AMERICAN BLACK BEAR Ursus americanus ©Laura Quick The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent’s smallest and most widely distributed bear species. American black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. Despite living in North America, American black bears are not closely related to brown bears and polar bears; genetic studies reveal that they split from a common ancestor 5.05 million years ago (mya). American and Asian black bears are considered sister taxa and are more closely related to each other than to the other modern species of bears.According to recent studies, the sun bear is also a relatively recent split from this lineage. #americanblackbear #bear #blackbear #ursusamericanus #©lauraquick #northamerica #widespread #leastconcern #losangeleszoo #lazoo #glaza #losangeleszooandbotanicalgardens #docentprogram https://www.instagram.com/p/B45nRninvTA/?igshid=1hq8185w9a8yu

















