Ours brun vs ours blanc

Ursus arctos compared with Ursus maritimus

Key Differences

• Ours brun is Extinct while ours blanc is Vulnerable.
• Ours brun is omnivore while ours blanc is carnivore.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Ours brun	ours blanc
Kingdom same	Animalia (animal)	Animalia (animal)
Phylum same	Chordata (Chordates)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class same	Mammalia (mammifères)	Mammalia (mammifères)
Order same	Carnivora (carnivores)	Carnivora (carnivores)
Family same	Ursidae (Bears)	Ursidae (Bears)
Genus same	Ursus (Bears)	Ursus (Bears)
Species	Ursus arctos	Ursus maritimus

Evolutionary Relationship

Ours brun and ours blanc share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Ursus. (Bears)

Conservation Status

Ours brun

EX — Extinct

Population: ~200.0K

Trend: Stable →

ours blanc

VU — Vulnerable

Population: ~26.0K

Trend: Decreasing ↓

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Ours brun	ours blanc
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

Ours brun

Habitat

Typically found in a wide range of habitat types.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries).

ours blanc

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.

Ours brun

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.

ours blanc

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