In a den dug into a snowdrift, he snuggles against his mother and nurses. Although he weighs less than two pounds now, by the time he is an adult he will weigh about 1,500 pounds and be almost 10 feet long. His fur will become thick and long, covering four inches of fat that will insulate his body against the bitter Arctic cold. Though that fur is colorless, it will reflect the stark white of his environment. The skin beneath his fur is black, but his broad nose and the thick pads of his feet are the only places it can be seen. Small ears hold heat in his body but still provide an excellent sense of hearing. His neck will lengthen and his head will be relatively narrow, enabling him to effectively hunt the ring-necked seals in their dens under the ice. His massive paws will span 12 inches, each outfitted with serrated claws meant for climbing over ice and tearing into prey. Powerful hind legs make him taller at the rear than at the shoulder, and enable him to drag carcasses for long distances.