sloth bear

Also known as Melursus ursinus

species of bear common to the Indian subcontinent

AI overview

A sloth bear is a species of bear found throughout the Indian subcontinent that has adapted to living in forests and grasslands across the region. These bears are notable for their specialized diet and behavior, making them an important part of their local ecosystems in South Asia.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Species

Vulnerable

Sloth Bear

species

Observations1,188

Der Lippenbär (Melursus ursinus) ist eine Raubtierart aus der Familie der Bären (Ursidae). Er weist im Bau der Schnauze einige Anpassungen an eine vorwiegend aus Insekten bestehende Nahrung auf und ist in Südasien beheimatet.

via IUCN

Wikidata facts

Image: Sri Lankan sloth bear (Melursus ursinus inornatus) male 3.jpg

Show 8 more facts

Commons category: Melursus ursinus
taxon name: Melursus ursinus
Commons gallery: Melursus ursinus
gestation period: 210
longest observed lifespan: 33.3
Unicode character: 🦥
short name: M. ursinus
taxon common name: Sloth bear

Sources (2)

via Wikidata · CC0

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Article

The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), also known as the Indian bear, is a myrmecophagous bear species native to the Indian subcontinent. It feeds on fruits, ants and termites. It is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, mainly because of habitat loss and degradation. It is the only species in the genus Melursus.

It has also been called "labiated bear" because of its long lower lip and palate used for sucking up insects. It has long, shaggy fur, a mane around the face, and long, sickle-shaped claws. It is lankier than brown and Asian black bears. It shares features of insectivorous mammals and evolved during the Pleistocene from the ancestral ursine bear through divergent evolution.