Bornean sun bear, Helarctos malayanus euryspilus Horsfield, 1825 – of Sabah / Borneo at Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre

Helarctos malayanus euryspilus is the Bornean subspecies of the sun bear confined to the forests of Borneo and belonging to a species that is the smallest living bear and a skilled climber that uses very long claws and an exceptionally long protrusible tongue to take insects honey and fruit. The generic name Helarctos joins the Greek words for sun and bear and the subspecific epithet euryspilus comes from Greek eurys meaning broad or wide and spilos meaning spot which bear specialists interpret as wide birthmark in reference to the pale chest crescent that varies among individuals. Relative to the mainland nominate form Bornean animals tend to have smaller bodies and skulls with relatively large teeth while the chest mark shows no diagnostic difference between subspecies. Across its range the species is assessed as Vulnerable with an estimated decline of about one third over three decades due to deforestation illegal hunting and trade pressures that also affect Borneo.