Spectacled Bear (redirected from Andean Bear)

spectacled bear

 or Andean bear

Only South American species of bear (Tremarctos ornatus, family Ursidae), found in mountain forests, especially in the Andes. It feeds mainly on shoots and fruit and is an agile climber. It stands about 2 ft (60 cm) at the shoulder, is 4–6 ft (1.2–1.8 m) long, and has a 3-in. (7-cm) tail. Its shaggy coat is dark brown to black. Whitish to yellowish marks form its “spectacles” and often extend down the neck to the chest.

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Spectacled Bear 

(Tremarctos ornatus,) a predacious mammal of the family Ursidae. The body length is 150–180 cm, the tail length 7–10 cm, and the shoulder height 75–80 cm. The weight is 70–140 kg. The fur is coal black or brownish black. The eyes are surrounded by white or yellowish rings, which are connected by a white semicircle on the throat. The snout is shorter than that of other bears. Spectacled bears have a life-span of approximately 20 years. They are found only in South America, where they are encountered in mountain forests at elevations to 3,000 m and, occasionally, in lowland savannas and thickets. The bears feed primarily on grass shoots, fruits, and rhizomes; occasionally they attack deer, guanacos, and vicuñas.