Physical Characteristic

Physical Characteristics.

A. Size.
1. Polar bears are the largest land carnivore.

2. Male polar bears (boars) grow two to three times the size of female polar bears (sows). Boars weigh about 350 to more than 650 kg (772-1,433 lb.) and are about 2.5 to 3 m (8.2-9.8 ft.) long (Stirling, 1988).

3. Sows weigh about 150 to 250 kg (331-551 lb.) and are about 2 to 2.5 m (6.6-8.2 ft.) long. Pregnant females can weigh as much as 500 kg (1,102 lb.) (Stirling, 1988).

4. The largest polar bear ever recorded was a male weighing 1,002 kg (2,209 lb.) and measuring 3.7 m (12 ft.) long (Domico, 1988).

B. Body shape.
Compared to other bears, polar bears have elongated bodies and long slender necks.

C. Coloration.

A polar bear's coat is about 2.5 to 5 cm (1-2 in.) thick. A dense, wooly, insulating layer of underhair is covered by a relatively thin layer of stiff, shiny, clear guard hairs.