2006-10-21 13:45:22 · 13 answers · asked by calandwil 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
They are not white, polar bears have transparent, hollow hair, they have black skin, the reflection of the sunlight makes them appear white, the same way the reflection of the sunlight makes snow and ice look white.
2006-10-21 14:00:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Though the above answers are OK, the truth is polar bear hair is translucent not white. As the fellow above implied but didn't fully state, polar bear hair is like a fiber optic.
2006-10-21 13:53:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ivy has the correct answer here! Polar Bear hair is semi-translucent (clear) on it's own. Take a bunch of hairs together and they appear white! Try this little experiment - see if you can find some fiber optic cable. Alone they look like a clear piece of glass. Get a handful of them, and they look white!
2006-10-21 15:05:34 · answer #3 · answered by gshprd918 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. The individual hairs on a polar bear channel light down to the bear's skin. Just a side fact. The polar bear evolved it's color to match it's environment. They cover their noses when hunting.
2006-10-21 13:50:35 · answer #4 · answered by Cirric 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I believe the polar bears hairs are translucent, not truly white.
2006-10-21 14:35:11 · answer #5 · answered by Eric 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The skin of a polar bear is actually black,and its fur is white.
Dont know what makes it white,but I know why it is white,becoz of camouflage.
2006-10-22 04:57:28 · answer #6 · answered by farhan ferdous 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Polar bears are not really white,look it up,No offense.
2006-10-21 13:53:11 · answer #7 · answered by wms_u_know 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
A bear that is the same color as snow and ice would be much better at stalking than any other color of bear.
2006-10-21 13:52:43 · answer #8 · answered by hothotdamn 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's very frightened all the time ! Good Luck! :)
2006-10-21 14:36:14 · answer #9 · answered by tysavage2001 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
is the absence of pigments in its skin...
that way, he looks just like the snow around him, so he could become a better hunter...
2006-10-21 13:50:44 · answer #10 · answered by Sagitarius CR 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋