The Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus) is usually identified by light-colored markings on its face and chest that sometimes cause the bear to look like it has glasses on, although not in this individual (which, to be honest, bears something of a resemblance to Jeremy Irons). Naturally occurring along the Andes mountain range in South America, these bears live near rain forests and make use of the rich variety of resources there (from roots to carrion). Unfortunately, these bears are not only victims of Traditional Chinese Medicine, their gall bladders being especially prized, but they are also often shot by farmers for fear that the bears will eat the livestock (although it does not seem that the bears do this often, if at all).
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I have pointed to the fact that mtDNA genetics has suggested that the polar bear is actually a derived lineage of brown bears.
This is from Seabeck, Washington, across the water from Seattle.
I read an interesting article in the Alaska Dispatch News which examined interactions between arctic grizzly bears and polar bears. They found that although polar bears are larger, they tend to leave food sources when grizzly bears are around.
From here: "Cronin et al.
Ah yes, the spectacled bear, sad sole extant representative of the Tremarctinae. The ursid diversity of the Americas is so much more impoverished without Arctodus and Arctotherium, and the spectacled bear's close cousin Tremarctos floridanus...
Awww...poor old guy!
The last of an once mighty dynasty, clinging to a small remnant of its once huge realm, like Gondor in Lord of the Rings, 15th century Byzantium, or Djelibeby in Pyramids...
This is by far my favorite bear species, I love that each has such individual markings. Great photo, as always!