Potos flavus (Schreber 1774) is the extant kinkajou a tropical American relative of the North American raccoon. This fruit-eater has flat molars and a short, primate like muzzle. The tail is prehensile.
Ursus americanus (Palla 1780; up to 35cm skull length) is the extant American black bear restricted to temperate climates. It has a shorter skull than U maritimus and the tooth cusps are flatter, traits of an omnivore closer to Potos (above).
Ursus maritimus (Phipps 1774; up to 3m in length) is the extant polar bear restricted to cold climates. Bear-like taxa evolved several times. Here the polar bear most closely resembles the small, tropical, arboreal kinkajou, Potos.
