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Many scientists and zoologists claim that the bear can be called one of the most intelligent creatures on planet Earth. These animals differ not only in impressive size and awesome appearance, but also attract with their unique grace, charisma, inspiring a person with a sense of delight and awe. There are many varieties of such predatory individuals, each of which has distinctive features and features, for example, structure, behavior, color. Let's get to know a little-known representative of bears like a spectacled bear.
Habitat and external characteristics
It is becoming more and more difficult to meet a spectacled bear in natural conditions. This species has long been on the list of animals listed in the Red Book. For zoos to see a spectacled bear among their wards is a pipe dream. Local residents carry out mass extermination of such predators, because they are afraid of attacks on livestock or the destruction of crops on their part. Among other things, the bear’s gall bladder is used for medical purposes to treat certain diseases.
Each year, the volumes of deforestation are increasing, the area of construction objects is expanding, the places of accumulation of bears are under threat, which affects the decline in the population. Spectacled bears are found mainly in rugged mountain areas. In this regard, not so much is known about him as about other species.
The growth of the predator is about 1.5-2 m, the weight reaches up to 140 kg. Females are smaller than males. The animal's fur is black with a slightly noticeable brown tint.
The muzzle looks slightly shortened in comparison with relatives. The origin of the name Spectacled bear refers to light spots located on the muzzle in the eye area and smoothly connecting at the neck.
According to scientists, the animal may be the last descendant of a huge bear that existed thousands of years ago. Then the weight of these predators approached the level of 500-600 kg. There have even been cases when individuals reached a weight of the order of 1 tone. The body looks strong and muscular. The neck is short, the limbs withstand severe stress. A pair of hind legs is shorter than the front legs, so spectacled bears can perfectly climb a tree.
The structure of the skeleton is also significantly different from other species. The remaining members of the bear family have 14 rib pairs in the body, and spectacle bears have one pair of ribs less.
Character traits and behavior
The spectacled bear is one of the calmest and most harmless bears of its kind. Rarely can you hear stories about attacks on people. Even a fight with other animals does not end in death. They can only injure the enemy if he is a threat. If a bear collides with a person, the animal tries to hide in the trees. Prefers a closed lifestyle. The question of the division of the territory between the males does not arise. If the area where individuals live is rich in food, then the animals are adjacent to each other without conflict. Unlike brown bears, spectacled bears do not need hibernation or dens. They lead a nocturnal lifestyle, and in daylight fall asleep in their own nests, lining up among the thickets.
Nutrition
Spectacled bears feed mainly on vegetation.Meat food is included in the diet only in small quantities. Hunting is opened for small rodents, deer, birds or rabbits.
When hunger sets in, make sorties and attack livestock, eat carrion. Due to the unique structure of the muzzle and long tongue, the animal is able to get insects, termites from narrow crevices and nests. Honey is a favorite treat for which they hunt and destroy bee hives.
The assimilation of plant foods is poorly tolerated by animal organisms, however, spectacled bears consume grass shoots, fruits, and rhizomes. Powerful jaws can compete even with the jaw of a huge panda; they easily break food that is inaccessible to other animals. The bear diet includes tree bark and palm branches. Such solid food is too tough for them.
Bears do not ignore cacti, climbing up the trunk, where the most delicious fruits grow. From time to time, animals wander into the territory of agricultural fields owned by local authorities and farmers. Sugarcane is a treat that interests them.
Features of reproduction and life expectancy
The process of mating of these predators can occur throughout the year, but spring and the beginning of summer before the onset of the rainy season is considered a peak of activity. As soon as the female shows that she wants to mate, males start a showdown among themselves, waiting for her to give preference to one of them.
After the pair is ready for breeding, the animals live together for some time. Scientists have not yet been able to fully study the habits of bears at this stage of life. However, it turned out that the female’s body easily adapts to the conditions of an unplanned pregnancy. A fertilized egg continues to divide and remain inside the uterus for a long time. The possibility of delaying implantation allows the body to prepare and give birth to cubs in a favorable period when the female is ready to feed offspring.
Spectacled animals are pregnant for eight months. As a rule, from 1 to 3 cubs are born. Blind crumbs can weigh about 300 g. The skin of the cubs has a distinctive black color with a yellow spot that is inherent only to this species.
Scientists have proven that there is a great similarity between the brown and the spectacled bear, but genetic exchange is not possible. When mating different species, the reproductive properties of the body are violated. Even if viable offspring appears, procreation will not follow.
Brown and spectacled bears live approximately the same - about 25 years. Once it was noted that the captive male spectacle lived up to 36 years.
All representatives of the animal and plant world are wonderful and interesting creatures, unique in their own way and of high value to our future generation, which still has a lot to discover and study.
Video: Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)
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