The
Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) is a species of bear
that can reach masses of 130–700 kg (290–1550 pounds).
The Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), the Kodiak
Bear and the Mexican Brown Bear are North American
subspecies of the Brown Bear. It is sometimes referred to
poetically as the bruin.
Brown
Bear rearing
Appearance
Brown
Bears have furry coats in shades of blonde, brown, black, or a
combination of those colors; the long outer guard hairs are
often tipped with white or silver, giving a "grizzled"
appearance. Brown bears have a large hump of muscle over their
shoulders which give strength to the forelimbs for digging.
Their forearms end in massive paws tipped with extremely
powerful claws that can be up to 15 cm (5.9 inches) in length.
Unlike the claws of other large predatory animals, such as lions
or tigers, the claws are not retractable. This gives the claws a
dull edge when compared to other predators.
Despite
the relatively dull edges to their claws, the sheer force of a
blow from a large specimen is devastating. However, these claws
are mainly used for digging, not for hunting. It uses its sharp
canine teeth for neck-biting its prey when hunting. Bears use
the same technique as tigers when hunting: they ambush their
prey. Their heads are large and round with a concave facial
profile. In spite of their size, some have been clocked at
speeds in excess of 56 km/h (35 mph). Along with their strength
and deceptive speed, Brown Bears are legendary for their
physical stamina. They are capable of running at full speed for
miles at a time without stopping. The largest subspecies of the
Brown Bear are the Kodiak Bear and Alaskan Coastal Bear. Some
exceptionally large male Kodiak stand over 3 m (10 feet) in
height while on their hind legs, and weigh over 680 kg (1,500
lb).
T.
Appenzeller nad D. R. Dimick, "The Heat is On," National
Geographic 206 (2004): 2-75. cited in Flannery,
Tim (2005). The Weather Makers. Toronto, Ontario:
HarperCollins. ISBN 978000200751, 101-103.
Guinness
World Records, Guinness World Records 2006, Guinness
(August 15, 2005), "Heaviest
carnivores - world record holder", Guiness Book
of World Records, p. 477.
