Sloth Bears - Description
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Picture source:
PhotoFauna © 2001-2002
www.photofauna.com
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Compared to other bear species, Sloth Bears are rather small. This species usually has a long black coat forming a ruff over the neck and shoulders. The dark fur of the Sloth Bear is often interspersed with white or grayish strands. Brown, gray, cinnamon and reddish animals have been reported. Sloth Bears have a distinctive white or yellowish V-shaped or Y-shaped patch on the chest. The fur on the muzzle is reduced and light colored. The belly and under legs of Sloth Bears are almost bare.
Like all bears, Sloth Bears have a heavy muscled body with a small tail and plantigrade feet that make them walk in a manner similar to humans. The sloth bear has large and floppy ears that contribute greatly to the animals' hearing. This species has sickle-shaped and deeply curved claws that make them excellent climbers and diggers.
Sloth Bears have 40 teeth and cubs have an even 42, but the permanent upper incisors don't grow. These bears often have bad teeth because they ingest much dirt with the food. Adult males weigh up to 140 kg and the females reach 95 kg in weight. Sloth Bears are 150-190 cm in length.
Sloth Bears - Taxonomy
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Ursidae
Species: Melursus ursinus.
Common name: Sloth Bears.
Sloth Bears - General Info Links
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Picture source:
Indian Travel Portal © 2000
IndiaMART
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Animal Diversity. Sloth Bears - Provides detailed information on the species, such as distribution, home ranges, diet, reproduction and conservation status.
Animal Trial. Sloth Bear - Basic information concerning habitat and threats to the Sloth Bears' population in the wild.
Animal Web. Sloth Bear - Basic facts concerning this species and its adaptations to the lifestyle.
Animals of Nepal - Contains short articles on the sloth bear, jackal and other animals typical for this area.
Bear Biology. Sloth Bear - Information on various bears, concerning their distribution, description, reproduction and diet.
Bear Den - Basic information on all bear species.
Bear Species. Sloth Bears - Dedicated to providing accurate information about all species of bears, biology, mythology, and physiology.
Bears and Pandas - University of Oklahoma resource gathers photographs of several species, including the sloth bear and the grizzly. Watch a short QuickTime movie.
Bears of the World - Information about the various bear species from around the world and links to many sanctuaries where you can watch the bears. Contains many photos.
Black, Panda and Sloth Bears - A photo gallery of various bear species.
Geo Zoo Sloth Bear - Sloth Bears profile and several photos.
Melursus Ursinus - An ecological study of the sloth bear, Melursus ursinus, in Ruhuna National Park, Sri Lanka.
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Picture source:
San Diego Zoo © 2003
Zoological Society of San Diego
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Planet Bears - An article on possible future of Sloth Bears and some other bear species.
Rolling Hills Zoo Sloth Bears - Presents Sloth Bears fact file, including range, food habits, care for the young and other aspects of the species' life.
Sloth Bear Facts - Description, behavior and relations with humans of this bears.
Sloth Bear Gallery - Pictures and slide show of sloth bear and other species.
The Bear Den - A global resource site for information on the sloth bear and all other bear species.
The Cub Den - Information on all bears written for children: their evolution, typical features, habits and habitats.
Types of Bears. Sloth Bears - Classification and evolution of the sloth bear and other bear species.
Wild Facts. Sloth Bear - Basic information on this species and many photos of the bears in the wild.
Zoogoer. Animals - General information and fun facts about this species of bears.
Sloth Bears - Other Sloth Bears sites
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