Sun Bear
Helarctos malayanus
Mammalia
VULNERABLE
Stats
- Lifespan
- 20-25 yrs
- Size
- Small
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Activity
- Cathemeral
- Social
- Solitary
- Biome
- Tropical rainforest
- Range
- Southeast Asia
- Movement
- Climbing
- Breeding
- Live Birth
- Defense
- Armor
- Status
- Vulnerable
About
The sun bear is the world's smallest bear species, found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. It sports a distinctive crescent-shaped pale chest patch and wields the longest tongue of any bear — up to 25 cm — perfectly evolved for extracting honey and insects from tree cavities.
Life cycle
- 1.newborn cubA tiny, blind cub is born in the winter den and nurses against its mother for warmth.
- 2.juvenileA juvenile follows its mother to forage, climbs trees for safety, and learns what's good to eat.
- 3.adultFully grown and ranging on its own.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Carnivora
- Family
- Ursidae
- Genus
- Helarctos
- Species
- Helarctos malayanus