Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Polar Bears are not really white
Polar bears appear white, but their fur is not white. However, polar bear fur is transparent with a hollow core. It appears white because it reflects visible light, much like snow. The hair absorbs ultraviolet light from the sun, which in turn provides extra warmth for the skin. Many people do not realize that polar bears have black skin. This is an adaptation that allows maximum warming of the skin when exposed to sunlight.The bear has a short tail and small ears that help reduce heat loss, as well as a relatively small head and long, tapered body to streamline it for swimming.
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