How many types of bears are there?

There are eight recognized species of bears in the world:

1. American Black Bear (Ursus americanus)

2. Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus)

3. Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)

4. Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus)

5. Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus)

6. Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus)

7. Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca)

8. Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)

It's important to note that there are many subspecies within these species. For example, the brown bear has several subspecies, including the grizzly bear, Kodiak bear, and European brown bear.