Sun Bear
Ursus malayanus
Jackson Zoological Park

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae Genus: Ursus (Helarctos) Species: U. malayanus

The sun bear is the Smallest bear, with a length of about 4.5 feet. Height at shoulder of 2.5 feet. The sun bear two-inch tail not easily seen. The sun bear weight 60-140 pounds. The coloration of sleek black fur with yellow crescent-shaped breast mark, he has a grayish or orange shortened muzzle. Stocky build. His forearms are incurved. The sun bear's feet are large with strongly curved claws and naked soles. His ears are rounded and short. His head is short and flat with small eyes

The diet of the sun bear varies widely and includes small vertebrates such as lizards, birds, or other mammals, in addition to fruits, eggs, termites, the young tips of palm trees, nests of bees, berries, sprouts, insects, roots, cocoa and coconuts. Their powerful jaws can crack open nuts. Much of the sun bear's food must be detected using their keen sense of smell as their sight is poor.

Sun bears do not hibernate, and as a result, they can reproduce year-round. It is not uncommon for them to give birth to two cubs at a time weighing approximately 10-12 ounces (280 to 340 g) each. The gestation period is about 96 days, but they suckle for about 18 months. The offspring reach sexual maturity after 3-4 years, and they live up to 28 years in captivity.they have been known to role around in captivity.

There is one subspecies of sun bear (Helarctos malayanus euryspilus), found only on the island of Borneo.

The Malayan name for the sun bear is �basindo nan tenggil�, which is translated as �he who likes to sit high�.