Spectacled bears are found only in South America. They can reach 340 pounds (153 kilograms). They get their name from the dark fur that encircles their eyes like spectacles, or glasses. They live along the western slopes of the Andes mountains, where they are found from the edge of the coastal deserts up to the snowline. Spectacled bears can occupy a wide variety of habitats, but they are most commonly found in dense forests. Spectacled bears feed on plants, small mammals, and even birds, but their preferred foods are fruits and plants of the bromeliad family. Spectacled bears spend much of their time in the treetops, where they often build nest platforms from branches they break off.
