why do polar bears have black skin?

Answer 1

It is so that they don't get skin cancer. They spend majority of the day out in the sun, and the black pigment in their skin is less likely to suffer sun burn.

Answer 2

Fur and skin

A Polar Bear resting.In addition to its obvious white hue, a polar bear's fur is translucent and provides good camouflage and insulation. It may yellow with age. Its black skin has evolved to radiate heat out to its layer of thick fur, which helps keep the animal warm in the coldest weather. The bear has a black nose. Stiff hairs on the soles of its paws provide insulation and traction on ice.

Unlike other Arctic mammals, polar bears do not shed their coat for a darker shade in the summer. It was once conjectured that the hollow hairs of a polar bear coat acted as fiber-optic tubes to conduct light to its black skin, where it could be absorbed - a theory disproved by recent studies.[9] The thick undercoat does, however, insulate the bears: they overheat at temperatures above 10 °C (50 °F), and are nearly invisible under infrared photography; only their breath and muzzles can be easily seen.[10] These bears often sprawl upon the ice to cool off; on land, they may dig for the cooler permafrost layer beneath. Growing through the undercoat is a relatively sparse covering of hollow guard hairs about six inches long. These guard hairs are stiff, shiny and erect, and stop the undercoat from matting when wet. Water is easily shaken off before it can freeze. The bear also rolls in snow to shed moisture from the coat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_bears

Answer 3

Although they have a fairly thick coat of fur, where they live, the Arctic, has very little ozone protection, and usually limited cloud cover, which can cause them to sunburn just like any other animal, thus they need the black skin to help prevent that.

Answer 4

Black absorb heat and repell cold, that its why polar bears is not afraid of extreme cold.

Answer 5

Because black fur would be a little obvious in a snow-covered environment...can't very well sneak up on prey when you stand out like that, y'know?

Answer 6

HEAT HEAT HEAT

Answer 7

Jesus?