h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Thank you for this article on a creature that doesn't normally live in your hemisphere, Willem.

Over the years, I've picked up odds and ends about bear metabolism.

I won't include links to outside sites unless you are okay with that, Willem. I've heard that polar bear liver has toxic amounts of vitamin A.

Also, more than 4,000 other mammals manufacture their own vitamin C (unlike humans). I assume that the carnivorous ones like dogs and cats and polar bears would have this ability.

And hibernating animals do not urinate or defecate. Urine is changed back into amino acids.

It's an amazing world when you venture beyond the human part of it.

I'm not surprised that polar bears haven't been found in Antarctica. What has surprised me, though, is that an Antarctic lifeform (penguins) has also been found in the Northern Hemisphere, though just barely (Galapagos islands). You've explained about penguins in the past (South America was once connected to Antarctica).

I love your work. Thank you.

Hello! I'm very glad you appreciate my work. Yes those are quite amazing things about their metabolism!

It's not just polar bears that have toxic livers. I think you can get seriously sick as well if you eat lots of dog livers, which is what some arctic and antarctic explorers who found themselves in dire straits were forced to do ... indeed some of them died of the Vitamin A poisoning.

The Galapagos penguins do cross the equator but they benefit from an unusually cold ocean current that allows them to have the typical cool penguin waters while actually living in equatorial climes. They certainly originally came that way from more traditional penguin-grounds in the south. They're close relatives of the Humboldt and Magellanic Penguins of South America and of our own African (or jackass) penguins.

Oh - and by all means include links.

Thank you for a lovely article, Willem.

I'm really happy you like it minorvogonpoet!

Just don't get too close to a polar bear. Not that many people woujld have the opportunity.