brown bear vs Polar bear

Ursus arctos compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

• brown bear is Extinct while Polar bear is Vulnerable.
• brown bear is omnivore while Polar bear is carnivore.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	brown bear	Polar bear
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (Mammals)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order same	Carnivora (Carnivorans)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family same	Ursidae (Bears)	Ursidae (Bears)
Genus same	Ursus (Bears)	Ursus (Bears)
Species	Ursus arctos	Ursus maritimus

Evolutionary Relationship

brown bear and Polar bear share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Ursus. (Bears)

Conservation Status

brown bear

EX — Extinct

Population: ~200.0K

Trend: Stable →

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	brown bear	Polar bear
Diet	Omnivore	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	25 years	25 years
Average Length	2.0 m	2.4 m
Average Weight	300.0 kg	450.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

brown bear

Habitat

Typically found in a wide range of habitat types.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries).

Polar bear

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 4 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found in Norway. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

brown bear

The world's most widely distributed bear species, brown bears range from North America and Europe across Russia to Japan, occupying forests, tundra, and alpine meadows. Adults can weigh up to 700 kg in coastal Alaskan populations. Omnivores that consume berries, roots, fish, and carrion, brown bears are a keystone species that distribute nutrients across landscapes. Most populations are stable, though some subspecies are threatened.

Polar bear

The largest land carnivore on Earth, polar bears can exceed 700 kg and are found across Arctic sea ice from Canada to Russia. Highly specialized marine mammals that rely on sea ice to hunt ringed and bearded seals. Excellent swimmers capable of covering vast distances in open water. Listed as Vulnerable, with populations under severe pressure from rapid Arctic sea ice loss due to climate change.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 1 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway