Classification/taxonomy
According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), polar bears are one of eight species in the Ursidae family. Their full classification is:
• Kingdom: Animalia
• Subkingdom: Bilateria
• Infrakingdom: Deuterostomia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Subphylum: Vertebrata
• Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
• Superclass: Tetrapoda
• Class: Mammalia
• Infraclass: Eutheria
• Order: Carnivora
• Suborder: Caniformia
• Family: Ursidae
• Genus & species: Ursus maritimus