Named for its soft, dense pelage of black-greyish, bear-like fur, the Sulawesi bear cuscus (Ailurops ursinus) is a peculiar, yet distinctive marsupial. Adapted for a life high in the canopy, the Sulawesi bear cuscus has curved and sharply pointed claws and a long prehensile tail. The head is broad and flattened, with small, inconspicuous ears and a short snout. In common with many other marsupials, the female Sulawesi bear cuscus has a well-developed forward facing pouch on its belly, in which the poorly developed young suckle.

The Sulawesi bear cuscus was formerly considered conspecific with the Talaud bear cuscus (Ailurops melanotis), but marked differences in pelage and size suggest that they are indeed separate species. Currently, four subspecies of the bear cuscus are recognized, each occurring on separate islands.