Polar bear on the coast of Svalbard II by Kai Müller

About "Polar bear on the coast of Svalbard II"

by Kai Müller

About the artwork

The fur of polar bears appears white or pale yellowish and has no other markings. However, both the outer hairs and the undercoat hairs are actually translucent. After a meal, the polar bears' fur is often blood-stained and oily. The outer hairs are hollow. This creates an insulating air cushion in the polar bears' fur. The summer coat is shorter than the winter coat. The skin is black. So it absorbs solar energy well. Under the skin there is a layer of fat about ten centimetres thick to protect the body temperature in icy cold. Polar bears, like all bears, are sole walkers. The tread of the front paw shows about half of the sole as well as five toes and five claw marks. The tread of the hind paw often shows the whole sole as well as five toes and five claw marks. The polar bears' claws are shorter and more curved than those of brown bears and serve as spikes on smooth surfaces. In addition, the strong hairiness of the soles of the feet reduces the danger of slipping. The numerous small, soft papillae under the feet, which function like small suction cups, also support the grip on the ground. The paws, which can be up to 30 centimetres wide, act like snowshoes in deep snow, improve weight distribution on fragile ice and serve as paddles when swimming. To protect their eyes from damage caused by strong UV radiation and snow blindness, polar bears have