Bespectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus)- it is the only modern species of the genus Tremarctos and the only representative of the bear family (Ursidae), found in South America. Its characteristic feature is light markings around the eyes that resemble glasses, hence the name of the species.
These bears lead a hidden lifestyle, living in the remote mountain forests of the Andes. They are the smallest of the New World bears, and their diet is mostly plant-based, although they do not neglect small prey.
Classification
🔬 Scientific classification:
✔ The Kingdom: Animals (Animalia)
✔ Type: Chordal (Chordata)
✔ Class: Mammals (Mammalia)
✔ Row: Predatory animals (Carnivora)
✔ Family: Bearish (Ursidae)
✔ Subfamily: Tremarctinae
✔ Gender: Tremarctos
✔ View: Bespectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus)
Dimensions and appearance
📏 Average size of adults:
• Body length: 120-200 cm
• Shoulder height: 60-90 cm
• Weight: 60-175 kg (males are much larger than females)
🎨 Features of appearance:
* Thick, black or dark brown coat
* Light "glasses" around the eyes, which can have an individual pattern
* Strong, stocky body structure
* Long curved claws adapted for climbing trees
📌 Interesting!
Spectacled bears are good tree climbers and can build “nests " among the branches for recreation and observation.
Behavior and lifestyle
🐾 Key behavioral features:
* Lead mostly nocturnal and crepuscular lifestyle
* Often climb trees in search of food
* Can travel long distances in search of fruit and food
* Territorial, but usually avoid conflicts with other bears
📌 Interesting!
This species does not go into hibernation, because in the high-altitude regions of the Andes, seasonal temperature changes are insignificant.
Living environment
🌍 Habitat range:
* Andean mountain forests from Venezuela to Bolivia
* Moist cloud forests, high-altitude shrubs, bamboo thickets
* Can occur at high altitudes 500-4700 m above sea level
🏞 Typical habitats:
* Moist mountain forests
* Alpine meadows (paramo)
* Rocky mountain slopes
Food
🥗 Basic diet:
• Fruits, berries, roots, leaves and bamboo - up to 80% of the diet
* Nuts, honey, mushrooms
* Small animals, insects, bird eggs
🔍 Foraging method:
* Uses strong paws and claws to pluck fruit and bark
* Able to rip off the bark of trees in search of insect larvae
* Known for his passion for corn and sugar cane, which often leads to conflicts with farmers
📌 Interesting!
The spectacled bear can break branches and pile them up to create a comfortable place to rest or store food.
Reproduction
👶 Breeding season:
* Mating season lasts from June to August
* Pregnancy lasts 6-7 months
🐻 Newborns:
* 1-2 cubs are born
* The mother takes care of them in tree holes or caves
* Cubs stay with their mother for up to 2 years
📌 Interesting!
Spectacled bears are born blind, like all bears, and weigh only 300-400 g.
Human interaction
⚠ Conflicts with people:
* Deforestation reduces the range of the species
* Often destroy farmland in search of food
* Poachers hunt bears for fat, claws, and fur
🏛 View protection:
* Is protected in all countries of residence
* Listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List
* Major nature reserves: national parks in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia
Interesting facts
📌 Interesting facts about the spectacled bear:
1. This is the only bear species found in South America
2. the smallest bear in the New World
3. favorite of Peruvians-it was he who became the prototype for the fairy-tale character Paddington
4️ ⃣ the point bear has one of the most plant-based diets among all the bearish ones
5️ ⃣ can climb to a height of over 4,000 m in the Andes Mountains
Conclusion
Bespectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus)- one of the most mysterious representatives of the bear family, which is marked by unique light markings around the eyes and adaptability to life in mountain forests. It is a key species of the Andean region, contributing to seed distribution and maintaining ecological balance.
Due to deforestation and poaching, the population of spectacled bears is constantly declining, so this species needs protection.
