Definition

Noun: * A taxonomic genus containing a single species, the polar bear (Thalarctos maritimus). In modern biological classification, this genus name is often considered synonymous with Ursus, placing the polar bear within the bear genus Uursus as Ursus maritimus.

Usage

• The term is used primarily in scientific and taxonomic contexts to refer to the classification of the polar bear.
• It is important to note that its usage is historical or alternative, as many classification systems no longer recognize as a separate genus.

Examples

• Scientific Context:
  • The species was once classified under the genus Thalarctos.
  • Some older texts refer to the polar bear as Thalarctos maritimus.

Advanced Usage

• The name is derived from Greek roots: (sea) and (bear), meaning "sea bear," which describes the polar bear's marine habitat.
• In discussions of taxonomy and systematics, the status of is an example of how species classification can change with new genetic and morphological evidence.

Variants and Related Words

• Ursus maritimus (n): The currently accepted scientific name for the polar bear, placing it in the genus .
• polar bear (n): The common English name for the large, white bear native to the Arctic region.

Synonyms

• (As a taxonomic reference for the species):

Notes on Meaning

• The term genus Thalarctos refers specifically to a taxonomic grouping, not to the physical animal itself. The animal is the polar bear.
• Its primary meaning is tied to a specific, often historical, system of biological classification.

Noun

1. polar bears; in some classifications not a separate genus from Ursus