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What is the difference between a grizzly bear and a brown bear?
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Grizzly bear in Jasper National Park, western Alberta, Canada.
The grizzly bear and the brown bear are not distinct species; rather, the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) is a specific subspecies of the brown bear (Ursus arctos).12
The term "brown bear" refers to the entire species, which is native to Europe, Asia, and northwestern North America. In contrast, the name "grizzly bear" is formally applied to the subspecies found in northwestern North America. Informally, however, the name "grizzly" is often used to describe any brown bear living in North America.21
Key distinctions include:
- Classification: All grizzly bears are brown bears, but not all brown bears are grizzlies.12
- Physical Characteristics: Grizzly bears are characterized by humped shoulders, an elevated forehead, and silver- or pale-tipped hairs that create a "grizzled" appearance. Other brown bear subspecies, such as the Kodiak bear, can be significantly larger than the typical grizzly.12
- Geography: Brown bears have a massive global distribution across three continents. Grizzly bears are restricted to North America, and their range does not overlap with other distinct brown bear subspecies like the Kodiak bear.21