Definition

Noun: * A medium-sized bear species (Ursus thibetanus) native to forested habitats across Asia, characterized by a distinctive white or cream-colored crescent marking on its chest and relatively large, rounded ears. It is also commonly known as the Asiatic black bear.

Usage

• The term Ursus thibetanus is the formal, scientific name used in biological, zoological, and conservation contexts. It is typically written in italics.
• It is used to refer to the species as a whole or to individual animals when precision is required, distinguishing it from other bear species like the brown bear () or the American black bear ().

Examples

• Scientific/Formal Context:
  • The primary threat to Ursus thibetanus is habitat loss due to deforestation.
  • Researchers are studying the hibernation patterns of Ursus thibetanus in the Japanese Alps.
• General Context:
  • We were lucky to spot an Ursus thibetanus, or Asiatic black bear, during our trek in the Himalayas.

Advanced Usage

• The name Ursus thibetanus can be used in binomial nomenclature discussions, where is the genus name and is the specific epithet.
• It may appear in legal and international documents, such as CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) appendices, where species are listed by their scientific names.

Variants and Related Words

• Asiatic black bear: The most common English vernacular name for .
• Moon bear: A common name derived from the crescent-shaped chest mark.
• White-chested bear: A descriptive name referencing its distinctive marking.
• Himalayan black bear: A name often used for populations in the Himalayan region.

Synonyms

• Asiatic black bear
• Moon bear

Different Meanings

• Ursus thibetanus has only one specific meaning: it refers exclusively to this particular species of bear. It is not used idiomatically or with alternative definitions.

Noun

1. bear with a black coat living in central and eastern Asia