Brown bear
Large omnivorous bear native to Eurasia and North America.
The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a large bear native to Eurasia and North America. Among land carnivorans, it is rivaled in size only by its closest relative, the polar bear. The brown bear has been kept in zoos since ancient times and has long featured in human culture, literature, art, folklore, and mythology.
- Scientific name
- Ursus arctos
- Average lifespan in the wild
- 25 years
- Dietary plant proportion
- 90%
- Number of cubs per birth
- 1 to 3
- Cub dependency period
- 1.5 to 4.5 years
Lore & Background
The brown bear was scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758 under the name Ursus arctos. Its taxonomy is considered formidable and confusing, with as many as 90 subspecies proposed. Brown bears first emigrated to North America from Eurasia via Beringia during the Illinoian Glaciation.
Reader's Guide
The brown bear is considered one of the most popular of the world's charismatic megafauna. It has been kept in zoos since ancient times and has been tamed and trained to perform in circuses. For thousands of years, it has had a role in human culture, often featured in literature, art, folklore, and mythology. Its range has shrunk, and it has faced local extinctions, including the Atlas bear of North Africa and the Californian, Ungavan, and Mexican populations of the grizzly bear. Many populations in southern Eurasia are highly endangered; the Himalayan brown bear is critically endangered, occupying only 2% of its former range. The Marsican brown bear of central Italy is believed to have a population of only about 50 bears. Hybrids with polar bears have occurred both in captivity and in the wild, confirmed by DNA testing in 2006.
Did You Know?
- The brown bear derives 90% of its diet from plants.
- It has evolved large hump muscles, unique among bears, and paws up to 21 cm wide and 36 cm long.
- A grizzly–polar bear hybrid was confirmed in the wild in 2006 by DNA testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Brown bear?
The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a large omnivorous mammal found across forested regions of Eurasia and North America. Among all land carnivores, it is second only to the polar bear in overall size.
Why is Brown bear important?
As a dominant omnivore in forest ecosystems, the brown bear influences vegetation, prey dynamics, and nutrient flow across its vast range. It has also occupied a central place in human folklore, art, and mythology for thousands of years.
How many cubs does Brown bear have?
A female brown bear usually produces a litter of one to three cubs per birth. The species is also sexually dimorphic, so males and females differ noticeably in body size and build.
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