Physical Characteristics

Polar bears like living in cold places, and they keep themselves warm by the extra layers in their bodies. The skin of a polar bear looks white from the outside, but from the inside it is really black. Polar bears have a creamy, thick white fur to keep themselves warm which also gives them good camouflage. Under the fur the fat layer is three to four inches thick; this fat helps them stay warm and also helps them float in the water.

The polar bear is the largest hunter in the world. When he stands on its back legs, he is so tall that he can see an elephant in the eye. A normal female weighs five hundred pound [ 454 kilograms]. The normal weight of a male polar bear is over 1,000 pounds. The front paw of a polar bear is a very dangerous weapon and weighs about 25 pounds [11 kilograms.] This paw is also a "handy" tool. The big rough pad helps the bear grip the ice. Polar bears look like other bears but they have narrower heads, small ears, and long teeth .