Editing Brown bear (section)

==Description==

===Size===
[[File:Brown bear (Ursus arctos arctos) smiling.jpg|thumb|Brown bears are highly variable in size. Eurasian brown bears often fall around the middle to low sizes for the species.|alt=A photo of a smiling brown bear standing by a lake]]
The brown bear is the most variable in size of modern bears. The typical size depends upon which population it is from, as most accepted subtypes vary widely in size. This is in part due to [[sexual dimorphism]], as male brown bears average at least 30% larger than females in most subtypes. Individual bears vary in size seasonally, weighing the least in spring due to lack of foraging during hibernation, and the most in late fall, after a period of [[Hyperphagia (ecology)|hyperphagia]] to put on additional weight to prepare for hibernation.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Hissa, R.|author2=Siekkinen, J.|author3=Hohtola, E.|author4=Saarela, S.|author5=Hakala, A.|author6=Pudas, J.|year=1994|title=Seasonal patterns in the physiology of the European brown bear (''Ursus arctos arctos'') in Finland|pmid=8529017|journal=Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Physiology|volume=109|issue=#3|pages=781–791|doi=10.1016/0300-9629(94)90222-4|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/14671511|access-date=12 December 2016|archive-date=15 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615041954/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/14671511_Seasonal_patterns_in_the_physiology_of_the_European_brown_bear_Ursus_arctos_arctos_in_Finland|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name= McLellan>{{cite journal|author=McLellan, B. N. |year=2011|title=Implications of a high-energy and low-protein diet on the body composition, fitness, and competitive abilities of black (''Ursus americanus'') and grizzly (''Ursus arctos'') bears|journal= Canadian Journal of Zoology|volume= 89|issue=#6|pages=546–558|doi=10.1139/z11-026|bibcode=2011CaJZ...89..546M }}</ref>

[[File:Description iconographique comparée du squelette et du système dentaire des mammifères récents et fossiles (Ursus arctos californicus).jpg|thumb|Brown bear skeleton]]

Brown bears generally weigh {{cvt|80|to|600|kg}}, with males outweighing females.<ref name="pasitschniak-arts1993mamsp">{{Cite journal |last=Maria Pasitschniak-Arts |date=23 April 1993 |title=Ursus arctos |url=https://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/VHAYSSEN/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-439-01-0001.pdf |journal=Mammalian Species |issue=439 |pages=1–10 |doi=10.2307/3504138 |jstor=3504138 |access-date=5 March 2023 |archive-date=5 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305165411/https://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/VHAYSSEN/msi/pdf/i0076-3519-439-01-0001.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> They have a head-and-body length of {{cvt|1.4|to|2.8|m}} and a shoulder height of {{cvt|70|to|153|cm}}. The tail is relatively short, as in all bears, ranging from {{cvt|6|to|22|cm}} in length.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Grzimek |first=Bernhard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ISBN0079095089 |title=Grzimek's Encyclopedia of Mammals |date=1990 |publisher=McGraw-Hill |isbn=978-0-07-909508-4 |pages=52–53 |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=Walker>{{Cite book |last=Nowak |first=Ronald M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZmMvnoyjyYMC |title=Walker's Mammals of the World |date=1991 |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |isbn=978-0-8018-3970-2 |pages=1083–1093 |language=en}}</ref> The smallest brown bears, females during spring among barren-ground populations, can weigh so little as to roughly match the body mass of males of the smallest living bear species, the [[sun bear]] (''Helarctos malayanus''), while the largest coastal populations attain sizes broadly similar to those of the largest living bear species, the [[polar bear]].<ref name="Christiansen3">{{cite journal|author=Christiansen, P.|year=1999|title=What size were ''Arctodus simus'' and ''Ursus spelaeus'' (Carnivora: Ursidae)?|journal=Annales Zoologici Fennici|volume=36|issue=2|pages=93–102|jstor=23735739}}</ref> Brown bears of the interior are generally smaller, being around the same weight as an average [[Panthera leo melanochaita|lion]], at an average of {{cvt|180|kg}} in males and {{cvt|135|kg}} in females, whereas adults of the coastal populations weigh about twice as much.<ref name= Feldhamer/> The average weight of adult male bears, from 19 populations, was found to be {{cvt|217|kg}} while adult females from 24 populations were found to average {{cvt|152|kg}}.<ref name="pasitschniak-arts1993mamsp"></ref><ref name= Swenson2>{{cite journal|doi=10.1007/s00442-007-0715-1|pmid=17415593|title=Brown bear body mass and growth in northern and southern Europe|journal=Oecologia|volume=153|issue=#1|pages=37–47|year=2007|last1=Swenson|first1=Jon E.|last2=Adamič|first2=Miha|last3=Huber|first3=Djuro|last4=Stokke|first4=Sigbjørn|url=http://bearproject.info/old/uploads/publications/2007%20Swenson%20et%20al%20Oecologia.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://bearproject.info/old/uploads/publications/2007%20Swenson%20et%20al%20Oecologia.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|bibcode=2007Oecol.153...37S|s2cid=5836340}}</ref>

===Coloration===
[[File:European Brown Bear.jpg|thumb|A brown bear at [[Whipsnade Zoo]]|left]]

Brown bears are often not fully brown.<ref name= Jones>{{cite journal|author=Jones, S. V. |year=1923|title=Color variations in wild animals|journal= Journal of Mammalogy|pages= 172–177|jstor=1373567|volume=4|issue=#3|doi=10.2307/1373567}}</ref> They have long, thick fur, with a moderately elongated mane at the back of the neck which varies somewhat across bear types.<ref name= Swenson>Swenson, J. E. (2000). [https://wcd.coe.int/com.instranet.InstraServlet?command=com.instranet.CmdBlobGet&InstranetImage=1391833&SecMode=1&DocId=1459496&Usage=2 Action plan for the conservation of the brown bear in Europe (''Ursus arctos'')] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220112705/https://wcd.coe.int/com.instranet.InstraServlet?command=com.instranet.CmdBlobGet&InstranetImage=1391833&SecMode=1&DocId=1459496&Usage=2 |date=20 December 2016 }} (No. 18-114). Council of Europe.</ref> In India, brown bears can be reddish with silver-tipped hairs, while in China, brown bears are bicolored, with a yellowish-brown or whitish collar across the neck, chest, and shoulders.<ref name= Jones/><ref>{{cite journal|pmid=18450212|year=2008|last1=Sahajpal|first1=V|title=Hair characteristics of four Indian bear species|journal=Science & Justice|volume=48|issue=#1|pages=8–15|last2=Goyal|first2=S. P.|last3=Jayapal|first3=R|last4=Yoganand|first4=K|last5=Thakar|first5=M. K.|doi=10.1016/j.scijus.2007.05.001}}</ref> Even within well-defined subspecies, individuals may show highly variable hues of brown. North American grizzlies can be from dark brown (almost black) to cream (almost white) or yellowish-brown and often have darker-colored legs. The common name "grizzly" stems from their typical coloration, with the hairs on their back usually being brownish-black at the base and whitish-cream at the tips, giving them their distinctive "grizzled" color. Apart from the [[Cinnamon bear|cinnamon subspecies]] of the [[American black bear]] (''U. americanus cinnamonum''), the brown bear is the only modern bear species to typically appear truly brown.<ref name="brown"/> The brown bear's winter fur is very thick and long, especially in northern subspecies, and can reach {{cvt|11|to|12|cm}} at the [[withers]]. The winter hairs are thin, yet rough to the touch. The summer fur is much shorter and sparser, with its length and density varying among geographic ranges.<ref name="soviet">{{cite book |title=Mlekopitajuščie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Moskva: Vysšaia Škola |trans-title=Mammals of the Soviet Union, Volume II, Part 1a, Sirenia and Carnivora (Sea cows; Wolves and Bears) |volume=II, Part 1a |editor1=V. G. Heptner |editor2=N. P. Naumov |publisher=Science Publishers, Inc. |year=1998 |isbn=1-886106-81-9 |location=Washington, D.C., US |url=https://archive.org/stream/mammalsofsov211998gept#page/648/mode/2up|pages=601–676}}</ref>

===Cranial morphology and size===
[[File:Catalogue of the mammals of Western Europe (Europe exclusive of Russia) in the collection of the British museum (fig. 50, 51 & 52).png|thumb|Skull: side view (top), upper view (left) and lower view (right)]]

Adults have massive, heavily built, concave skulls, which are large in proportion to the body.<ref name="brown"/> The projections of the skull are well developed.<ref name="soviet"/> Skull lengths of Russian brown bears tend to be {{cvt|31.5|to|45.5|cm}} for males, and {{cvt|27.5|to|39.7|cm}} for females. Brown bears have the broadest skull of any extant ursine bear.<ref name= Feldhamer>{{cite book |last1=Feldhamer |first1=G. A. |last2=Thompson |first2=B. C. |last3=Chapman |first3=J. A. |year=2003 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-xQalfqP7BcC&pg=PP1 |title=Wild mammals of North America: biology, management, and conservation |publisher=JHU Press |isbn=9780801874161 |access-date=9 November 2020 |archive-date=2 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240202162053/https://books.google.com/books?id=-xQalfqP7BcC&pg=PP1#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> The width of the [[zygomatic arch]]es in males is {{cvt|17.5|to|27.7|cm}}, and {{cvt|14.7|to|24.7|cm}} in females.<ref name="soviet"/> Brown bears have strong jaws: the [[incisor]]s and [[canine teeth]] are large, with the lower canines being strongly curved. The first three molars of the upper jaw are underdeveloped and single-crowned with one root. The second upper molar is smaller than the others, and is usually absent in adults. It is usually lost at an early age, leaving no trace of its [[Dental alveolus|alveolus]] in the jaw. The first three molars of the lower jaw are very weak, and are often lost at an early age.<ref name="soviet"/> The teeth of brown bears reflect their dietary plasticity and are broadly similar to those of other bears.<ref name= Christiansen2>{{cite journal|doi=10.1002/jmor.10643|pmid=18488989|title=Feeding ecology and morphology of the upper canines in bears (carnivora: Ursidae)|journal=Journal of Morphology|volume=269|issue=#7|pages=896–908|year=2008|last1=Christiansen|first1=Per|s2cid=33532210}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Kurtén, B. |year=1966|title= Pleistocene bears of North America: Genus ''Tremarctos'', spectacled bears|journal=Acta Zoologica Fennica |volume=115|pages=1–96}}</ref> They are reliably larger than teeth of [[American black bear]]s, but average smaller in molar length than those of [[polar bear]]s.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1017/S0952836904004856|title=Ecomorphological indicators of feeding behaviour in the bears (Carnivora: Ursidae)|journal=Journal of Zoology|volume=263|page=41|year=2004|last1=Sacco|first1=Tyson|last2=Van Valkenburgh|first2=Blaire}}</ref>

===Claws and feet===
[[File:Brown Bear Paws.jpg|thumb|Front paws|left]]

Brown bears have large, curved claws, with the front ones being larger than the back. They may reach {{cvt|5|to|6|cm}} and measure {{cvt|7|to|10|cm}} along the curve.<ref name="soviet"/> Compared with the [[American black bear]] (''Ursus americanus''), the brown bear has longer and stronger claws, with a blunt curve.<ref name="brown">'{{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Gary |url=http://archive.org/details/greatbearalmanac0000brow |title=The great bear almanac |entry=Bear Anatomy and Physiology|date=1993 |publisher=New York : Lyons & Burford |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-1-55821-210-7}}</ref> Due to their claw structure, in addition to their excessive weight, adult brown bears are not able to climb trees as well as black bears. In rare cases adult female brown bears have been seen scaling trees.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Seryodkin |first=Ivan V. |date=2016-06-01 |title=Behavior of Brown Bears During Feeding in the Sikhote-Alin |journal=Achievements in the Life Sciences |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=38–47 |doi=10.1016/j.als.2016.05.003 |issn=2078-1520|doi-access=free }}</ref> The claws of a polar bear are quite different, being notably shorter but broader with a strong curve and sharper point.<ref name="Herrero, S. 1972"/><ref>{{Cite book |last=Stirling |first=Ian |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f0ggAQAAIAAJ |title=Polar Bears |date=1988 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=978-0-472-10100-9 |language=en|pages=20–25}}</ref> The species has large paws; the rear feet measure {{cvt|21|to|36|cm}} long, while the forefeet tend to measure 40% less.<ref name="Hunter"/> Brown bears are the only extant bears with a hump at the top of their shoulder, which is made entirely of muscle. This feature developed presumably to impart more force in digging, which helps during foraging and facilitates den construction prior to hibernation.<ref name="brown"/>