ursid

Ursid refers to any member of the bear family Ursidae, a group of large mammals in the order Carnivora. The family comprises five extant genera and eight living species with a wide distribution across the northern hemisphere, tropical Asia, and parts of South America. The main genera are Ursus, Melursus, Helarctos, Tremarctos, and Ailuropoda.

Eight living ursids are the brown bear (Ursus arctos), polar bear (Ursus maritimus), American black bear (Ursus americanus), Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in the genus Ursus; the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus); the sloth bear (Melursus ursinus); the spectacled bear or Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus); and the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca). The giant panda is notable for its specialized diet, which is largely bamboo, while the polar bear relies heavily on marine mammals and the other species display varying degrees of omnivory.

In terms of habitat, ursids occupy diverse environments, from Arctic tundra and boreal forests to tropical forests and Andean mountain regions. Most species are solitary outside of mothers with cubs, and activity patterns range from nocturnal to diurnal depending on species and season. Reproduction involves extended gestation with delayed implantation in some species, and cubs are typically born blind and dependent.

Conservation concerns for ursids center on habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, climate change, and hunting. Several species are classified as threatened or vulnerable, reflecting ongoing pressures on their populations. Despite these challenges, some ursids remain plentiful in suitable habitats and protected areas.