Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Ursidae Genus: Ursus Species: americanus
American black bears are the most common and widely distributed species of bears in North America and can be found anywhere from forested areas to the beach. surprisingly, not all black bears are actually black in color. Their colors range from black to chocolate brown, tan, cinnamon, honey, and even blonde. In fact, no other native mammal exists in so many color phases.
Except for the claws, the hind footprint of an average size black bear is strikingly similar to that of a human, as black bears use the same walking pattern as humans do. Plantigrade is the term used to describe this “flat-footed” walking pattern. Canines and felines, for example, walk “on their toes”, and are referred to as digitigrades (walking with a digitigrade pattern).
