Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which bear species belong to the genus Ursus?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Jasper National Park: grizzly bear — bear Grizzly bear in Jasper National Park, western Alberta, Canada.

The genus Ursus includes four extant species of bears found across North America, Asia, and Europe. These species are:1

American black bear (Ursus americanus)2
Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus)2
Brown bear (Ursus arctos), which includes subspecies such as the grizzly bear and the Kodiak bear2
Polar bear (Ursus maritimus)2

While some historical or alternative taxonomic authorities have occasionally suggested broader or different groupings for the genus Ursus, these four species are the ones currently recognized within this classification.13