Polar bear: quick facts
The polar bear is the largest land carnivore and is classified as a marine mammal because it depends on Arctic sea ice to hunt seals. A powerful swimmer with water-repellent fur and a thick fat layer, it is an icon of the Arctic and, like the narwhal, a species whose future is tied directly to the fate of sea ice.
Scientific name
Ursus maritimus
Group
Marine mammal (bear)
Length
About 2–3 m
Weight
Up to ~700 kg
Lifespan
~25–30 years
Diet
Mainly seals
Range
Arctic sea ice, circumpolar
Population
~22,000–31,000
Conservation
Vulnerable
Sources: NOAA / U.S. FWS — Polar Bear; IUCN Red List — Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus). Educational information only. See our sources & fact-check policy.