Dentition

Unlike most other members of the Carnivora, bears have relatively undeveloped carnassial teeth,
and their teeth are adapted for a diet that includes a significant amount of vegetable matter. The
canine teeth are large, and the molar teeth flat and crushing. Considerable variation occurs in
dental formula even within a given species. This may indicate bears are still in the process of
evolving from carnivorous to predominantly herbivorous diets. Polar bears appear to have
secondarily re-evolved fully functional carnassials, as their diets have switched back towards
carnivory.[29] The dental formula for living bears is: 3.1.2-4.23.1.2-4.3

Distribution and habitat

See also: List of carnivorans by population
Bears are primarily found in the Northern Hemisphere, and with one exception, only in Asia,
North America and Europe. The single exception is the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus);
native to South America it inhabits the Andean region. The Atlas bear, a subspecies of the brown
bear, was the only bear native to Africa. It was distributed in North Africa from Morocco to
Libya, but has been extinct since around the 1870s. The most widespread species is the brown
bear, which occurs from Western Europe eastwards through Asia to the western areas of North
America. The American black bear is restricted to North America, and the polar bear is restricted
to the Arctic Sea. All the remaining species are Asian.[26]
With the exception of the polar bear, bears are mostly forest species. Some species, particularly
the brown bear, may inhabit or seasonally use other areas, such as alpine scrub or tundra.

Behaviour

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Captive black bear cubs at play.
While many people think bears are nocturnal, they are, in fact, generally diurnal, active for the
most part during the day. The belief that they are nocturnal apparently comes from the habits of
bears that live near humans, which engage in some nocturnal activities, such as raiding trash cans
or crops while avoiding humans.[citation needed] The sloth bear of Asia is the most nocturnal of the
bears, but this varies by individual, and females with cubs are often diurnal to avoid competition
with males and nocturnal predators.[26] Bears are overwhelmingly solitary and are considered to

be the most asocial of all the Carnivora. Liaisons between breeding bears are brief, and the only
times bears are encountered in small groups are mothers with young or occasional seasonal
bounties of rich food (such as salmon runs).[26]