SLOTH BEAR: CHARACTERISTICS, FEEDING, REPRODUCTION - BIOLOGY - 2025

The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus) is a placental mammal that belongs to the Ursidae family. It has an appearance that characterizes them, with a long and dense black coat. Around the neck it has a greater length, forming a mane. Its muzzle is white, the ears are large and covered with hair.

It is geographically distributed in India, Sri Lanka and Nepal. There it lives in grasslands, savannas, dry and humid forests. The diet is based on insects and fruits, although their intake is limited to availability in the seasons and the area where they live.

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The body of the slime bear has undergone adaptations to capture and eat termites, one of its favorite foods. Among the modifications are his long tongue and lips, which he could stretch almost to the edge of his nose. It can also voluntarily close and open the nostrils, keeping dust and insects out of the airways.

Melursus ursinus is listed by the IUCN as a species vulnerable to extinction. The reason for this is the decrease in its population, a product, among other factors, of the degradation that its natural habitat has suffered.

General characteristics

Fur

The slub bear has black or blackish brown fur, although it may occasionally sport a reddish brown hue. On the face and on the muzzle, the coat is short and white or cream in color.

He has a "Y" or "U" shaped patch on his chest. This can vary from white to chestnut brown, passing through light yellow tones. The chest spot may be absent in some species, especially those that inhabit Sri Lanka.

The coat is long and dense, measuring between 80 and 2000 mm long. However, in the belly area and lower extremities they can have much less.

Although the sloth lives in warm environments, the hair between both shoulders and behind the neck is much denser than that of the rest of the body. This grouping of hairs could form a kind of mane, which could measure up to 30 centimeters long.

Head

Melursus ursinus has a thick and elongated snout, with a relatively small jaw. This mammal can open and close its nostrils voluntarily. The lips are long, being able to stretch them over the outer edge of your nose. The tongue, which is large and long, is housed within the oral cavity.

The bezudo bear has very large ears and covered with long black hair. Their teeth have particular characteristics, the molars are flat, wide and flat.

The molars and premolars are smaller than in other bears. This animal lacks upper incisors. In the adult stage, the teeth may be in poor condition, due to the soil that they absorb and chew when capturing insects.

The bezudo bear has a wide and long back of its palate, very similar to the rest of the mammals that feed on ants.

Size

Melursus ursinus grows 1.5 to 2 meters long. In this species there is a marked sexual dimorphism, since the males are between 30 and 40% heavier than the females.

An adult male could weigh around 80 to 145 kilograms. The sexually mature female has an approximate weight of 55 to 95 kilograms.

Extremities

The bezudo bear has large legs, with claws that are cream, white or even light brown. These are highly developed, have a curved shape and are about 10 centimeters long.

The hind legs are articulated, allowing the animal to assume almost any body position.

Distribution and habitat

The slime bear is found in India, southern Nepal and Sri Lanka. It is currently extinct in Bangladesh.

Almost 90% of sloth bears are in India. Within that country, its habitat has the following limits: to the northwest by the desert area, to the south by the ocean and to the northeast by the mountains.

Previously, Melursus ursinus had a large population throughout India, but its range was markedly reduced due to habitat loss and human-caused deaths.

To the north of India they are found mainly in the state of Uttarakhand and to a lesser extent in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The northeastern area is the one with the smallest population, including the states of Assam, Megalaya, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

In the central region, the slime bear occupies different territories in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Chattisgarh.

In Nepal it is frequent that it inhabits the forests and grasslands of Terailos, although they are also located in Siwaliks.

Habitat

Habitat in India includes wet and dry tropical forests, grasslands, savannas, and shrubs below 1500 meters. In Sri Lanka the sloth bear lives in the dry forests located in the northern and eastern part of the island, at an altitude below 300 meters.

In those areas where there is little vegetation and a high temperature during the day, this animal carries out its activities at night. Faced with the inclement weather, it takes shelter in shelters or in bushes.

Studies carried out in Sri Lanka and Nepal indicate that Melursus ursinus avoids being in those areas where humans are. However, in some areas of India it tends to raid fruit and corn crops.

Feeding

The slippery bear is an omnivorous animal, although its diet is mainly based on insects. This species is the only one, within the Ursidae family, that its organism is adapted to myrmecophagia.

The proportion of fruits and insects in the diet is dependent on geography and seasonal availability. In the fruiting season, fruits, leaves and flowers can make up up to 90% of the diet. The rest of the year termites and other insects are the basis of the animal's diet.

Sloth bears are expert termite hunters, which they can locate thanks to their developed sense of smell. With its curved front claws it can dig and break the nest of this insect.

When they do, they destroy all the soil that forms the nest, reaching the place where the termites are found. These are sucked through the snout, producing a series of snorts that are heard at a great distance.

The slime bear's ability to voluntarily open and close its nostrils prevents it from inhaling dirt and insects from entering its lungs.

Reproduction

Mating varies according to geographic habitat. In India they reproduce from April to June, the young being born in December or in the first days of January. On the contrary, in Sri Lanka they can mate throughout the year.

This species is characterized by the existence of a delay in the implantation of the ovum. According to research, the gestation time lasts from 4 to 7 months and the embryo development time is around 2 months.

Weeks or months before the birth of the young, the female digs a shelter or prepares the space in it, preparing it for the moment of delivery. The female may also exhibit atypical behaviors, such as being agitated or irritable, aggressively defending the cave, and resting for long periods.

Litters are usually of a maximum of three puppies. The females take dedicated care of the cubs, although the males could also participate in the rearing.

The young are born blind, opening their eyes after 4 weeks. The development of these is fast, compared to other species of bears. After a month they are already walking, they are independent between the first and second year, and they mature sexually at three.

References

1. Wikipedia (2018). Sloth bear. Recovered from en.wikipedia.com.
2. Dharaiya, N., Bargali, HS & Sharp, T. 2016. Melursus ursinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Recovered from iucnredlist.org.
3. Bies, L. 2002. "Melursus ursinus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Recovered from animaldiversity.org.
4. Encyclopedia Britannica (2018). Sloth bear. Recovered from britannica.com.
5. Bioexpedition (2012). Sloth bear. Recovered from bioexpedition.com.