Last Updated on April 10, 2023 by Amin Tawar
Sun Bear Height & Length
Among all the bear species, the sun bear would be the smallest. It is found in Southeast Asian forests and also goes by the names of bruang, honey bear, and Malayan sun bear.
Large paws, sharply curled claws, tiny, rounded ears, and a short nose are all features of this bear’s stocky build.
On average their head-and-body length is between 48 to 60 inches (120 to 150 centimeters), whereas their shoulder height is about 28 inches (70 centimeters).
Moreover, sun bears are sexually dimorphic, meaning most male sun bears are larger than their female counterparts.
Specifically, the female sun bear’s body length is between 48 to 53 inches (122 to 134 centimeters) while the male sun bear ranges between 55 to 60 inches (138 to 152 centimeters).
| Size Length & Height | Inches | Feet |
| Male Length | 55 to 60 inches | 4.5-5 ft |
| Female Length | 48 to 53 inches | 4-4.4 ft |
| Sun Bear Height | 28 inches | 2.3 ft |
Sun Bear Weight
Being the smallest of all species, the sun bear is also the lightest bear in the world. It only weighs between 59 and 143 lb (27 to 65 kg).
Furthermore, these bears are arboreal, with their small stature, lightweight, and long, curved claws allowing them to climb from tree to tree.
As previously mentioned, there are variations in the sizes of male and female sun bears.
Male sun bears are heavier, ranging between 88 and 155 lb (40 to 70 kg), while female sun bears are lighter, weighing 55 and 110 lb (25 to 50 kg).1
| Weight | Pounds | Kilograms |
| Male | 88 and 155 lb | 40 to 70 kg |
| Female | 55 and 110 lb | 25 to 50 kg |
Sun Bear Size Compared to Human
Sun bears, like all other bear species, can be quite lethal. The Sun bears, despite their small stature, are strong wild creatures with strong claws and sharp canines.
They have been known to attack people in the jungle, and several of these encounters resulted in serious or even deadly injuries. Therefore, it is important to know how severe these attacks can be, and to determine this the best way is to compare the sizes.
So, as we know the body length of sun bears is between 48 to 60 inches (120 to 150 centimeters) and weighing approximately 59 and 143 lb (27 to 65 kg); whereas the average human height is 5.5-5.9 ft with a weight of about 110 to 154 lbs (50 – 70 kgs).
We can conclude that the sun bear is quite smaller than the average person. However, their strength with the weaponry of powerful claws and sharp teeth is something notable.
We may be equal to or even bigger than them but their strength and aggression are unmatched by humans. In fact, sun bears are capable of killing a human.
The cautious temperament of sun bears caused them to be often tamed and kept as pets in the past. Sun bears are timid and solitary creatures who seldom attack people unless provoked, disturbed, hurt, or with their cubs.
However, as a result of the devastation of their natural habitat, there have been increased encounters resulting in severe attacks in recent years.
Nevertheless, there are chances of survival from sun bear attacks with prompt medical attention and treatment.
Sun Bear Vs Sloth Bear Size Comparison
Although sloth bears and sun bears share some physical characteristics, such as the color of their hair and bright markings on their chests, these are quite distinct species as the sloth bear’s lankier look distinguishes it from the sun bear.
Moreover, in terms of size, the sloth bear is larger than the sun bear. The typical sloth bear weighs 120–300 pounds and is 3.5–6.2 feet tall while standing on its hind legs.
The sun bear, on the other hand, is renowned for being the smallest of all bears, weighing between 55-155 lbs and reaching its tallest between 4 and 5 ft.
With these facts, it is clear that sloth bears are larger than sun bears. The sloth bears are significantly stronger with long claws and sharp fangs making them much more powerful than the sun bear.
| Size | Sun bear | Sloth bears |
| Length | 4’-5’ ft | 5’6”- 6’ ft |
| Height | 2’- 2’3” ft | 2’6”- 3’ ft |
| Weight | 55-155 lb | 200 – 320 lb |
Sun Bear Vs Black Bear Size Comparison
The black bear is often known to be the largest bear in Asia. Their body length can be about 165 cm with a weight of up to 120 kg (265 lbs). Moreover, during the fall season, they will gain up to 180 kg (397 lbs) to be ready for a long hibernation.
In contrast, the sun bear as mentioned before is the smallest of all the bear species with a body length between 48 to 60 inches (120 to 150 centimeters) and weighing approximately 55-155 lbs.
Therefore, we can easily conclude that black bears are much larger than sun bears. Simultaneously, they are heavier, strong, and much more powerful than the sun bears.
| Size | Sun bear | Black bears |
| Length | 4’- 5’ ft | 3’10”- 6’6” ft |
| Height | 2’- 2’3” ft | 2’5”- 3’4” ft |
| Weight | 55 – 155 lb | 90 – 440 lb |
Sun Bear Vs Polar Bear Size Comparison
The polar bear is well known for being the largest bear species in the world. They can be massive, weighing up to 2000 lbs with a body length of more than 9 feet. However, generally, they weigh 400-1500 pounds, with a total length of 5 to 9 ft.
Comparing them to the average sun bear which is the smallest bear species, measuring between 59 and 143 pounds (27 to 65 kg) and having a body length between 48 and 60 inches (120 and 150 centimeters).
We can clearly observe that the polar bear is massively contrasting to the mid-sized sun bear. They are also much stronger and extraordinarily powerful than the sun bears given their giant stature and muscular body.
| Size | Sun bear | Polar bears |
| Length | 4’- 5’ ft | 7’10”-9’10” ft |
| Height | 2’- 2’3” ft | 4-5’3” ft |
| Weight | 55 – 155 lb | 330-1500 lb |
Sun Bear Vs Tiger Size Comparison
Based on their size, tigers outclass sun bears in terms of length and mass. The sun bears have a size of about 59 and 143 pounds (27 to 65 kg) and have a body length between 48 and 60 inches (120 and 150 centimeters).
Meanwhile, most male Siberian tigers measure between 5 feet, 3 inches, and 6 feet, 6 inches long, and weigh from 397 to 650 pounds.
While large specimens can reach up to 10 feet long and weigh nearly 900 pounds, that means that even the largest sun bears would be smaller than the smallest tigers.
Given this information, the tigers are much bigger and more powerful than the sun bear they possess an advantage of size as well as strength.
| Size | Sun bears | Tiger |
| Length | 4’- 5’ ft | 5’3”-6’5” ft |
| Height | 2’- 2’3” ft | 2.5-3.6 ft |
| Weight | 55 – 155 lb | 220-650 lb |
Conclusion
And that was everything you need to know about the size of the Sun bear. I hope this article was helpful and you got something valuable from it.
Thank You For Reading!
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