Final answer:
Polar bears have black skin, but their white fur helps them blend in with their snowy surroundings and act as camouflage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) have black skin underneath their fur, but their fur appears white or creamy-yellow. The misconception that polar bears have white fur is due to the scattering of sunlight by the translucent hairs, which gives the fur a white appearance. The individual hairs, or guard hairs, are actually pigment-free and hollow, and they scatter and reflect light, contributing to the polar bear's distinctive white look.
Polar bears have black skin. Despite their white fur, their skin is actually black to help them absorb and retain heat from the sun. The white fur acts as camouflage against their snowy surroundings, helping them blend in while hunting.