Melursus is a monotypic genus of bears, family Ursidae, containing only the sloth bear, Melursus ursinus, found across the Indian subcontinent including India, Nepal's Terai region, Bhutan and Sri Lanka, though regionally extinct in Bangladesh. Sometimes called the labiated bear for its elongated lower lip and enlarged palate adapted to sucking up termites and ants, it lacks upper incisors, carries long shaggy fur with a facial mane and a whitish Y- or V-shaped chest mark, and has the longest tail of any bear; it is listed as vulnerable, chiefly from habitat loss.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Member Count Band Era First Appeared Classification
Living or Extinct In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ17484766, descriptionView the Source 2. Wikipedia: Sloth bear
Taxonomic rank (Wikipedia confirms the entity; rank from slug/structure-wave classification)View the Source 3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Melursus
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 1
View the Source 4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Melursus
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Melursus" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 2.58 ... "early_interval": "Gelasian"
View the Source Wikidata: Sloth Bear
Wikidata Q145016, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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