Fauna (animals)
1. Arctic Fox-omnivore (Alopex lagopus)
(http://www.tundraanimals.net/tundraanimals/arcticfox.html) (http://www.defenders.org/arctic-fox/basic-facts) |
Winter coatSummer coat |
2. Polar bear-carnivore (Ursus maritimus)
- largest land carnivore
- main food source is seals, which the leftovers are eaten by other carnivores, making polar bears very important to their ecosystem
- live on the edges of ice
- travel thousands of miles per year for food
- spend most of their time solitarily
- strong swimmers
- do not hibernate
- weigh only a pound at birth
- pregnant polar bears find a den in October or November
- come out of den with their babies in March or April
- cubs stay for about 2 years
- females can have around 5 litters in a lifetime
- mating season is March to May
- live 20-25 years
- males are 8-9 feet, and females 6-7
- males weigh 550-1320 lbs, and females 200-700
- about 20,000-25,000 polar bears estimated in the world
- white fur to blend in, black skin to absorb heat
- very thick fur with layer of blubber under fur for insulation
3. Caribou-herbivore (Rangifer tarandus)
http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/html/caribou_reindeer.html
- feed on grasses and and plants during the summer, and mushrooms and lichen in the winter
- 12 pounds of food per day
- travel 600 miles during migration
- large hooves are useful as tools, the inside is hollowed out for digging, with sharp edges for traction on ice or rocks
- both male and female have antlers
- vital to northern people
- baby caribou can run within 90 minutes of being born, so that they can keep with with the migration
- hollowed and sharp hooves for very solid and frozen land
http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/html/caribou_reindeer.html
4. Arctic Hare-herbivore (Lepus arcticus)
Adaptations:
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/arctic-hare/
- they don't hibernate
- burrow underground and huddle together for warmth
- run up to 40 mph
- fur changes color for seasons
- sometimes solo, sometimes in groups from dozens to thousands
- pair off and make mating territory
- males can have more than one female partner
- litters are born in spring or early summer
- they eat woody plants, moss, lichens in winter and buds, berries, leaves, roots, and bark in other seasons
- popularly hunted by Native Americans for meat and fur
- predators: arctic fox, snowy owl, and lynx
Adaptations:
- thick, white fur, and shortened ears
- low surface area to volume ratio
- fur is blue/gray in spring
http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/arctic-hare/
5. Snowy Owls-carnivore (Nyctea scandiaca)
Adaptations:
http://ajmarcus.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/snowy-owl-flying-across-a-field-in-falling-snow.jpg
- clutch sizes range from 3-11 eggs
- when not enough food, owls don't breed
- very protective and territorial
- males are whiter as they get older
- females and chicks have spots on their wings
- keen eyesight and hearing--good hunters
- sharp talons
- their favorite meal is a lemming--adult males eat about 1,600 lemmings per year
- also in their diet are birds, rabbits, rodents, and fish
- can remain in tundra year round, but sometimes migrate to Canada, northern United States, Europe, and Asia
- average life span is 9 1/2 years
- body is 20-28in, and wingspan is 4.2-4.8ft
- weigh between 3.5-6.5lbs
- diurnal, unlike most other owls
Adaptations:
- white plumage to help blend in with environment
http://ajmarcus.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/snowy-owl-flying-across-a-field-in-falling-snow.jpg
6. Arctic Wolf-carnivore (Canis lupus)
Adaptations:
http://ih3.redbubble.net/image.9466221.1222/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg
- on average, naturally live 7 years
- live alone or packs of 6
- feed on oxen, caribou, arctic fox, lemmings, seals, and arctic hares
- prey of polar bear, other wolves, and humans
- commonly live on northern borders of North America and Greenland
Adaptations:
- shorter legs for less exposure to cold air
- thick, white coat for environment
http://ih3.redbubble.net/image.9466221.1222/flat,550x550,075,f.jpg