Spectacled Bear

The spectacled bear is one of the smaller bears and is the only bear found in South America. Spectacled bears are seen from Venezuela to Peru, and some are seen in Argentina and eastern Panama.National Geographic: Spectacled Bear

Spectacled bears have more rounded heads with a smaller snouts than other bears.WWF: Spectacled Bear These bears have brown, black or reddish fur with white to yellow rings around their eyes.National Geographic: Spectacled Bear Sometimes these markings are not present or extend to the throat and chest region. Spectacled bears have 13 pairs of ribs instead of the 14 bears typically have.Animal Diversity Web: Spectacled Bear Males are larger than females by up to 50 percent.WWF: Spectacled Bear

The spectacled bear tends to be solitary, traveling alone when not breeding.National Zoo: Spectacled, Or Andean, Bear Spectacled bears are nocturnal, sometimes spending days in trees.Animal Diversity Web: Spectacled Bear They build platforms out of sticks to reach fruit from trees and to sleep. Since food is available all year round, a spectacled bear does not need to hibernate.Animal Diversity Web: Spectacled Bear Spectacled bears prefer isolated forest areas and will climb to altitudes as high as 14,000 feet.National Geographic: Spectacled Bear