The bear genus containing the sloth bear as its only living species is Melursus.
The sloth bear’s full scientific name is Melursus ursinus: Melursus identifies its genus, while ursinus identifies the species. No other living bear species is currently placed in Melursus, making the sloth bear a monotypic genus member.
Melursus is one of several bear genera in the family Ursidae. Other living genera include Ursus, which contains brown, polar and American black bears; Helarctos, which contains the sun bear; and Tremarctos, which contains the spectacled bear. Those names are therefore plausible alternatives but do not contain the sloth bear.
The genus is distinctive because the sloth bear has a specialized insect-feeding lifestyle. Its long, mobile lips, reduced upper incisors and powerful claws help it extract ants and termites from nests. Its scientific classification also preserves a complicated naming history: the animal was originally described under other names before Melursus became the accepted genus.