Q:
Are polar bears white all year round?
A:
Quick Answer
The fur of a polar bear contains no pigment and is actually not white at all. Polar bear hairs have hollow cores and are transparent. The "white" appearance of a polar bear is due to effects of scattered, reflected light.
Continue Reading
Credit:
Vadim Balakin
Moment
Getty Images
Full Answer
Over the year, a polar bear's fur can darken due to the presence of dirt and old fur. When a polar bear emerges from a molt period in late summer, the animal is the whitest it can be until the next molting. Strong sunlight amplifies the effects of the polar bear's fur in a fashion similar to snow. In captivity, polar bear fur can become green due to the presence of algae colonies.
Learn more about Polar BearsSources:
Related Questions
-
Q:
What are some facts about polar bears?
A: The polar bear is a carnivorous marine mammal that lives exclusively in the Arctic. A female polar bear typically gives birth to one or two cubs per litter... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How do polar bears keep warm?
A: Polar bears possess a number of adaptations for the cold that keep them warm, including thick fur, thick fat and increased body size compared to other bear... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How have polar bears adapted to the Arctic?
A: Several adaptations have allowed polar bears to live in the Arctic, primarily their two thick layers of fur for insulation. With their thick fur, polar bea... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Why do polar bears have white fur?
A: Polar bears have white fur because it serves as camouflage in the Arctic snow, allowing them to blend into the environment and hunt. Polar bears, having ev... Full Answer >Filed Under:
