Which Arctic mammal is the world's largest land carnivore?

The polar bear is the world's largest land carnivore.

Adult males commonly weigh 350–700 kilograms, although exceptionally large individuals can be heavier. Their size, thick blubber layer, dense fur, and compact ears help reduce heat loss while they hunt on Arctic sea ice.

Polar bears are classified as marine mammals because they depend heavily on marine ecosystems, especially seals. They are excellent swimmers, but they usually hunt from sea ice, where they wait beside breathing holes or stalk seals near the ice edge.

A common mistake is to call the polar bear the largest bear overall without qualification. Kodiak and some coastal brown bears can rival individual polar bears in mass, but the polar bear is generally recognized as the largest living land carnivore and the largest bear species by typical size. Its scientific name, Ursus maritimus, means “sea bear.”