However, this varies widely throughout the range; in India larger numbers have been recorded at an elevation of up to 3,000 m (9,800 ft) than in low-lying areas, probably due to habitat loss at ground level. Genus: Helarctos. Sun bears grow to only about half the size of an American black bear. It is believed sun bears can delay implantation, meaning the fertilized egg reaches the uterus in a dormant state and remains there for several months before becoming active. A small, mainly nocturnal bear that has a brownish-black coat with a light-colored mark on the chest, native to Southeast Asia. It is the smallest species of bear. [27][32] The teeth are very large, especially the canines, and the bite force is high relative to its body size for reasons not well understood; a possible explanation could be its frequent opening of tropical hardwood trees with its powerful jaws and claws in pursuit of insects, larvae, or honey. Bedding sites consist mainly of fallen hollow logs, but they also rest in standing trees with cavities, in cavities underneath fallen logs or tree roots, and in tree branches high above the ground. It is stockily built, with large paws, strongly curved claws, small rounded ears and a short snout. Cubs are kept on buttress roots at the base of trees until they learn how to walk and climb properly. [1][26] Compared to other continents, southeastern Asia has undergone severe depletion in forest cover over the past few decades (by almost 12% between 1990 and 2010); this has resulted in substantial habitat loss for forest-dependent species such as sun bears. The fur is generally jet-black, but can vary from grey to red. a small bear, Helarctos malayanus, of tropical forests in S and SE Asia, having a black coat and a yellowish snout and feeding mostly on … [10] In 1825, American naturalist Thomas Horsfield placed the species in a genus of its own, Helarctos. The hair is silky and fine, and is the shortest of all bear species, suiting their hot tropical habitat. [1][26] Fossil remains suggest their occurrence farther north in the Pleistocene; sun bears may have occurred as far south as Java (Indonesia) in the middle to late Pleistocene. Adult Sun Bears have almost no predators except humans, due to their fierce reputation and formidable teeth. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), also known as the honey bear, is a bear found primarily in the tropical rainforest (the dense lowland forests) in Southeast Asia; North-East India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Southern China, Peninsular Malaysia, … Their range can extend further into southern China and far eastern India. Mothers protect their cubs aggressively. [From the resemblance of the chest marking to an image of the rising or setting sun.] Sun bears get their name from the characteristic orange to cream coloured chest patch. A crest is seen on the sides of the neck and a whorl occurs in the centre of the breast patch. [49] Sun bears eat the centre of coconut palms, and crush oil-rich seeds such as acorns. sweet potatoes Offspring remain with their mother for nearly the first three years of their lives. The world’s smallest species of bear, the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), has been classed as Vulnerable, while the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) remains in the Endangered category on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.The sun bear’s new status has been accepted for inclusion in the 2007 IUCN Red List. [50], Sun bears are polyoestrous; births occur throughout the year. Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus), a bear from the tropical forests and southeast Asia. It is mainly active during the day, though nocturnality might be more common in areas frequented by humans. a small forest-dwelling bear (Ursus malayanus synonym Helarctos malayanus) of southeastern Asia that has short glossy black fur with a lighter… See the full definition The bear (Helarctos, or Ursus, malayanus) is often tamed as a pet when young but becomes bad-tempered and dangerous as an adult. Mangroves may be inhabited, but usually only when they are close to preferred habitat types. Its unique morpholo… It is the smallest bear, standing nearly 70 centimetres (28 inches) at the shoulder and weighing 25–65 kilograms (55–143 pounds). Some individuals may even lack the patch. It has a small head and short neck, and fine short glossy fur, mostly black, but brownish on the nose. They are typically found at low altitudes, such as below 1,200 m (3,900 ft) in western Thailand and peninsular Malaysia. Their range is probably greater than what is actually known (Sanderson, 1972; Ward and Kynaston, 1995). The brown bear/polar bear lineage was estimated to have diverged from the two black bears/sun bear lineage around 5.54 to 6.72 million years ago; the sun bear appears to have diverged from the two black bears 5.09–6.26 mya. A bear (Helarctos malayanus) native to Southeast Asian forests, having black fur with a gray to orange muzzle and a tawny, crescent-shaped chest marking. The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is a species in the family Ursidae occurring in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. Litters comprise one or two cubs that remain with their mother for around three years. [71] Since that same year, the European breed registry for sun bears is kept in the Cologne Zoological Garden, Germany. [18] In 2002, Christopher Fitzgerald and Paul Krausman (of the American Society of Mammalogists) considered the sun bear monotypic. The range of the sun bear is bound by northeastern India to the north and extends south to southeast through Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam in mainland Asia to Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia to the south. sun bear n a small bear, Helarctos malayanus, of tropical forests in S and SE Asia, having a black coat and a yellowish snout and feeding mostly on honey and insects, (Also called) honey bear “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” There’s a lot to learn about some of the world’s most feared predators. figs, coconuts, bananas; vegetables - e.g. Helarctos Malayanus. Numbers are especially low in Bangladesh and China, and populations in Vietnam are feared to decline severely by 50–80% in the next 30 years. Whilst our guides have sighted sun bears in Danum Valley on very rare occasions your best chance of seeing sun bears is at the Borneo Sun … What does it eat? Sun bears disappeared from Singapore, possibly due to extensive deforestation, during the 1800s and 1900s. [34] Births occur inside hollow tree cavities. [39][40], Sun bears are shy and reclusive animals, and usually do not attack humans unless provoked to do so, or if they are injured or with their cubs; their timid nature led these bears to be tamed often and kept as pets in the past. [1][41] Tigers are major predators; dholes and leopards have also been recorded preying on sun bears but cases are relatively fewer. The researchers noted the need for further study to fully resolve the relationship. [69], The Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, founded by Wong Siew Te in Sabah (Malaysia) in 2008, aims to work for the welfare of sun bears rescued from poor conditions in captivity and spread awareness about their conservation. Helarc­tos malayanus ranges from the east­ern Hi­malayas to Szechuan in China, then south­ward through­out Burma, parts of In­dochina and the Malayan penin­sula. [70] The Malayan sun bears are part of an international captive-breeding program and a Species Survival Plan under the Association of Zoos and Aquariums since late 1994. The sun bear is named so for its characteristic orange to cream coloured, crescent-like chest patch. It is stockily built, with large paws, strongly curved claws, small rounded ears and a short snout. Cubs younger than two months are dependent on external simulation for defecation. It is the smallest species of bear. In its natural habitat, it is an opportunistic omnivore. [8][35][36] The sun bear is an excellent climber; it sunbathes or sleeps in trees 2 to 7 metres (7 to 23 feet) above the ground. a species of bear (Helarctos Malayanus) native of Southern Asia and Borneo. They occur in montane areas in northeast India, but may not extend farther north into the unfavourable and colder Himalayan region; their distribution might be restricted to the northwest due to competition with sloth bears. Heavy deforestation (due to agriculture, logging and forest fires) and hunting for wildlife trade are severe threats throughout the range; human-bear conflicts are a relatively minor threat. Helarctos malayanus en bear found in tropical forest habitats of Southeast Asia it specie di animale della famiglia Ursidae @wikidata. [3][8] Vocalisations include grunts and snuffles while foraging for insects, and roars similar to those of a male orangutan during the breeding season; less commonly they may give out short barks (like a rhinoceros) when they are surprised. However, to make things ‘easier’ for identification: both species are black, both have a light mark on their chest, and both bears pretty much share the same habitat and range in Thailand. [50] Sun bears have been reported preying on poultry and livestock. Today they have been eliminated from majority of their erstwhile range, especially in Thailand; populations are declining in most of the range countries. [30] The sympatric Asian black bear has cream-coloured chest markings of a similar shape as those of sun bears; a 2008 study discussed differences in claw markings of both bears as a means of identification. malayanus. The sun bear is sympatric with the Asian black bear throughout the remaining areas in the mainland range featuring a mix of seasonal forest types, with monthly rainfall below 100 mm (4 in) for a long spell of three to seven months. Called also bruang, and Malayan bear. Please consider giving a credit hyperlink to https://www.goodfreephotos.com if you use the photos on this site using the attribution code in the below box. Helarctos definition is - a genus of mammals (family Ursidae). The snout is grey, silver or orange. [45][46] They forage mostly at night. [24] However, the phylogenetic tree constructed by a nuclear gene sequencing analysis in 2008 swapped the positions of the sun bear and the sloth bear obtained in the previous study; moreover, all relationships other these two positions were well resolved. They breed throughout the year; individuals become sexually mature at two to four years of age. There was evidence of pet trade and sale of sun bear parts such as gall bladders in traditional Chinese medicine shops in Sabah and Sarawak. [43], Sun bears are omnivores and feed on a broad variety of items such as ants, bees, beetles, honey, termites and plant material such as seeds and several kinds of fruits. This explains why the gestation period can be anything from 95 to 240 days. Vulnerable Their range is prob­a­bly greater than what is ac­tu­ally known. The most arboreal (tree-living) of all bears, the sun bear is an excellent climber and sunbathes or sleeps in trees 2 to 7 metres (7 to 23 feet) above the ground. The ~ is the most arboreal bear and builds sleeping nests as high as 18 meters (60 feet) in the trees. [64] A report published by TRAFFIC in 2011 showed that sun bears, along with Asian black bears and brown bears, are specifically targeted for the bear bile trade in southeastern Asia, and are kept in bear farms in Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar. [3][26] Sun bears can expose the patch while standing on their hindfeet as a threat display against enemies. The fur is generally jet-black, but can vary from grey to red. [63], During surveys in Kalimantan between 1994 and 1997, interviewees admitted to hunting sun bears and indicated that sun bear meat is eaten by indigenous people in several areas in Kalimantan. [4][31], During feeding, the sun bear can extend its exceptionally long tongue by 20–25 cm (8–10 in) to extract insects and honey. Sun bears tend to remain solitary but sometimes occur in pairs (such as a mother and her cub). [37] A study published in 2019 described skillful mimicry of facial expressions by sun bears, with precision comparable to that seen in some primates (such as gorillas and humans). [37] Cubs are born deaf with eyes closed. noun (Zoöl.) Disclaimer. Helarctos Scientific Name Helarctos malayanus Sun Bear Conservation Status. oriental. [8][37] Sun bears stand on their hindfeet for a broader view of their surroundings or smell far-off objects; they try to intimidate their enemies by displaying the chest patch if threatened. The head-and-body length is between 100 and 140 centimetres (39 and 55 inches), and the shoulder height is nearly 70 cm (28 in). Poaching is common in several countries in the region. Thailand is home to two species of bear, the Asian Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) also known as the Moon Bear, and the Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) also known as Honey Bear.That seems easy enough! [3] Two whirls occur on the shoulders, from whence the hair radiates in all directions. The tail is 3–7 cm (1–3 in) long. They also break termite mounds and quickly lick and suck the contents, holding pieces of the broken mound with their front paws. [9], The sun bear was first described in 1821 from Sumatra by British statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles, who gave it the scientific name Ursus malayanus. Helarctos malayanus (sun bear) Geographic Range Helarctos malayanus ranges from the eastern Himalayas to Sze-Chwan in China, then southward throughout Burma, parts of Indo-China and Malaya. Subspecies: H. malayanus, H. euryspilus. Also called honey bear, Malayan sun bear. [3][6] Another name is 'honey bear' (beruang madu in Malay and Indonesian), in reference to its habit of feeding on honey from honeycombs. Sun bears tear open hollow trees with their long, sharp claws and teeth in search of wild bees and honey. This has possibly been the case since prehistoric times and is not a result of human interference. ( Sander­son, 1972; Ward and Ky­nas­ton, 1995) Biogeographic Regions. Helarctos malayanus, family Ursidae ‘The lineages leading to the remaining species - the brown bear the black bear the sun bear and the sloth bear - … Species name: Helarctos malayanus The Sun Bear ( Ursus malayanus ), sometimes known as the Honey Bear, is a bear found primarily in the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia. Bornean Sun Bear Helarctos Malayanus Euryspilus Sun bears in the wild are incredibly elusive, shy and not surprisingly difficult to find. [37] Oil palms are nutritious but not enough for subsistence. The bear (Helarctos, or Ursus, malayanus) is often tamed as a pet when young but becomes bad-tempered and dangerous as an adult. Lifespan in captivity is generally over 20 years; one individual lived for nearly 31 years. [19] Noting the production of fertile hybrids between sun bears and sloth bears (Melursus ursinus), it was proposed that Helarctos be treated as a synonym of Melursus. [1][60], According to the IUCN Bear Specialist Group, sun bear populations have fallen by an estimated 35% in the last three decades. The major habitats in southern Thailand and peninsular Malaysia are moist evergreen forests, with more or less non-varying climate and heavy rainfall throughout the year, and low-lying or montane dipterocarp forests. [1] They occupy home ranges of varying sizes in different areas, ranging from 7 to 27 square kilometres (2 1⁄2 to 10 1⁄2 square miles) in Borneo and peninsular Malaysia; a study in Ulu Segama Forest Reserve in Sabah (Malaysia) gave the sizes of ranges as 8.7–20.9 km2 (3 3⁄8–8 1⁄16 sq mi). The fur is generally jet-black, but can vary from grey to red. The spectacled bear is the only bear native to South America and is the largest land carnivore on that part of the continent, although as little as 5% of its diet is composed of meat. sun bear in British English. The Malayan Sun Bear or Beruang Matahari is scientifically known as Helarctos malayanus and belongs to the family Ursidae. [51][52] Oestrus lasts five to seven days. [59], In the past sun bears ranged from Borneo and Sumatra in the north and Assam in the northwest to northeastern Vietnam in the northeast and at least Yunnan Province (China) in the east. [16][17] Genetic differences between the two subspecies are obscure. Enrich your vocabulary with the English Definition dictionary Sun bears become sexually mature at two to four years of age. [8][3] Infants are greyish black with a pale brown or white snout and the chest patch is dirty white; the coat of older juveniles may be dark brown. Habitat Sun bears are found in dense lowland tropical forests. Sun bears get their name from the characteristic orange to cream coloured chest patch. [61][62] A 2007 study in East Borneo recorded severe loss of habitat and food resources due to droughts and forest fires brought about by the El Niño. [4][5] The generic name Helarctos comes from two Greek words: ήλιος (hēlios, 'related to the sun') and αρκτος (arctos, 'bear'). It is found in Southeast Asia, including the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. [8][37][38] It is also an efficient swimmer. [3][34] They are mainly active during the day, though nocturnality might be more common in areas frequented by humans. [3][8][26] It is stockily built, with large paws, strongly curved claws, small rounded ears and a short snout. [22][23] A 2007 phylogenetic study gives the relationships of the sun bear with other species of Ursidae based on complete mitochondrial DNA sequences as shown in the cladogram below. [57][58] A survey in Lower Kinabatagan (Malaysia) published in 2017 showed that sun bears were feared but were not common in oil palm plantations; bearded pigs, elephants and macaques were far more damaging to crops. Test your knowledge with this quiz. Reproduction is dioecious.They rely on running to move around. Generally nocturnal, the tree-climbing sun bear is shy and retiring but quite intelligent. [1] Population densities vary from 4.3 and 5.9 individuals per 100 km2 (39 sq mi) in Khao Yai National Park (Thailand) to 26 individuals per 100 km2 (39 sq mi) in the Harapan Rainforest in southern Sumatra. The bear species most commonly farmed for bile is the Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), although the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), brown bear (Ursus arctos) and every other species are also used (the only exception being the Giant Panda which does not produce UDCA). It is easily tamed. Traduzioni ipotizzate. [8][37] They consume figs in large amounts and eat them whole. The ~ (Helarctos malayanus) is the smallest bear, weighing 27 to 65 kg (60 to 145 lbs). [25], The sun bear is the smallest of all bear species. Scientifically known as Helarctos Malayanus, the sun bear gets its name from the pale crescent or horseshoe shape on its chest which is said to resemble the sun setting or rising. ( Helarctos malayanus Sander­son, 1972 ; Ward and Ky­nas­ton, 1995.. In ) long species were closely related kept in the Cologne Zoological Garden, Germany placed the species the... Inhabited, but can vary from grey to red China and far eastern India fine... 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