Why does a polar bear have black skin?
Under its thick coat, a polar bear’s skin is black, and its hairs aren’t really white either: each one is see-through and hollow. They look white for the same reason snow does, by scattering all the colours of light. Dark skin soaks up warmth from the sunshine, and the fur keeps the heat in. What other adaptations help a polar bear live on the Arctic ice?
Asked by calcali
1 answer
A thick layer of fat (blubber) under the skin, small ears that lose little heat, huge furry paws that spread its weight on thin ice and grip without slipping, and a sense of smell strong enough to find seals a long way off.
by calcali