We will guide you about Polar bear adaptations for Kids.Polar bears are large, white mammals found in the northern arctic regions of the world where they reign at the top of the food chain.Fat and fur are the main forms of adaptation of the polar bear.
Characteristics of the polar bear
The polar bear is a fascinating animal that has the following characteristics:
- It is quadruped , that is, it walks on its four legs, ending in sharp and short claws, designed for sea hunting.
- Its fur is white and covers it completely, although underneath there is a rarely visible black skin. Beneath the skin and dermis they have a dense layer of fat that isolates the body from the environment, and that only thins on the head and muzzle.
- The males of the species are usually about 2.6 meters long and weigh between 350 and 680 kg, while the females are around 2 meters and a few hundred kilograms less in weight. It is, therefore, a very bulky and heavy animal.
- They are solitary hunters , endowed with a prodigious sense of smell and a bite of 86.83 kilograms-force per square centimeter, that is, stronger than that of the white shark or the Bengal tiger.
- They have an amazing ability to swim : they can cover about 10 kilometers per hour of straight swimming. However, their diet is always dry. Your skin is also waterproof.
- They do not hibernate during the harsh Arctic winter, spending about 50% of their lives looking for something to eat.
Polar Bear Adaptation For Kids Complete Guide For You.
Polar Bear Adaptation In Swimming.
Polar bears are adapted to be excellent swimmers. They can swim long distances for several in a row. They have been tracked swimming continuously for 100 km (62 miles).Polar bears use their front leg adaptations to propel themselves through the water in the style of a dog’s swim. The hind legs and legs are placed horizontally and used as rudders.They have a thick layer of fat up to 11 cm (4.3 inches) thick, an adaptation of the polar bear that keeps them warm while swimming in cold water.Polar bears can swim at speeds of 10 kph (6.2 mph).They close their nostrils when underwater.hey naturally have certain adaptations that improve their swimming ability. Polar bears have webbed toes that allow them to paddle through the water effectively. They also have closed nostrils so they can swim underwater for short periods of time.
Polar Bear Adaptation In Diving.
Polar bears have adaptations for making shallow dives when they stalk prey, swim on ice floes, or search for algae.They usually swim underwater to a depth of only about 3 to 4.5 m (9.8 to 14.8 feet). They are adapted to remain submerged up to two minutes.Until now the depth to which a polar bear can dive is not known. The research estimated that polar bears dive to a depth not exceeding 6 m (20 ft).
Polar bear adaptations;Survive the cold.
The insulation is provided by two layers of skin. This allows the polar bear to maintain the same metabolic rate in cold temperatures. This is important for its survival, as it does not need more food to maintain body heat. They also have small ears and tails to reduce heat loss. Most of the heat is lost through the nose, but in extreme temperatures, bears cover their noses with their furry paws to retain that heat.Body temperature, which is normally 37 ° C (98.6 ° F), is maintained through a thick layer of skin, a tough skin, and an insulating layer of fat (up to 11 cm or 4.5 cm thick) is the adaptation that allows them this excellent insulation and keeps them warm even when temperatures drop to -37 ° C (-34 ° F).
Polar bear adaptations In hunting.
Polar bears have powerful jaws and claws that they use to break through ice and kill prey such as seals and walruses. Sometimes they poke holes in the ice and then lie in wait for another animal to surface for air. Then the bear will seize and kill the animal. The white coloration of polar bears gives them an ideal camouflage in the icy, snow-covered environment. They have keen senses of sight, smell, and hearing to make them effective hunters.