---
title: "Sun Bear"
description: "Helarctos malayanus — Mammals. The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is a bear species in the family Ursidae found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/animal/sun-bear
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Sun Bear

> Helarctos malayanus — Mammals. The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is a bear species in the family Ursidae found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia.

- Scientific name: *Helarctos malayanus*
- Category: `mammals` (Mammals)
- Habitats: `forest` (Forest), `jungle` (Jungle)
- iNaturalist observations: 1091
- Wikidata: [Q144923](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q144923)
- iNaturalist taxon: [41655](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/41655)

## Names

- en: Sun Bear
- de: Malaienbär
- es: Oso de Sol
- fr: Ours Malais
- nl: Maleise beer
- pt: Urso-malaio
- pl: Biruang malajski

## Countries with the most observations

TH (327), ID (79), MY (65)

## Summary

The sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) is a bear species in the family Ursidae found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. It is the only species in the genus Helarctos and the smallest bear species, standing nearly 70 cm (28 in) at the shoulder and weighing 25–65 kg (55–143 lb). It is stockily built, with large paws, strongly curved claws, small, rounded ears and a short snout. The fur is generally short and jet black, but can vary from grey to red. The sun bear gets its name from its characteristic orange to cream-coloured chest patch.
The sun bear's unique morphology with inward-turned front feet, flattened chest…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_bear

## Photo

![Sun Bear](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/sun-bear/medium.jpg)

Photo: Justin Philbois · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/239717489

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/sun-bear?lang=en` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).