Description Spectacled bear

at cincinnati zoo

the spectacled bear bear native south america , technically largest land carnivore on part of continent, although little 5% of diet composed of meat. south america s largest obligate carnivorous mammal jaguar (panthera onca). among south america s extant, native land animals, baird s (tapirus bairdii) , south american tapirs (t. terrestris) heavier species. spectacled bear mid-sized species of bear. overall, fur blackish in color, though bears may vary jet black dark brown , reddish hue. species typically has distinctive beige or ginger-coloured markings across face , upper chest, though not spectacled bears have spectacle markings. pattern , extent of pale markings different on each individual bear, , bears can readily distinguished this. males third larger females in dimensions , twice weight. males can weigh 100 200 kg (220 440 lb), , females can weigh 35 82 kg (77 181 lb). head-and-body length can range 120 200 cm (47 78.5 in), though mature males not measure less 150 cm (59 in). tail mere 7 cm (2.8 in) in length, , shoulder height 60 90 cm (23.5 35.5 in). compared other living bears, species has more rounded face relatively short , broad snout. in extinct species of tremarctinae subfamily, facial structure has been thought adaptation largely carnivorous diet, despite modern spectacled bears herbivorous dietary preferences.