Polar bears are not actually white - their skin is in fact black

You might find this very hard to believe - but polar bears are not actually white.

The majestic Arctic beasts in fact have black skin.

The hulking mammals' fur is transparent and hollow, allowing them to become masters of disguise in their Polar wasteland habitat.

Then as the sun falls and their surroundings take on an orange tint they do, too.

The bears have also been known to look green at times, although this is a completely different mechanism at work.

This is caused by algae which works its way into the creatures' coats and interferes with the way their fur reflects light.