![]() They have curved claws that are 4 in length and are suitable for digging and tearing termite mounds. This unique adaptation also allows the species to use its lower incisors to scrape the bark of trees and reach insects living beneath the bark. They lack upper incisors, allowing the tongue to pass-through and suck insects. The species is also referred to as "labiated bear" due to its long palate on the lower lip that is adapted to sucking insects. The sloth bear feeds primarily on termites, ants, and fruits. How Is The Sloth Bear Adapted To Its Habitat? Historically, the Sri Lankan sloth bear was common throughout the country, but widespread habitat destruction of their habitats, often linked to the conversion of its habitat to agricultural plantations at the turn of the century, has reduced its population significantly, and the species now only exists in the eastern and northern lowland regions of Sri Lanka. Its body hair is much shorter and may lack the distinguishing white mark on its chest. ![]() The species has a condylobasal length of approximately 9.8 in for females and 10.4 in for males. The Sri Lankan sloth bear is smaller than the Indian sloth bear, and therefore its skull is relatively small. ![]() In Nepal, the species is restricted to the Terai lowland region. Sloth bears also exist in conservational areas and sanctuaries such as Balaram, Ambaji, Jessore, Ratanmahal, and Shoolpaneshwar. The species is common in India, where it inhabits forested areas and low hills on the outer edges of the Himalayas, ranging from Arunachal Pradesh to Punjab. Later, it was renamed Melursus ursinus ursinus. The Indian sloth bear has a relatively large skull, and its condylobasal length is approximately 12 in for males and 11 in for females. The Indian sloth bear was first described in 1791 by British zoologist George Shaw, who named the bear Ursine bradypus. The name combined the term ursine, which means "bearlike," and bradypus, which means "slow foot." At the time of the species' discovery, Shaw believed the bear was related to the sloth, as bradypusis also the name of the genus for three species of sloth. There are two sloth bear subspecies, the Indian sloth bear or Melursus ursinus ursinus and the Sri Lankan sloth bear or Melursus ursinus inornatus. In most of the Indian subcontinent, the sloth bear is common at altitudes less than 4,900 ft above sea level, while in the dry forests of Sri Lanka they are found in altitudes less than 980 ft above sea level. The species has also been observed living in tall grasslands that provide dense cover. Their habitat varies significantly and includes dry and wet tropical forests, scrublands, savannahs, and grasslands. They were also common throughout Bangladesh, but are now extinct in the region. Sloth bears inhabit parts of India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal. Home ranges and habitat use of sloth bears Melursus ursinus inornatus in Wasgomuwa National Park, Sri Lankaġ0.2981/0909-6396(2007)132.0.The sloth bear ( Melursus ursinus) is a species of bear that is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. The restriction of human activity within protected areas may be necessary for long-term viability of sloth bear populations in Sri Lanka as is maintenance of forest or scrub cover in areas with existing sloth bear populations and along potential travel corridors. Thus, despite its relatively small size, Wasgomuwa National Park may support a sizeable population of sloth bears. Our estimates of home-range size are among the smallest reported for any species of bear. Within the home ranges, high forests were used more and abandoned agricultural fields (chenas) were used less than expected based on availability. Although areas outside the national park were accessible to bears, home ranges were almost exclusively situated within the national park boundaries. Mean 95% fixed kernel home ranges were 2.2 km2 (SE = 0.61) and 3.8 km2 (SE = 1.01) for adult females and males, respectively. We captured and radio-collared 10 adult sloth bears and used the telemetry data to assess home-range size and habitat use. The population isolated in Sri Lanka is considered as a subspecies. The sloth bear evolved from ancestral brown bears during the Pleistocene and shares features found in insect-eating mammals through convergent evolution. inornatus to facilitate future conservation efforts. The sloth bear, also known as the labiated bear, is a nocturnal insectivorous species of bear found wild within the Indian subcontinent. Our study was undertaken to assess space and habitat requirements typical of a viable population of M. inornatus, which is a subspecies found in Sri Lanka. Very little is known about the ecology and behaviour of M. We studied home ranges and habitat selection of 10 adult sloth bears Melursus ursinus inornatus at Wasgomuwa National Park, Sri Lanka during 2002-2003.
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