The Newfoundland black bear (''Ursus americanus hamiltoni'') is a morphologically distinct

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

of the

American black bear The American black bear (''Ursus americanus''), also called simply a black bear or sometimes a baribal, is a medium-sized bear endemic to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most widely distributed bear species. American black bear ...

, which is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to the island of

Newfoundland Newfoundland and Labrador (; french: Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador; frequently abbreviated as NL) is the easternmost province of Canada, in the country's Atlantic region. The province comprises the island of Newfoundland and the continental region ...

Atlantic Canada Atlantic Canada, also called the Atlantic provinces (french: provinces de l'Atlantique), is the region of Eastern Canada comprising the provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec. The four provinces are New Brunswick, Newfoundlan ...

. The Newfoundland black bear is generally larger than its mainland relatives, ranging in size from and averaging . It also has one of the longest

hibernation Hibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy characterized by low body-temperature, slow breathing and heart-rate, and low metabolic rate. It most ...

periods of any bear in North America.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3769927

Newfoundland black bear The Newfoundland black bear (''Ursus americanus hamiltoni'') is a morphologically distinct subspecies of the American black bear, which is endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, su ...

Endemic fauna of Newfoundland (island) Endemic fauna of Canada Mammals of Canada Carnivorans of North America