When it comes to the question of which species of bear is the largest on the planet, the answer may seem obvious to some. The polar bear is clearly the winner of this competition if we are going by a species-to-species comparison, but the situation becomes less clear if we expand the category to include sub-species, such as the Kodiak bear.
There is also the issue with terminology. How do we define the “largest” in this context? Do we go with the average weight or height across the species, or do we consider the largest individual specimens ever recorded? These points are all contestable, but here are the profiles for each of these two
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus)
In one corner, we have the
Adult male polar bears are massive, they can grow between 2.1-2.7 meters (7-9 feet) in length and reach a height of 1.5 meters (5 feet) at their shoulders. Males can also reach weights that range between 362-590 kilograms (800-1,300 pounds). This is weighty indeed, but the heaviest specimen on record was estimated to be between 900-1,000 kilograms (
Kodiak bears (Ursus arctos middendorffi)
In the other corner, we have
It is believed that these bears diverged from their brown bear relatives around 12,000 years ago and they have now developed some distinct morphological traits. This includes being larger and stockier than their counterparts.
As with polar bears, they are sexually dimorphic, meaning males tend to be larger than females. They can reach sizes between 0.9 and 1.5 meters (3 to 5 feet) at the shoulder and reach up to 3 meters (10 feet) in length.
Kodiak bears, like other coastal brown bears, can weigh twice as much as their grizzly cousins. Adult males can weigh between 272-635 kilograms (600-1,400 pounds), while females can reach 136-318 kilograms (300-700 pounds).
The largest ever recorded Kodiak bear, aptly named
Who wins? Both?
As you can see, the title for which bear is the largest in the world is difficult to decide based on these comparisons. This is also made more complex when you factor in seasonal changes, whereby a bear’s weight will be significantly lower in the spring than in the fall, when they are preparing to hibernate again. Anyone who has ever taken notice of
We may also see less weighty polar bears going forward as their species continues to struggle with habitat loss as a result of
As such, it seems the title of which bear is the largest remains an open question. It is probably best to say they draw as both polar bears and Kodiak bears are enormous creatures, and both are worthy of the title. I mean, would you want to fight with either of them over it?
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