#ursinae

Subfamily: Ursinae

The american black bear is the smallest and most common bear species of the eponymous continent. Notable to the interests of this blog that it has two subspecies famous of their color mutations: cinnamon bear (TYRP1) and spirit or Kermode bear (MC1R).

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The asian black bear or moon bear is a mostly herbivorous, arboreal bear species; they use mostly their relatively more powerful front limbs and upper body for climbing.

When salmon are plentiful bears will often seek out their favorite fish or parts of fish to eat. It isn't uncommon to see bears only eat heads, hearts and skin when fishing is easy. This bear was specifically after female fish and their eggs. If he would catch a male he would simply drop it back in the water. When he'd catch a female he'd rush to the shore and step on the salmon to squeeze the eggs out and quickly lap them up. Here you can see the roe flying out of this female salmon as he grabs her from the water. How cool is that?

blehhhhh

Alaska Peninsula brown bear (Ursus arctos horribilis)

Polar bears outside the village of Ryrkaypiy in the Chukotka region of Russia. More than 50 polar bears have gathered on the edge of the village as weak coastal ice has left them unable to roam

Photograph: Maksim Dyominov/WWF-Russia/AFP via Getty Images

Subfamily: Ursinae

Unlike the "full white" phenotypes often seen on this blog, the characteristic white fur of polar bears that provides camouflage while hunting seals on the sea ice is not pigmentlessness per se. In fact, polar bear skin isn't pink but black, their hairs are hollow and translucent, and may appear yellowish, grey, or even brown depending on season and lighting. This makes polar bears very good at retaining body heat, and the relatively smaller size of their ears and tails minimizes heat loss from the extremities, too.

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The asian black bear is distinguishable by a cream-colored or white “crescent moon” on its chest against a backdrop of black fur. They have a light muzzle, and some also have white fur under their chin and lower lip. A rare brown phase is known to occur as are blonde and blonde-black phases.

Subfamily: Ursinae - FINAL

The sloth bear, also known as the Indian bear, is a myrmecophagous ( - feeding mostly on ants and termites) bear species native to the Indian subcontinent. They got their name from their thick, three-inch-long claws that they use to rip apart rotting logs to find termites, and the tousled, wild hair around their ears, shoulders, and neck that resembles the shaggy hair of a sloth. Young cubs will grab onto their mother's long hair so she can go around carrying them on her back.

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The polar bear is a hypercarnivore, the most carnivorous species of bear. They rarely eat plant material as their digestive system is too specialized for animal matter; most commonly they prey on ice-living seals and consume their energy-rich blubber. Their fat reserves allow polar bears to survive for months without eating.