brown bear vs. grizzly bear

brown bear vs. grizzly bear: What’s the difference?

The name brown bear refers to a species (Ursus arctos) of bears that were formerly considered three different species and are often still referred to as such: the grizzly bear (Ursus horribilis); the Kodiak bear (Ursus middendorffi); and European and Asian brown bears (Ursus arctos). The grizzly bear is found in Alaska, western Canada, and the U.S. Rocky Mountains and has gray-tipped brown fur (grizzly means “grayish” or “gray-haired”).

brown bear

noun

any of several medium-sized to large bears of the species Ursus arctos, inhabiting North America and Eurasia in dwindling populations, characterized by an upturned muzzle and a hump high on the back and ranging from light tan to near black; formerly considered three distinct species and often still referred to as such: U. horribilis, the grizzly bear; U. middendorffi, the Kodiac bear; and U. arctos, comprising European and Asian brown bears.

grizzly bear

noun

a large North American brown bear, Ursus (arctos ) horribilis, with coarse, gray-tipped brown fur, once widespread in the western part of the continent as far south as northern Mexico but now restricted to some regions of Alaska, western Canada, and the U.S. Rocky Mountains: a threatened species except in Alaska.