The spectacled bear (or Tremarctos ornatus) is a medium-sized bear native to the Andes regions of South America. It has thick, black fur with white markings on face and chest. The face is relatively flat compared to other bears, showing its close relationship with the extinct short-faced bears. Like other bears, the spectacled bear is highly sexually dimorphic, with the female being much smaller than the male. Male spectacled bears stand 76cm to 91cm tall at the shoulder and weigh 100kg to 200kg, while females are 60cm to 73cm tall and weigh only 35kg to 82kg.
Latin Name
Tremarctos ornatus
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Animal Facts
The spectacled bear is the last remaining short-faced bear in the world, with the last related genuses going extinct about 12,000 years ago.
While the spectacled bear is the largest carnivore in much of its South American range, only around 5% of its diet actually consists of meat.
The spectacled bear is known as 'jukumari' in the Aymara and Quechua languages, or as 'ukumari' in Quechua.
The scientific name of the spectacled bear's genus, 'Tremarctos', is made up of the Greek words for 'hole' and 'bear', referring to a distinct hole in the bear's upper arm bone.
Spectacled bears are highly arboreal and will sleep and hide in trees.
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