerful jaws make it easy to chew both plant and meat foods. The limbs are rather short and slightly curved. Therefore, the bear walks, swaying from side to side, and rests on its entire foot. The speed of a bear in moments of danger can reach 50 km/h. With the help of large and sharp claws, these animals extract food from the ground, tear apart prey and climb trees. Many species of bears are good swimmers. The polar bear has a special membrane between its toes for this purpose. The lifespan of a bear can reach 45 years.
Bears do not have sharp eyesight or well-developed hearing. This is compensated by an excellent sense of smell. Sometimes animals stand on their hind legs to use their sense of smell to obtain information about their surroundings.
Thick bear fur covering the body has a different color: from reddish-brown to black, white in polar bears or black and white in pandas. Species with dark fur turn gray and gray in old age.
Does a bear have a tail?
Yes, but only big panda is the owner of a noticeable tail. In other species it is short and almost indistinguishable in the fur.
Types of bears, names and photos
In the bear family, zoologists distinguish 8 species of bears, which are divided into many different subspecies:
- Brown bear ( common bear) (Ursus arctos)
The appearance of a predator of this species is typical for all representatives of the bear family: a powerful body, rather high at the withers, a massive head with rather small ears and eyes, a short, barely noticeable tail, and large paws with very powerful claws. The body of a brown bear is covered with thick fur with brownish, dark gray, and reddish colors, which vary depending on the habitat of the “clubfoot”. Baby bear cubs often have large light tan marks on the chest or neck area, although these marks disappear with age.
The distribution range of the brown bear is wide: it is found in the mountain systems of the Alps and on the Apennine Peninsula, common in Finland and the Carpathians, and feels comfortable in Scandinavia, Asia, China, the northwestern United States and Russian forests.
- Polar (white) bear (Ursus maritimus)
Is the most major representative family: the length of its body often reaches 3 meters, and its weight can exceed one ton. U Long neck and a slightly flattened head - this distinguishes it from its counterparts of other species. The color of the bear’s fur is from boiling white to slightly yellowish; the hairs are hollow inside, so they give the bear’s “fur coat” excellent thermal insulation properties. The soles of the paws are thickly lined with tufts of coarse hair, which allows the polar bear to easily move across the ice without slipping. There is a membrane between the toes that facilitates the swimming process. The habitat of this bear species is the circumpolar regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
- Baribal (black bear) (Ursus americanus)
The bear is a little similar to its brown relative, but differs from it in its smaller size and blue-black fur. The length of an adult baribal does not exceed two meters, and female bears are even smaller - their body is usually 1.5 meters long. A pointed muzzle, long paws ending in rather short feet - this is what makes this representative of bears remarkable. By the way, baribals can become black only in the third year of life, receiving a gray or brownish color at birth. The black bear's habitat is vast: from the vastness of Alaska to the territories of Canada and hot Mexico.
- Malayan bear (biruang) (Helarctos malayanus)
The most “miniature” species among its bear counterparts: its length does not exceed 1.3-1.5 meters, and the height at the withers is slightly more than half a meter. This type of bear has a stocky build, a short, rather wide muzzle with small round ears. The paws of the Malayan bear are high, while the large, long feet with huge claws look a little disproportionate. The body is covered with short and very tough black-brown fur; the animal’s chest is “decorated” with a white-red spot. The Malayan bear lives in southern regions China, Thailand and Indonesia.
- White-breasted (Himalayan) bear (Ursus thibetanus)
The slender physique of the Himalayan bear is not very large in size - this representative of the family is two times smaller than its brown relative: the male has a length of 1.5-1.7 meters, while the height at the withers is only 75-80 cm, females are even smaller. The bear's body, covered with shiny and silky fur of dark brown or black color, is crowned by a head with a pointed muzzle and large round ears. A mandatory “attribute” of the Himalayan bear’s appearance is a spectacular white or yellowish spot on the chest. This type of bear lives in Iran and Afghanistan, is found in the mountainous regions of the Himalayas, in Korea, Vietnam, China and Japan, and feels at ease in the open spaces Khabarovsk Territory and in the south of Yakutia.
- Spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus)
A medium-sized predator - length 1.5-1.8 meters, height at the withers from 70 to 80 cm. The muzzle is short, not too wide. Wool spectacled bear shaggy, has a black or black-brown tint, there are always white-yellow rings around the eyes, smoothly turning into a whitish “collar” of fur on the animal’s neck. The habitat of this type of bear is the country South America: Colombia and Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, Venezuela and Panama.
- Gubach (Melursus ursinus)
A predator with a body length of up to 1.8 meters, height at the withers varies from 65 to 90 centimeters, females are approximately 30% smaller than males in both respects. The body of the sloth fish is massive, the head is large, with a flat forehead and an overly elongated muzzle, which ends in mobile, completely hairless, protruding lips. The bear's fur is long, usually black or dirty brown in color, and in the area of the animal's neck it often forms something like a shaggy mane. The sloth bear's chest has a light spot. The habitat of this type of bear is India, some areas of Pakistan, Bhutan, the territory of Bangladesh and Nepal.
- Big panda (bamboo bear) ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca)
This type of bear has a massive, squat body, which is covered with dense, thick black and white fur. The paws are short, thick, with sharp claws and completely hairless pads: this allows pandas to firmly hold smooth and slippery bamboo stems. The structure of the front paws of these bears is very unusually developed: five ordinary fingers are complemented by a large sixth, although it is not a real finger, but a modified bone. Such amazing paws enable the panda to easily handle the thinnest shoots of bamboo. The bamboo bear lives in the mountainous regions of China, especially large populations live in Tibet and Sichuan.
