In parts of its range, the sun bear is called the dog bear, probably due to the combination of its small size, short fur, long tongue, and short-haired gray or orange muzzle. The animal's coat is glossy black and less than a half-inch long. The sun bear's tongue is long, likely an adaptation used to gather honey and insects from within tree cavities. Bare soles and long, curved claws help it climb trees. Sun bears grow four to five feet long, stand about two feet high at the shoulder, and weigh 60 to 145 pounds.
Males are a bit larger than females.
The sun bear's exact distribution is unknown, but it has been found in many parts of Southeast Asia, including northern Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, and on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. A few individuals may still linger in Bangladesh. Sun bears are likely extinct in southern China. This designation emphasizes how little scientists know about this bear's natural history, distribution, and decline. Sun bears inhabit lowland tropical rainforest.