vs Oso Polar

Coelosphaerium dubium compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

is Not Evaluated while Oso Polar is Vulnerable.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Oso Polar
Kingdom	Bacteria (Bacteria)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Cyanobacteria (Cyanobacteria)	Chordata (cordados)
Class	Cyanobacteriia	Mammalia (mamíferos)
Order	Cyanobacteriales	Carnivora (carnívoros)
Family	Microcystaceae	Ursidae (Bears)
Genus	Coelosphaerium	Ursus (Bears)
Species	Coelosphaerium dubium	Ursus maritimus

Conservation Status

NE — Not Evaluated

Oso Polar

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Oso Polar
Diet	—	Carnivore
Average Lifespan	—	25 years
Average Length	—	2.4 m
Average Weight	—	450.0 kg

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Native to Asia and Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Taiwan.

Oso Polar

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.

Coelosphaerium dubium is a colonial planktonic cyanobacterium in the family Merismopediaceae, named for the taxonomic uncertainty surrounding its morphological boundaries with related species in the genus. Like its congeners, it forms spherical, gelatinous mucilaginous colonies in which cells are distributed at the periphery of a central hyaline matrix. The genus Coelosphaerium has historically been defined by gross morphological characteristics—colony shape, cell arrangement, and mucilage properties—but molecular phylogenetic analyses have substantially revised understanding of cyanobacterial diversity and systematics within this group. Coelosphaerium dubium has a relatively broad geographic distribution compared to some congeners, with records from freshwater bodies in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Taiwan, suggesting either a wide ecological tolerance or cryptic species diversity within the taxon. It inhabits lentic and slow-flowing freshwater environments, particularly stratified lakes and ponds where thermal and chemical gradients allow cyanobacterial cells equipped with gas vesicles to adjust their buoyancy and optimise light exposure. As a primary producer in these aquatic ecosystems, it contributes to nutrient cycling and forms part of the phytoplankton community grazed by zooplankton. No formal conservation assessment has been undertaken for this species by the IUCN.

Oso Polar

El mayor carnivoro terrestre de la Tierra, el oso polar puede superar los 700 kg y se encuentra en el hielo marino del Artico, desde Canada hasta Rusia. Es un mamifero marino altamente especializado que depende del hielo marino para cazar focas anilladas y barbadas. Excelente nadador capaz de cubrir grandes distancias en agua abierta. Clasificado como Vulnerable, sus poblaciones soportan una presion severa por la rapida perdida de hielo marino artico debida al cambio climatico.