{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "sloth-bear",
  "name": "Sloth Bear",
  "scientificName": "Melursus ursinus",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The sloth bear is a shaggy, long-snouted bear of the Indian subcontinent that feeds mainly on termites and ants, sucking them up with a gap-toothed jaw and mobile lips. Adults weigh 55–145 kg (120–320 lb), carry cubs on their backs, and are listed Vulnerable from habitat loss and conflict.",
  "conservationStatus": "Vulnerable",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Carnivora",
    "family": "Ursidae",
    "genus": "Melursus"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 90,
    "lengthM": 1.7,
    "topSpeedKmh": 40,
    "lifespanYears": 25
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Melursus ursinus"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Omnivore — termites, ants, fruit, and honey"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Dry and moist forests, grasslands, and scrub of the Indian subcontinent"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "20–25 years in the wild"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "55–145 kg (120–320 lb); males heavier"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 40 km/h (25 mph) in short bursts"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Vulnerable (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Dry and moist forests, grasslands, and scrub of India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan, with strongholds in central and western India.",
    "continents": [
      "Asia"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Melursus ursinus.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Melursus%20ursinus&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Melursus ursinus. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Melursus_ursinus/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — Sloth Bear.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sloth_bear"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sloth-bear/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/sloth-bear/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}