Andean Spectacled Bear

Males which are significantly larger than females grow over 5 feet in length and weigh up to 340.

Andean spectacled bear. The florida spectacled bear which has long become extinct is thought to be the closest cousin of spectacled bear. Andean bears live along the andean mountain range from venezuela to the south of bolivia and are terrestrial as well as arboreal. The spectacled bear tremarctos ornatus also known as the andean bear is the only bear species living in south america. It can be found throughout mountainous regions of the andes in ecuador colombia venezuela peru bolivia and might also occur in northwestern argentina and into panama.

Spectacled bears tremarctos ornatus also known as the andean bears are distributed in the northern andes mountains including colombia ecuador peru bolivia and into chile. They are omnivorous although meat is only a small part of their diet. The spectacled bear tremarctos ornatus is probably the only bear species which is native to south america. Spectacled bears also called andean bears are among the smallest members of the family ursidae.

These markings often extend down the chest giving each bear a unique appearance. The south american bear is also called andean short faced bear. Andean bears are south america s only bear and are found in the andean cloud forests at heights of up to 4 300 metres 14 000 feet in bolivia chile colombia ecuador and peru. The spectacled bear is the only living bear species native to south america.

They are also known as ukuku in quechua and as spectacled bear and they are an important part of the andean and amazonian cosmovision. They are the only remaining species of bears that are native to south america. Spectacled bears are one of four extant bear species that are habitually arboreal alongside the american black bear ursus americanus and asian black bear u. The spectacled bear also referred to as the andean bear or the andean short faced bear is the largest land mammal in south america.

The andean bear of south america is also known as the spectacled bear for the rings of white or light fur around its eyes which can look like eyeglasses or spectacles against the rest of the bear s black or dark brown fur. Thibetanus and the sun bear helarctos malayanus in andean cloud forests spectacled bears may be active both during the day and night but in peruvian desert are reported to bed down under vegetative cover during the day.