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Polar Bear
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Polar Bear Description |
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The polar
bear is the largest bear in the world. It is also the
largest land carnivore. Females are about half the size
of males. Males reach their full size at 9-10 years
old. Its black skin helps them to absorb sunlight and
keep them warm. It has a double-dense coat that helps
keep it warm and dry, even when it is swimming in the
cold artic waters. Its hairs are also optical fibers,
meaning hallow. This allows the hair to reflect light
down to the black skin, where it is absorbed. It even
has a layer of fat for insulation. In fact, it is so
well insulated, that it can overheat and can often been
seen sprawled out on ice sheets to cool down. Its body
is very elongated and the head is longer and more wedge-shaped.
The ears are much smaller than other bears which assist
in conserving heat. Like all bears, its tail is short
and stubby and it is plantigrade. Its feet are much
larger in propotion to its body than other bears. Also,
the soles have suction-cup like surface, so it can have
a good grip on the slippery ice. It has very large canine
teeth and its carnassials are highly developed. Its
eyesight and hearing are similar to humans, but its
sense of smell is the most highly developed. It can
smell a seal under the ice. Polar bears have the ability
to store incredible amounts of fat on its body to be
used later. It survives on the stored fat for months
at a time when food is scarce. When it goes into dormancy,
it does not urinate or drink water as they can create
water from the metabolism of fats and recycle their
body wastes without using their kidneys. Unlike humans
that are starving, its body metabolizes the fat and
not lean body mass. |
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