Ursus maritimus polar bear WIKIPEDIA:Ursus_maritimus Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774 MSW3:14000987 The polar bear (*Ursus maritimus*) is a bear native largely within the Arctic Circle encompassing the Arctic Ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. It is the world's largest land carnivore and also the largest bear, together with the omnivorous Kodiak Bear, which is approximately the same size. Although it is closely related to the brown bear, it has evolved to occupy a narrower ecological niche, with many body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice, and open water, and for hunting the seals which make up most of its diet. polar bear white bear Ursus requires discussion