What color is a polar bear’s skin beneath its fur?

A polar bear’s skin is black beneath its fur.

The dark skin can absorb sunlight, while the bear’s dense fur and thick layer of body fat provide insulation in freezing conditions. Polar bear fur appears white or yellowish because the hairs are largely transparent and scatter light; the hairs are not naturally white in the same way as a painted surface.

This combination of dark skin and pale-looking fur serves two different purposes. The skin may help capture solar heat, while the light coat provides camouflage against snow and sea ice. Polar bears also have a thick, water-resistant outer coat over a softer insulating underfur.

A common misconception is that polar bear fur is hollow and acts like fibre-optic cable. Individual hairs are not simple light pipes, although their structure contributes to the coat’s appearance and insulation. Polar bears are marine mammals that depend heavily on sea ice for hunting seals.