What animals live in the Arctic? What do Arctic seals eat? A short mini message about the fauna of the Arctic.

Despite the very low temperatures, in the Arctic is quite diverse fauna. Many of the animals that live there are familiar to you, and some will seem quite exotic.

Wolverines

These predatory animals belong to the mustelidae family. They have long claws that they use to climb trees.
Polar bears. They are also called polar bears.
They mainly live in coastal areas because they primarily feed on seals.

Reindeer

Another name for reindeer is caribou.
This is the only species of deer that has both females and males have horns.

Hare - Arctic hare

Hares - Arctic hare

Their fur turns white in winter and gray in summer.
Sometimes they dig holes in the snow and huddle together to keep warm.

Arctic foxes

They have small faces and bodies, as well as short legs and long, thick fur. This helps them keep warm. Thanks to the thick fur on their paws, they can walk on snow and ice.

Arctic wolves

Carnivores that live alone or in groups of 6. They are smaller than other wolves and have long, thick fur. white, Very good eyesight, hearing and scent, which help them hunt.

Most of us will never visit the Arctic Circle, and the inhabitants of this northernmost region are quite happy with this state of affairs. We are not talking about Eskimos, but about animals that call the Arctic their home. Although the temperatures are below zero and gloomy northern forests may seem grim and merciless, many animals thrive in the frozen tundra of the Arctic Circle.

Some of these animals you've probably seen before, like the polar bear or polar owl, while others are more exotic, like the "unicorn of the sea" or the lynx. Let's learn more about 13 representatives of the animal kingdom of the ice-covered Arctic Circle.

Wolverine

What comes to mind when you think of wolverine? A ferocious animal similar to a wolf? In fact, these creatures are part of the mustelidae family and are more like river otters. Unlike the movie character of the same name, Wolverine does not have retractable metal claws. However, their claws are semi-extendable, but are most often used for digging and climbing.

Lynx

The lynx is a little-studied feline that is usually small in size. They have long legs and wide paws, which makes it easier to walk in deep snow. Most often they hunt small white hares. In the 1970s, the lynx was considered an extinct species, but later successfully reappeared. Today it is listed as a critically endangered species.

little swan

The little swan migrates to Alaska every spring to build a nest and lay eggs. In the fall, this species moves to the northeastern United States along the Atlantic coast.

White hare

These amazing creatures can be found in northern regions Alaska, Canada and Greenland. IN winter months The fur of the mountain hare turns white, which allows it to camouflage against the snow, but in summer it is usually gray-brown.

The mountain hare is not considered a critically endangered species.

Red fox

The red fox is by no means unique to the Arctic Circle. In fact, it can be found on every continent in the world except Antarctica. Unfortunately, it is considered dangerous in many ecosystems. To Australia, for example, red fox was brought by humans in 1855 for the purpose of recreational hunting and quickly took root in wildlife. About 150 years later, this species became a threat to large quantity populations of birds and mammals native to Australia.

Belukha

This famous white whale can be found in the icy waters of Alaska, Canada, Greenland and Russia, but populations of this animal in all these countries are considered endangered.

There are only five populations of this species in Alaska. Cook Inlet's beluga whale population, one of the few resident ones, was recently listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Polar bear

The polar bear is also known as polar bear. These majestic animals are considered an endangered species and are protected by law in many countries. Their diet includes primarily seals, and therefore they live mainly in coastal areas.

Caribou

Woodland caribou - the domesticated animal is called "reindeer" - can be found in Southern Alaska, Canada, Russia and Greenland. This is the only species of deer in which both males and females have antlers. Caribou are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Narwhal

Called the “unicorn of the sea” because of the long (sometimes up to 3 meters!) fang protruding from its jaw, this unique Arctic animal can be found in the waters of Greenland and Canada. The hunting and feeding system of narwhals still remains a mystery to scientists, although it is reliably known that the canine is not used for hunting. Their diet consists mainly of squid.

polar owl

Polar owls are the only birds that live all year round in the Arctic and do not migrate. When a snowy owl is fully mature, its feathers are pure white, but owls have gray plumage. The famous Harry Potter animal named Hedwig is a polar owl.

Arctic fox

The Arctic fox can be found in most Arctic ecosystems in the Northern Hemisphere, even in Iceland, where it is the only native land mammals. He appeared in Iceland during the last Ice Age, crossing onto a volcanic island over frozen water. This fox-like species is considered endangered in Scandinavia, where it has been strictly protected for decades.

Great auk

The great auk was a species of penguin and was the first flightless bird of this family. She lived in North Atlantic waters, particularly Canada, and could be found as far away as New England. Hunting of the great auk led to its extinction in the 1800s.

Modern penguins live only in the Southern Hemisphere.

Atlantic deadlock

This memorable creature is related to the extinct great auk described above, but it is alive and well and can be found in Northern Europe, Arctic Circle, parts of Maine, USA, and Newfoundland. This sea ​​bird spends most of its time in the water, diving for fish and squid. On land it can be found in spring and summer during the breeding season.

30.11.2016

The Arctic is the area around North Pole. There are polar days and nights, winters are very cold, and summer temperatures do not rise above zero degrees. But for many creatures such extreme conditions are only a plus. What animals live in the Arctic. We offer you descriptions and photographs of the most interesting animals of the Arctic.

Carnivorous mammals of the Arctic

Most Arctic predators are ferocious hunters with voracious appetites that can attack livestock and even humans. The number of individuals in the population of Arctic predators depends primarily on the number of lemmings, which are the main “delicacy” for arctic foxes, wolverines, polar wolves, in some cases and reindeer.

1. Polar bear

The largest representative of the Bear family, listed in the Red Book of the World back in 1953, is not found anywhere except the Arctic. To live, he needs clearings of drifting ice, ice holes or the edge of ice fields, and seals - his favorite food.

The closest recorded habitat of polar bears to the pole has a latitude of 88°15". Some male polar bears reach three meters in height and a ton of weight. But with such impressive size and apparent clumsiness, polar bears are extremely active and hardy animals.

Polar bears - excellent swimmers, covering up to 80 km along icy waters, the membrane on the paw pads helps them with this. Polar bears easily travel about 40 km per day, coping with difficult ice ridges and deep snow. Polar bear fur retains heat so well that even aerial infrared imaging cannot detect it.

2. Wolverine

A large representative of the Mustelidae family, a ferocious predator and an extremely voracious animal. Due to the ability of this animal to attack livestock and even people, it is also called the Demon of the North. The weight of wolverines varies from 9 to 30 kg, and appearance they look more like badgers or bears.

Unlike other representatives of the Mustelidae family, the wolverine migrates within its individual territory, constantly searching for food. The animal easily climbs trees thanks to its sharp claws and powerful paws. It makes sounds similar to the yelps of dogs and has excellent hearing, vision and sense of smell.

The wolverine is an omnivore; it can both eat leftover food from other predators and hunt on its own even quite large animals; it also eats plants - berries, nuts. This is such a brave and vicious animal that even the owner of the Arctic, the Polar Bear, tries to avoid it when meeting it.

3. Arctic wolf

This subspecies of wolf lives throughout the tundra and Arctic. It usually feeds on small animals - arctic hares and lemmings, but musk ox and reindeer are also part of its diet. IN harsh conditions polar nights and long cold periods, he has adapted to feeding on any food.

Polar wolves can only survive in a pack. In the Arctic deserts, where there is no room for an ambush, they have to resort to another - social hunting tactics, often patiently waiting for the victims to make a mistake and weaken their defenses.

4. Arctic fox, or polar fox

The polar or arctic fox is a predatory animal, the only representative of the Arctic fox genus. Unlike the common fox, it has a shortened muzzle, small rounded ears, paws covered with coarse hair and a squat body. Depending on the season, the fur of the Arctic fox can be white, blue, brown, dark gray, light coffee or sand. Based on this characteristic, 10 subspecies of animals are distinguished that live in different territories.

Not more than half a kilometer from the water, the arctic fox digs complex burrows with numerous entrances. But in winter period he often has to make do with a den in the snow. He eats everything; his diet includes both plants and animals. But the basis of its diet are birds and lemmings.

Ungulate mammals of the Arctic

Arctic plant populations support existence here large groups large herbivorous ungulates. Their numbers are subject to strong changes due to long cold periods. An adaptation to this is their migration to forest areas located to the south.

1. Reindeer

Animals evolve the faster the more complex the conditions of their existence. Reindeer are so different from other representatives of the Olenev family that it immediately becomes clear that they are okay with difficulties. Caribou (as they are called in North America) are not only champions of survival, but also the youngest members of the family. They appeared only about two million years ago.

The flat and wide hooves of reindeer, pointed at the edges, turn the animals into all-terrain vehicles. They travel through snow, swamps and ice with ease. These same hooves, used instead of flippers, help deer to swim perfectly and overcome not only large rivers such as the Yenisei, but also sea straits. Wool has them special structure, its hairs expand towards the end and create a heat-insulating air layer. Even upper lip and their nose are covered with delicate soft hair.

Reindeer eat a variety of food - in summer it is succulent plants, in winter - lichens and shrubs. To compensate for the lack of microelements, they gnaw on their own discarded antlers and eat algae and shells washed ashore. An important reason Their survival is a herd lifestyle.

2. Muskox

A rare powerful hoofed animal, the same age as the mammoth, with a thick undercoat that is several times warmer than that of a lamb. Their long, thick hair hangs from above almost to the ground and covers the animal, leaving only the hooves, horns, nose and lips outside. Musk oxen survive the winter cold without migrating; they easily tolerate severe frosts, but die in the presence of high snow cover, especially with an ice crust on top.

Pinniped mammals of the Arctic

Their nostrils are large enough to allow them to inhale enough air to stay underwater for up to 10 minutes. Their forelimbs are transformed into flippers, and their food is marine life - mollusks, krill, fish, crustaceans. Let's introduce the most common pinnipeds of the Arctic.

1. Walrus

The only modern representative of the Walrus family is easily distinguishable thanks to its massive tusks. In terms of size, it ranks second among pinnipeds after the elephant seal, but the ranges of these animals do not overlap. Walruses live in herds and bravely protect each other from enemies.

2. Seal

They have a wider distribution and live along the shores of the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans. They are very good swimmers, although they cannot be found far from the shore. Seals don't freeze in cold water thanks to a thick layer of subcutaneous fat and waterproof fur.

3. Navy SEAL

Fur seals, together with sea lions, belong to the family of eared seals. When moving, seals rely on all their limbs, and their eyes have a dark outline. In summer, the Northern fur seal lives in the north Pacific Ocean, and with the arrival of autumn it migrates south.

4. Northern elephant seal

It should be noted here that elephant seals are divided into northern (living in the Arctic) and southern (living in the Antarctic). Elephant seals got their name because of the impressive size and trunk-like nose of old males. They live on the Arctic coast North America and even further south. Adult males reach a mass of 3.5 tons.

Marine mammals of the Arctic

No other mammal has the ability to survive the harsh conditions of the Arctic with cetaceans such as the beluga whale, narwhal and bowhead whale. They do not have the dorsal fin present in other cetaceans. About 10 species live in the Arctic marine mammals- whales (fin whales, blue whales, humpbacks and sperm whales) and dolphins (killer whales). Let's talk about the most popular of them.

1. Narwhal

They are distinguished by the presence of only two upper teeth, of which the left one in males develops into a tusk up to 3 meters long and weighing up to 10 kg. With this tusk, males break the ice, making holes; it also serves to attract females and many other purposes.

2. Belukha

This is a species of toothed whale from the Narwhal family. Beluga whales also need atmospheric oxygen and risk suffocation if exposed to solid ice for a long time. They feed on fish and make a variety of sounds.

3. Bowhead whale

This is the only representative of baleen whales that lives within cold waters all its life. Northern Hemisphere. In the spring they migrate north, and in the fall they sail a little south, avoiding the ice. They feed on plankton.

4. Orca (killer whale)

The killer whale is the largest predatory dolphin. Its coloring is contrasting - black and white with distinctive white spots above the eyes. Another original feature of killer whales is their tall sickle-shaped dorsal. Different populations of these predators specialize in certain food. Some killer whales prefer herring and migrate after their schools, others hunt pinnipeds. They have no rivals and are the top of the food chain.

Rodents of the Arctic

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of lemmings for animal existence Arctic deserts. Almost all of the above-mentioned land animals feed on them. And snowy owls don't even nest if the lemming population is not in the best condition.

Animals of the Arctic listed in the Red Book

Currently, some Arctic animals are endangered. Natural and human-induced changes climatic conditions The Arctic poses a significant threat to wildlife. The list of Arctic animals included in the Red Book includes the following representatives of the Arctic zone.

• Polar bear.
• Bowhead whale.
• Narwhal.
• Reindeer.
• Atlantic and Laptev walruses.

TO rare species animals also include the musk ox. His ancestors lived on Earth back in the days of mammoths.

In June 2009, by order of the Russian government, it was created national park“Russian Arctic”, the main task of which is to preserve and study representatives of the flora and fauna of the Arctic, which are on the verge of complete extinction.

Animals of the Arctic do not live at the North Pole itself; it is impossible to live there. They are more common in the southern regions of the Northern Arctic Ocean, on the coasts of continents and on islands.

Distant relatives of seals are both terrestrial predators and cetaceans, which have become completely aquatic animals. There are only 20 species of seals in nature.

Seals with almost all their appearance show that they are aquatic animals. However, they did not completely abandon land, like cetaceans. Representatives of all species are quite large animals, ranging from seals (up to 50 kg) and ending with elephant seals (up to 2.5 tons).

But the weight of representatives of real seals is not constant and varies depending on the season. The more fat you ate, the more impressive your weight.

The body of seals has a valval and at the same time elongated shape with streamlined contours. With such a “device” of the body it is easier to maneuver in the water. The neck is short and very strong. The head is slightly flattened, and the limbs have become flippers during the process of evolution.

When moving on land, seals rest on their front flippers, while their hind flippers drag freely along the ground. In water the situation changes radically. The front flippers act as a depth rudder, but they are practically not used for swimming. Seals make all movements necessary for rowing in water either with their entire body or with their back flippers. This method of movement is very different from the swimming style of eared seals, which actively use all limbs when moving both in water and on land.

Seals do not have ears, but they have good hearing. But when big eyes their vision needs better. But seals have the best sense of smell. They can detect odors from up to 1 kilometer away!

The whiskers (whiskers) of seals perform a tactile function. This organ helps to navigate through the water and avoid obstacles. Some species of seals have echolocating abilities. True, they are very far from dolphins.

The "smiling" face of a leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)

It is impossible to see the genitals of seals. They are securely hidden in special folds. And the “men” of seals are no different from the “weaker sex” in appearance. Only hooded seals differ in gender: men have peculiar bells and whistles in the form of “decorations” on their faces.

The body of seals is covered with short but unusually thick hair. It doesn’t interfere with easy movement in the water, but it saves you from the cold quite well. And it helps with this subcutaneous fat. The fur color of seals is dark, from gray to brown. There are individuals with a speckled pattern or contrasting spots.

Seals live almost all over the world. But they especially love the cold waters of the Arctic and Antarctic. The monk seal lives in the warm Mediterranean. All types of seals definitely settle in coastal zone seas and oceans.

I would like to say a few words about isolated species seals - Baikal and Caspian seals. How these animals got into isolation is a question that has not yet been resolved by scientists. Seals do not make large migrations like fur seals. However, these two species develop separately: on Lake Baikal and in the Caspian Sea.

Seals form rookeries. However, they are not so susceptible to the herd instinct. Therefore, many seals rest alone, but monitor their relatives from a distance. They are quite friendly, but they can give you some trouble. Especially males during mating season.

Seals are very clumsy on land. If they are in danger, they rush to the water with great difficulty. And, as soon as they get into the water element...they turn into masters of underwater aerobatics.

They can dive very deep, up to 500 meters. At the same time, they do not require another portion of air for more than 10 minutes.

Seals feed on fish and other small marine life. A leopard seal is not averse to tasting something freshly caught.

They are quite inquisitive, so they study new and unknown subjects with interest. Therefore, debris that enters the waters of the world's oceans poses a great danger to seals.

The breeding season for all seals is once a year. Males begin to start fights, which often end in serious injuries. Crested seals and elephant seals are the most avid fighters during the mating period.

Pregnancy in seals lasts almost a year. One, but already well-formed, cub is born.

The babies are called “squirrels” because of their snow-white coat. It camouflages the cub well in the snow and provides excellent protection from the cold. The squirrels cannot follow their mother into the water at first. They hide among the snow crusts and grow quickly. Seal milk is very fatty and nutritious.

A mother seal cannot provide 100% protection to her pup on land. If she senses danger, she simply hides in the water with the baby... if he is already old enough. If the cub is still small, then she hides alone, leaving the baby to the mercy of fate. Squirrels often die from the paws of polar bears and humans. Their fur is so pleasing and desirable to fashionistas that every year tens of thousands of newborn pups die for the sake of human passion for their fur. Babies are beaten to death with sticks in front of their distraught mother... This is terrible. Today, hundreds of volunteers are trying to save baby squirrels by “spoiling” their fur with safe dyes. So they are trying to save the population of these animals.

ARCTIC ICE

It seems incredible that where the temperature does not rise above - 10 o C, Arctic animals can live and reproduce. And yet, even the coldest and most inhospitable parts of the Earth are inhabited. The fact is that some animals have adapted in a special way to retain their own body heat. For example, the body of penguins under their plumage is thickly covered with warm down, and the skin of polar bears is very thick and waterproof. In addition, all polar animals have a dense layer of fat under their skin.

Life for animals in Antarctica is possible only on the coast. The interior of the continent is uninhabited.

Polar bear.

At the end of autumn, a female polar bear digs a den in the snow. In December - January, as a rule, two bear cubs are born, but only in the spring will they leave the den for the first time.

A polar bear cub is born very small, blind, deaf and completely defenseless. Therefore, he lives with his mother for two years. The skin of this bear is very dense, waterproof and absolutely white, thanks to which it easily finds shelter among the whiteness of the surrounding ice. He swims remarkably well - this is facilitated by the membrane that connects the pads of his paws. The polar bear is the most large predator in the world.

A polar bear usually weighs between 150 and 500 kilograms. The mass of some representatives exceeds 700 kilograms.

Pinnipeds.

On cold ground and endless ice floes drifting in the Arctic, live various types pinnipeds; these include fur seals, seals and walruses. By origin, these are terrestrial animals that have mastered marine environment: During evolution, their body has adapted to life in water. Unlike cetaceans, pinnipeds were only partially modified by this adaptation. So the front paws fur seals evolved into flippers, which they can use on land to elevate their upper body; seals learned to move on the ground by crawling on their bellies.

Pinnipeds have huge nostrils, and short time they can inhale the amount of air needed to stay underwater for about 10 minutes.

Pinnipeds feed not only on fish, but also on crustaceans, mollusks and krill, which consists of tiny shrimp.

Navy SEAL similar to sea ​​lion, but it has a thicker skin and a shorter and sharper snout. The male is much larger than the female and can weigh four times as much.

Elephant seal. The largest species of pinnipeds in the world: the weight of a male can reach 3,500 kilograms. It is easily distinguished from the female by the swelling on its head, similar to a short trunk, from which it gets its name.

Sea leopard. With its spotted skin, this seal resembles the predator of the cat family, from which it borrowed its name. The leopard seal is very aggressive and can sometimes even eat a fellow seal if it is smaller.

Walrus.

This long-tusked mammal lives in the Arctic seas, making short seasonal migrations. A male walrus is huge: it can weigh 1,500 kilograms, while a female's weight rarely reaches 1,000 kilograms. The walrus has a massive, wrinkled body covered with sparse bristles.

The strong voice of the walrus resembles both the roar of a lion and the lowing of a bull; while sleeping, on ice or in water, he snores loudly. He can relax for hours, lounging in the sun. The walrus is irritable and obstinate, but he will not be slow to come to the aid of his brother who is being attacked by hunters.

Long tusks are indispensable in the life of a walrus: he uses them to defend himself from enemies and to drill into the seabed; With the help of tusks, the walrus climbs onto the shore and moves along the ice floe or land. The length of the fangs of larger representatives reaches one meter!

Little walruses are nursed by their mother for two years, and for the next two years they remain under her protection.

Under the skin of the walrus there is a thick layer of fat, which serves as both protection from the cold and a reserve reserve in case of hunger.

These are birds, but their wings are not suitable for flight: they are too short. With the help of wings, penguins swim, like fish with the help of fins. Penguins are found only in southern hemisphere. They live in large colonies on land, but some species can make long migrations in the open sea.

As a rule, penguins lay only one egg. Baby penguins find refuge from the cold in the lower folds of their parent's abdomen. The plumage of penguin chicks is usually dark brown; over time, they acquire the characteristic black and white coloration of adults.

Emperor penguin colonies sometimes number 300 thousand individuals.