🌿Native Nature

Sloth Bear

Melursus ursinus

Taxonomy

Kingdom: Animalia ›Phylum: Chordata ›Class: Mammalia ›Order: Carnivora ›Family: Ursidae ›Genus: Melursus

About

The sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), also known as the labiated bear, is an insectivorous bear species native to the Indian subcontinent. The sloth bear evolved from ancestral brown bears during the Pleistocene and shares features found in insect-eating mammals through convergent evolution. The population isolated in Sri Lanka is considered a subspecies. Compared to brown and black bears, sloth bears have lankier builds, long, shaggy coats that form a mane around the face (similar to that...

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the scientific name of Sloth Bear?
The scientific name of Sloth Bear is Melursus ursinus.
What is the conservation status of Sloth Bear?
The Sloth Bear has a conservation status of Vulnerable.
What kingdom does Sloth Bear belong to?
Sloth Bear belongs to the kingdom Animalia.
What phylum does Sloth Bear belong to?
Sloth Bear belongs to the phylum Chordata.
What class does Sloth Bear belong to?
Sloth Bear belongs to the class Mammalia.
What order does Sloth Bear belong to?
Sloth Bear belongs to the order Carnivora.
What family does Sloth Bear belong to?
Sloth Bear belongs to the family Ursidae.
What genus does Sloth Bear belong to?
Sloth Bear belongs to the genus Melursus.

In the News

Sloth bears help shape India’s dry forests as unlikely seed dispersers

Sloth bears play a critical role in structuring India’s dry deciduous forests by dispersing viable seeds and influencing plant regeneration, reports contributor Sneha Mahale for Mongabay India. “Dry deciduous forests’ plant compositions are a function of sloth bear presence, movement, and dietary habits,” study co-author K.S. Gopi Sundar, an independent scientist, told Mongabay India. For […]

Mongabay · 8/20/2026