Polar bears have a very interesting coat. The skin is black and the
hairs are actually nearly tranparent. It has been shown the hairs act
as light pipes and conduct light to the skin where it can be absorbed as
heat. It is also such excellent insulation that the bears are almost
invisible to infrared scopes. As far as the coat being camoflage, it
is and it is very effective. All predators are camoflaged to at least
some degree to hide them from prey so they can get into striking range.
Jerry Liles
ClassicVW@xxxxxxx wrote:
>How do you know there was never a predator in the past 10,000 years? I'd
>think the white definitely is for camouflage, since there's no worry about
>being
>overheated by the sun.
>
>George S.
>
>piers@xxxxxxxx writes:
>
>
>
>>Perhaps this explains why polar bears are white not black - it's unlikely
>>to
>>be for camouflage, after all, since there's no predator to spot them, and
>>the prey are under the ice, so it must be because they keep warmer that way!
>>From which we can deduce that there is less heat to be absorbed from the sun
>>up there than can be generated from digestion of seals.
>>
>>Piers
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
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