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Glite Dictionary
Thalarctos

Thalarctos

9.9
A scientific name once used for polar bears now usually included in Ursus
  • noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : Thalarctos
  • The species formerly classified as Thalarctos maritimus is now widely considered part of the genus Ursus.

Examples

  • Some older zoological texts refer to the polar bear under the genus Thalarctos.

  • Taxonomists debate whether Thalarctos should remain distinct from Ursus in classifying polar bears.

  • The term Thalarctos is interesting.

  • Did you know about Thalarctos?

  • Some older zoological texts refer to the polar bear under the genus Thalarctos.

  • Taxonomists debate whether Thalarctos should remain distinct from Ursus in classifying polar bears.

  • The species formerly classified as Thalarctos maritimus is now widely considered part of the genus Ursus.

Synonyms

Ursus
vsThalarctos
  • Specialized
1 9.3

A group of bears that includes brown and polar bears

is an older alternative name sometimes treated as the same genus
genus Ursus
vsThalarctos
  • Specialized
9.7

A group of bears that includes brown and polar bears

is a former or alternate label sometimes merged with that type genus

Surface Forms

Thalarctos singular
Thalarctos plural

Etymology

Thalarctos comes from Greek parts thala- 'sea' and -arctos 'bear', so it literally means 'sea bear'. It was used as a scientific name for polar bears, which live on sea ice, and you can also see the same 'bear' root in Arctic, linking the name to northern seas.