American black bear

If you watched an American black bear lumbering through the forest, you might not notice anything unusual about how it moves. This large bear carries its massive weight with a slow, steady stride on all four paws. Walking on four feet isn't unusual for a mammal. But most living mammal species walk on their toes. Bears, like humans, walk on flat feet.

Image credits: main image, courtesy of R.E.Poplin.

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