What is the scientific name of the polar bear, the Arctic’s largest land predator?

The scientific name of the polar bear is Ursus maritimus.

The name comes from Latin: Ursus means “bear,” while maritimus means “of the sea.” It reflects the species’ close dependence on sea ice and marine food, especially seals. Polar bears are excellent swimmers, but their primary habitat is the Arctic sea-ice environment rather than open ocean.

Polar bears belong to the bear family Ursidae and are the only living bear species considered marine mammals under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. They are closely related to brown bears, and the two species can produce fertile hybrids, sometimes called pizzly or grolar bears.

A common mix-up is confusing the species name with the name of the genus. Ursus is the genus shared with several other bears; Ursus maritimus identifies the polar bear specifically. The species was formally described by Constantine Phipps in 1774.