ursine

Ursine is an adjective meaning of or relating to bears. The term derives from Latin ursinus, from ursus, bear, and is used in zoological and descriptive contexts to denote bear-like traits or characteristics.

In biological classification, bears belong to the family Ursidae within the order Carnivora. The family includes genera such as Ursus (true bears) and Melursus (sloth bear), with species including the brown bear (Ursus arctos), polar bear (Ursus maritimus), American black bear (Ursus americanus), and Asian black bear (Ursus thibetanus). The spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is usually placed in its own subfamily Tremarctinae. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is in a separate subfamily, Ailuropodinae, but remains a bear. The term ursine is broadly used to describe bear-like traits rather than to identify a specific species.

Typical ursine characteristics include a large, robust body, strong limbs, and thick fur. Claws are large and curved, adapted for digging and climbing. Diet varies by species, from largely herbivorous feeding in the giant panda to omnivorous diets in brown and American black bears. Most bears are solitary and territorial and many species enter a period of reduced activity in winter (hibernation).

Bears occupy diverse habitats across the northern hemisphere: forests, mountains, tundra and Arctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, with polar bears relying on sea ice and the giant panda on a China-focused habitat. Conservation status varies by species and population; some are listed as Least Concern, while others, including polar bears and certain regional brown bear populations, face threats from habitat loss, climate change, and poaching. In culture and language, ursine describes bear-related symbolism and features in art, heraldry, and scientific writing.