Cape chimaera vs Polar bear

Chimaera notafricana compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

• Cape chimaera is Least Concern while Polar bear is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cape chimaera	Polar bear
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Holocephali (Holocephali)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Chimaeriformes (Chimaeriformes)	Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Family	Chimaeridae	Ursidae (Bears)
Genus	Chimaera	Ursus (Bears)
Species	Chimaera notafricana	Ursus maritimus

Evolutionary Relationship

Cape chimaera and Polar bear share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Chordata. (Chordates)

Conservation Status

Cape chimaera

LC — Least Concern

Polar bear

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cape chimaera	Polar bear
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	25 years
Average Length	—	2.4 m
Average Weight	—	450.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cape chimaera

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.

Cape chimaera

The Cape chimaera (Chimaera notafricana) is a species in the genus Chimaera. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

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.