What Physical Features makes a Bear Polar ?

Of the estimated 21,000 to 28,000 polarbears (up from about 10,000 in 1968) about half are male, this would of course mean that the other half are female (unless there are some really strange polarbears about, which unfortunately there are).

The male (boar) is substantially (2 to 3 times) larger than the female (sow). He weighs in at anywhere between 350kg to 650kg. That's about as heavy as between 350 and 650 1 kilogram steaks. :-)
He will also be between 2.5 to 3 meters in length. Twice the height of an adult human !

The female (sow) weighs about 150kg to 250kg. Quite a bit smaller than a male. When pregnant she will however make it up to about 500kg in weight.

The polar bear is in many languages called the "White Bear". This is probably due to the fact that your average polar bear is a magnificant pure white colour. Although depending on lighting and season this can vary from a creamy yellow to what is even a light brown colour.

The Fur of the Polar Bear is 2.5cm to 5cm thick and consists of a dense wolly insuating layer of underhair covered by thin layer of stiff shiny clear guard hairs. These hairs reflect the light which gives the bear its white colour, although sun oxididation and staining can lead to brown hues.
The Fur is Oily and Water Repellant meaning that it is easy for the bear to shake free water & ice and the hair doesn't mat.

The Polarbear is completely covered in fur, all except for its black nose & black footpads. The polarbears skin is actually black !.
In May or June they completely molt - this last for up to several weeks.

The head of the Polar Bear is small compared to its body. It has a long muzzle and a slightly arched snout with a broad black nose.

Within the head are 42 teeth. These teeth are made up of: incisors for shearing off blubber & flesh pieces canine teeth for biting prey and tearing tough hides jagged premolars and molars for tearing & chewing

Ain't no toothpaste in the arctic.

Polarbears don't chew much they rather prefer to swallow big chunks.
The teeth can be used to estimate a bears age, researchers extract a small tooth and count the yearly layers of of cementum.

The bears eyes are dark brown, forward looking and close together.
It has small rounded ears which lay flat when underwater.

The neck is long and slender. Due to the head of the polarbear being so small however the neck on the male is often thicker than the head, meaning that tracking collars can usually only be fitted to females.

The Polarbears legs are large and stocky. The Hind limbs are longer than the Fore limbs. The front feet are round in shape and the hind are elongated. Each paw has 5 toes with thick curved nonretractable claws. These claws are used for grasping prey and for traction on the ice. The soles of the feet have thick black pads, long hairs grows between the pads which help for traction on the slippery ice. The Polarbears small tail is 7 to 12cm long.

It is estimated that the hearing of the polarbear is probably of a similar sensitivity to a human's hearing.
Sight is also similar to a human with an additional protective membrane that may help protect the eyes from UV radiation.
A polar bear's sense of smell is acute, and it is the most important sense for detecting prey on land. A polar bear can smell a seal more than 32 km (20 mi.) away (Domico, 1988).