Sun bears get their name from the bright pale orange or yellow patch on their chest. The patch is shaped a bit like a rising sun or a crescent moon, and every bear's mark is slightly different. Their fur is short, sleek and black - shorter than other bears - because they live in hot, humid jungles.
Their tongue is one of the longest of any animal - about 25 centimetres, almost as long as a school ruler. They use it to scoop up honey, ants, termites and beetle grubs from inside tree trunks. Their nickname in some places is 'honey bear', because they love honey just as much as the bear in your storybooks.
Sun bears are amazing climbers. Their claws are long and curved like little hooks, perfect for gripping bark. Some of them sleep in nests of leaves high up in the trees, just like orangutans. Down on the ground, they can stand up on their back legs and look surprisingly human - which has given them another nickname: 'dog bear'.
Sun bears are quite shy. Most people who live near them never see one, even though they leave clear claw marks on trees as they climb up looking for food. In Indonesia, conservation groups run special centres where rescued young bears are taught how to climb, find food and live wild again.