How are a polar bear's paws adapted for walking on snow and ice?

Wide paws with small, soft bumps for grip

Explain how the size and structure of a polar bear's paws help it to move efficiently in its environment.

Their wide paws act like snowshoes, distributing their weight and preventing them from sinking into the snow. The bumps provide grip on ice.

9th Grade•88 minutes

I can analyze the adaptations of polar bears to their Arctic environment.

Polar bears have a thick layer of fat, about 10 centimeters thick, to keep them warm in the Arctic.

A polar bear's sense of smell is about 100 times stronger than a human's, helping them to hunt seals under the ice.

Polar bears have large paws, about 30 centimeters across, with soft bumps for grip, which act like built-in snowshoes.

This lesson includes 12 practice questions to reinforce learning.

View questions preview

1. What is the primary adaptation that helps polar bears stay warm in the Arctic?

2. How does a polar bear's sense of smell aid in its survival?

3. Why do polar bears primarily eat the fat of seals?

...and 9 more questions

Polar Bears: Masters Of The Snow | Snow Animals | BBC Earth

BBC Earth