Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus)
Adaptation
Helarctos
malayanus
is a mammal and has a skeleton. Some interesting facts about the
skull of the Sun Bear is that the zygomatic arch, or the cheek
bone, is wide and thin. Adult Sun Bears also have a ridge on the
top of their skull called a sagittal crest (Fitzgerald). Most
mammals have four types of teeth which are the incisors,
canines, pre-molars, and molars (zooplanets). The Sun Bear has
strong, large canines but lacks pre-molars. Because the
pre-molars absence, the Sun Bear’s snout is shortened
(Fitzgerald). Sun Bears evolved powerful canines to catch and
kill small animals such as birds and rodents as well as molars
to crush fruit and roots which are also in their diet.
The
Sun Bear’s paws have also evolved inward and the forearms bowed
for an increased ability to climb trees (Fitzgerald). Sun Bears
climb trees to collect ripe fruit, reach bee’s nests for honey,
and even to sleep in. These bears make nests in trees similar to
orangutans. These nests can sometimes be up to 40 meters or 128
feet high and up to 1 to 2 meters wide. Sun Bears sleep in trees
more commonly if there is human disturbance or there are larger
terrestrial predators such as tigers. Sun Bears like sleeping
high up because it is safer and dryer than sleeping on the
ground (Wong).
Sun Bears can extend their lips outwards as well as possess long tongues. Both of these features are believed to have evolved in order to better collect honey from bee’s nests and well as the insects themselves (Fitzgerald).
To see a Sun Bear using the characteristically long tongue, click here
Other nesting sites Sun Bears often use are
hollowed out logs and nests at the bases of trees (Wong et al.).
Sun Bears often do not reuse a nest unless there is a constant
supply of food nearby (Wong). A study found by radio tracking 6
Sun Bears that the average home range for one sun bear is 14.8
km2 and can be up to 20.6 km2 (Wong et
al.)
The Sun Bear may be closest related to the Panda because of the similarities in the shoulder girdle along with the similarity in tension the shoulder can withstand. Both of these traits help the Sun Bear and the Panda with living among the trees (Fitzgerald).