Birds of prey of the Arctic. Russian Arctic National Park

The conditions of the Arctic are extremely harsh, but most of the animals that live in this region have adapted and thrive either in the tundra or in the icy waters that surround the North Pole.

Many species have evolved characteristics over time that allow them to survive in cold, barren habitats. These features include:

• thicker fur;
• fur that changes color depending on the season;
• a layer of fat that prevents cold from penetrating into the body;
• migration or hibernation to avoid the coldest months of the year.

The list below includes animals that live in the Arctic Circle, as well as those that live in the Arctic, an area located to the south and directly adjacent to the Arctic.

Animals living in the Arctic

List of Arctic animals with pictures and interesting information. You can get more information about many of the animals by clicking on the images.

Common arctic fox

The Arctic fox has some features that allow it to live in the difficult conditions of the Arctic. The most notable feature is its fur, which changes color from brown (summer color) to white (winter color). A thick fur coat provides the arctic fox with good camouflage and excellent protection from the cold.

Arctic hare

Arctic hares dig holes underground. There they sleep and hide from frost and predators. Hares run very fast, reaching speeds of up to 60 km/h.

Arctic terns are the real conquerors of nature. These incredible birds fly over 19,000 km per year. They can be seen in broad daylight much more often than any other animals and birds. Thanks to migration, terns have two summers a year.

This is one of the Arctic predators that live in the coldest areas of northern Canada and other Arctic territories. The polar wolf is a subspecies of the gray wolf and is smaller in size than the northwestern wolf, another subspecies of wolfs.

Since the polar wolf is found in the Arctic, it, unlike other subspecies, is least likely to be exterminated by people.

Bald Eagle

The bald eagle is the national symbol of America. Its habitat extends far beyond the Arctic. You can meet this beautiful bird throughout North America - from Canada to Mexico. The eagle is called a bald eagle due to the white feathers growing on its head. These birds often catch fish: diving down, they snatch fish out of the water with their paws.

Belukha

Beluga whales are found off the coast of Russia, North America and Greenland. They are social animals and generally prefer to live in small groups of about 10 individuals. Their white color perfectly camouflages them under Arctic ice.

Caribou/reindeer

In Europe, caribou is better known as reindeer. The deer has adapted well to the cold climate of the North. It has large cavities in its nose that serve to heat the frosty air. During the winter, the animal's hooves become smaller and harder, making it much easier for the deer to walk on ice and snow. During migration, some reindeer herds move vast distances. No other land mammals living on our planet are capable of this.

Dalla Ram

The habitat of Dall's sheep is in the subarctic regions of North America. These animals are very agile and dexterous, which helps them in most cases to avoid attacks from predators.

Ermine

The stoat belongs to the mustelidae family. The name "ermine" is sometimes used only to refer to the animal in its white winter coat.

Stoats are fierce hunters that eat other rodents. Often they even move into the holes of their victims, instead of digging their own shelters.

Arctic shark

Arctic sharks are mysterious animals. This photo was taken by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Arctic sharks are mysterious giants that live in the Arctic region. This photo was taken by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Click on the image to learn more about this animal.

Most often, polar sharks are found in the North Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Canada and Greenland. Of all shark species, they are the most northern. These animals swim quite slowly and prefer to catch their prey while it is sleeping. Also, polar sharks do not hesitate to finish eating what other predators left after their meals.

harp seal

At birth, harp seal pups have a yellow coat. It turns white after three days. As the animal matures, its color becomes silver-gray. Harp seals have a thick layer of subcutaneous fat that retains heat well. The flippers of seals serve as a kind of heat exchangers: in summer, excess heat is removed through them, and in winter, due to the movements of the flippers in the water, the body heats up.

Lemming

Lemmings are small rodents with long, soft fur. They are herbivores and feed on grass, leaves and roots of plants. In winter, lemmings remain active and do not hibernate. Before the onset of winter, they stock up and also burrow under the snow to search for food.

Elk

Elk is the largest representative of the deer family. Eagles are most often found in Alaska, Canada, Russia and Scandinavia. Moose have one feature that distinguishes them from other representatives of the deer family. This peculiarity lies in the fact that they are solitary animals and do not live in herds. As a rule, elk move slowly, without haste. But a frightened or angry forest giant can pose a serious danger.

You can learn more about moose here: Moose Information

Musk ox (musk ox)

This musk ox is called musky because of the sharp musky odor that the males of this species emit in order to attract females during the mating season. Musk oxen have thick fur coats that perfectly retain heat. Both males and females have long, curved horns.

Narwhal

The narwhal is a medium-sized whale that is immediately recognizable by the long tusk protruding from the front of its head. This tusk is actually an overgrown front tooth. Narwhals spend the whole year in the Arctic waters that wash the coasts of Russia, Greenland and Canada.

killer whale

The killer whale is often called the killer whale. This toothed whale belongs to the dolphin family. The killer whale has a very characteristic coloring: black back, white chest and belly. There are also white spots near the eyes. These predators hunt other marine life, and for this they often gather in groups. Killer whales occupy the top of the food pyramid; in natural conditions they have no enemies.

No list of Arctic animals can be considered complete if the polar bear is not on it. Polar bears are a type of carnivorous mammal. But unlike their forest relatives, they live on the Arctic coast and are able to swim long distances in cold water. They can also move quickly on snow and ice. Polar bears are the largest of all bears.

Ptarmigan

In winter, partridges have white plumage, making them difficult to spot in the snow. They find food under the snow, and in the summer these birds feed mainly on berries, seeds and green shoots of plants. The white partridge has many local names, such as “white grouse” or “talovka”, “olkhovka”.

Dead end (hatchet)

Puffins are amazing birds; they can both fly and swim. Short wings, like the fins of a fish, help them move quickly through the water. Puffins have black and white feathers and brightly colored beaks. These birds form entire colonies on coastal rocks. Puffins dive from rocks into the water, where they look for food.

Ringed seal

The ringed seal is the smallest species of seal. She has a small cat-like head and a fat body. This seal received the name “ringed” because it has silvery rings against a background of brown fur that are visible on its back and sides. Ringed seals hunt small fish.

sea ​​otter

Sea otters are one of the largest members of the mustelid family, but they are also one of the smallest marine mammals. Sea otters spend more time in the water than on land. Thick and dense fur saves them from hypothermia.

White arctic goose

Arctic white geese spend the entire summer in the northern part of the USA and Canada, caring for their offspring, and by winter they fly south. During migration, these birds usually look out for agricultural fields. Here they feed by digging up plant roots with their beaks adapted for digging soil.

White hare

The snowshoe hare is white only in winter. In summer its skin is brown. In addition, by winter, its hind legs become overgrown with thick hair and become large and fluffy. This prevents the hare from falling into the snow.

Walrus

The walrus is easily recognized by its large tusks, long stiff whiskers and short flippers. Walruses, these large and heavy animals, were previously hunted extensively for their meat and fat. Now walruses are under state protection, and hunting them is prohibited.

Wolverines are members of the mustelid family and are famous for their habits, which make them one of the most ferocious predators. These tough little creatures are not afraid to attack animals much larger than themselves.

Birds of the Arctic

While the fauna of the Arctic cannot be called particularly rich, the feathered world in the north is striking in its diversity.

In summer, a huge number of different birds fly to the north. Seabirds settle mainly on high, often steep coastal cliffs. On some islands, especially on Novaya Zemlya, in some places there are such a myriad of seabirds, filling the air with loud cries, that Pomor industrialists call such places “bird markets.” To judge the number of such bird markets, it is enough to say that at the market in Pooh Bay on Novaya Zemlya in the summer of 1923, over 600,000 guillemots alone were counted.

The famous naturalist Alfred Brehm describes one of the bird colonies as follows:

“A huge vertical black rock rose in front of me like a gigantic slate board, dotted with millions of small white dots. Immediately after my shot, these dots partly separated from the dark background, came to life and flew. These were birds. Within a few minutes the birds descended onto the sea. It seemed as if a snow storm had suddenly arisen and as if huge snow flakes were falling from the sky, whirling. For several minutes it was snowing, one might say, from birds. The vast expanse of the sea was covered with white birds, and the dark rock continued to seem no less densely dotted with white spots than before.”

Among the most common birds in the north are gulls, geese, swans, eiders, guillemots, ducks, petrels.

Among the land birds found in the Arctic are: the snowy owl, devouring pied owls, the arctic partridge, turnstone, so named because it deftly turns over pebbles, looking for worms under them.

What does this large bird population of the Arctic eat?

Seabirds feed mainly on fish, hunting for them in coastal shallows. Birds of prey eat small animals and their weaker feathered counterparts. Finally, insectivorous birds in the tundra feed on numerous insects - mosquitoes, midges, flies and beetles. The insect world is extremely abundant in the Arctic, especially in the polar tundra.

In summer, myriads of different insects appear in the tundra - mosquitoes, gadflies and small midges. All these insects in the north of Siberia are called “gnus”. All animals suffer from midges, especially deer. Deer from midge bites lose a lot of weight, even get sick and die.

The Nenets and other inhabitants of the polar tundra escape from the midges only with the help of smoke.

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Today the Arctic is one of the most vulnerable regions of the world. We are talking about five Arctic animals that we may soon lose due to oil production in the Arctic.

The Arctic is one of the few corners of the Earth where nature has been preserved in almost its original form. Polar bears, reindeer, walruses, seals, and whales live here. At the same time, the Arctic is one of the most vulnerable regions of the world. Melting ice, poaching, and most importantly, oil extraction projects on the Arctic shelf can lead to a reduction in the number or even complete extinction of animals, many of which live only here. Here are five species listed in the Russian Red Book that could be affected by oil production in the Arctic.

Atlantic walrus

It is one of the largest inhabitants of the region. It is easily recognized by its two powerful tusks, which can reach 80 cm in length. To pull its massive body out of the water, the walrus rests its tusks on the hard surface of the ice. The walrus' limbs are so mobile that it can scratch its neck with the claws of its hind flippers. Elastic thick “whiskers”—vibrissae—grow on the upper lip of the walrus. The abundance of nerve endings makes them indispensable when “hunting” mollusks. The walrus actually looks for them by touch.

Mikhail Cherkasov/WWF Russia

One of the main threats to walruses is climate change. The animal's life cycle is closely connected with ice: walruses use it as a platform for resting and breeding. Another serious threat is the risk of pollution of the marine environment, bottom and shores with petroleum products as a result of the search for and development of hydrocarbon deposits in the Arctic. To date, no company in the world can effectively eliminate the consequences of oil spills in ice conditions. Oil washed ashore will remain there for decades. Heavy fractions will settle to the bottom, and this is where the walrus finds its food - bottom invertebrates.

White gull

This is the only almost completely white bird in the Arctic. Gulls nest in colonies on the plain or on rocks. They can also build nests near people's houses. Such nests are often destroyed by dogs. The white gull feeds on fish and invertebrates. The bird often accompanies the polar bear, feeding on the remains of its prey.

Peter Prokosch/WWF

Over the past decades, the number of ivory gulls has decreased. Scientists say one of the reasons is warming in the Arctic. The bird is also vulnerable to chemical pollution of the environment, which is confirmed by the detection of high mercury content in eggs. And medium to large oil spills even cause mass deaths of birds.

Narwhal

The narwhal, or unicorn, is a unique marine mammal found only in the Arctic. In Spitsbergen (Norway) the species is under special protection. This representative of toothed whales boasts only two upper teeth, one of which in males grows into a spiral-twisted tusk up to 3 m long and weighing 10 kg. There are narwhals with two tusks. In the Middle Ages, the tusks of this animal, which came to Europe as a rare curiosity, gave rise to the myth of the unicorn. The purpose of the tusk is not known exactly. This can be a kind of “signal antenna”, a tournament weapon and a means for breaking through thin ice.

Bryan and Cherry Alexander/WWF

Very sensitive to underwater noise. This means that intensive shipping, as well as all kinds of construction work in their habitats, can negatively affect the animals. Not to mention the possible consequences of oil spills. In marine mammals, petroleum products cause skin and eye irritation and decreased swimming ability. The fat layer also suffers: it loses its ability to retain heat and water, which disrupts the animal’s thermoregulation.

bowhead whale

This animal was recently considered an extinct species. Today it is known that there are several hundred individuals left in the world. Low reproductive potential does not allow the species to quickly restore its numbers to a safe level. The age of bowhead whales is difficult to determine. It is believed that they can live up to 300 years, so it is possible that a whale born during the time of Napoleon lives in the waters of the North Atlantic.

Martha Holmes/WWF

The species is protected everywhere, but the animal is not immune from accidental capture in drift fishing nets. Whales are also very sensitive to oil spills, since the oil film destroys their food supply - plankton. When oil enters a whale's body, it causes gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney failure, liver intoxication, and blood pressure disorders. Vapors from oil vapors cause damage to the respiratory system.

Polar bear

- the largest terrestrial predator on the planet. On average, the weight of an adult bear is 400-500 kg, but there are cases when the weight of the animal reached 750 kg. At the same time, a newborn bear cub weighs only half a kilogram. According to experts, there are now about 20-25 thousand polar bears in the Arctic. Environmentalists warn that the population could decline by more than two-thirds by 2050.

Maxim Deminov

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The Arctic and Antarctic are areas located around the North and South Poles. In winter, the days here are short and the nights are long, there are many winter days when the sun does not rise at all. In summer, on the contrary, the days are long and there are many days when the sun does not set around the clock. Winters here are extremely cold, and even in summer the temperature rarely rises above freezing. But the most amazing thing is that there are animals here that have adapted to life in these harsh conditions. A thick and subcutaneous layer of fat warms whales and seals, and thick fur also protects land mammals from the cold.

Almost all of Antarctica is covered with ice; in small areas of land nothing grows except algae, mosses and lichens. The basis of all food chains there are tiny planktonic plants in the ocean. Almost all types of animals, such as penguins, live in water or go there for food. The exceptions are seals, which come out of the water to their usual rookeries to breed and raise their offspring. The Arctic is slightly warmer than the Antarctic. In summer, on the border of the Arctic Circle, many plants appear that serve as food for rodents. One of the most beautiful birds of prey, white (polar) owls, feed on rodents. The Arctic is home to reindeer, polar bears, arctic foxes and seals.

Arctic Animals

The Arctic is the northernmost polar region of the globe. It includes the entire Arctic Ocean with islands and the northernmost outskirts of Europe, Asia and America. It is always cold here, even in summer the air temperature rarely exceeds 0 °C. Low air temperatures do not allow plants and cold-blooded animals to develop. But in the Arctic you can find mammals and birds. Their whole life is connected with the ocean. In sea water, the temperature of which, even in severe frosts, is always above 0 °C, there is food for them - plants, fish and invertebrates.

The dark polar winter lasts for six long months, but even in the summer the sun does not rise high above the horizon. Temperatures only rarely rise above freezing, and in Antarctica, where it is even colder than the Arctic, it can drop to -84.4 C. Despite this, some animal species feel at home here.

Since there is practically no vegetation here, large animals feed on marine fish, which are found in great abundance. For mammals and birds, the most important thing is to maintain heat, so they adapt to the conditions of their environment, having either a thick subcutaneous fat layer, or thick fur or dense plumage. Some types of insects spend the winter hibernating under snow cover. Animals that have not adapted to extreme cold conditions spend the winter in warmer southern countries.

Polar bears

The mighty polar bear is the largest land predator in the Arctic (not counting the huge brown bears in Alaska and Russia). The polar bear mainly lives in coastal areas and on pack ice. In the tidal zone of the polar seas there is a lot of plankton, which feeds fish and other animals, which, in turn, become food for polar bears.

Adult animals reach sizes of about 3.3 meters in length and a height at the withers of up to 1.5 m. An adult male polar bear can weigh up to 800 kg. Hardy swimmers, they can cover long distances, and sometimes bears swim many hundreds of kilometers on drifting ice floes. .

The main prey of polar bears is small seals, there are many of them in the Arctic. In search of seals, the bear stands on its hind legs and sniffs - it can smell prey from kilometers away. The bear approaches from the leeward side, so that the wind does not carry its scent to the seals, and crawls towards the rookery on its belly. They say he even covers his black nose with his paw so as not to be noticed. Having chosen a victim, the bear grabs it in a deft throw. The bear will swim under the water to the seals resting on the edge of the ice floes and drag away the closest one. It happens that the ice traps arctic dolphins - orcas - in small ice holes. The bear beats the floundering animals with its paws, drags them onto the ice and stacks them in the cold, creating a food warehouse in a natural refrigerator. The walrus is a desirable prey, but it is twice as heavy as a bear, and a predator cannot defeat it. The smart bear, knowing the timidity of walruses, runs around their rookery and growls. The walruses, in a panic, crushing each other, rush to the sea, and the bear collects the “harvest”: wounded adults and crushed walruses. In summer, bears enter the tundra to diversify their diet with lemmings, nesting birds, as well as mosses, lichens and berries.

However, the most favorite food of polar bears is ringed seals and bearded seals (sea hares). The bear waits patiently at the hole as they come up for air. Having stunned the prey with its powerful paw, it pulls it out of the water and immediately eats it. A female bear usually gives birth to one or two cubs and raises them in a den made in ice.

Seals

There are eight species of seals living in the Arctic - seven species of true seals and walruses. The common seal is an inhabitant of the northern coasts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Seals do not go out to the open sea. They can be found swimming near the shore or resting on land or ice. Adult seals have very thin fur, which is in no way capable of protecting them from the cold. How does a seal escape from severe frosts and icy water? It turns out that their subcutaneous fat plays a heat-insulating role. Its thickness can reach tens of centimeters. With such a pillow, a seal can lie for hours on the snow, which does not even melt under it, while its body temperature remains constant and high (+38 ° C).

Seals trace their origins to ancient terrestrial predatory mammals. Over millions of years of evolution, they have adapted to life in water: their limbs turned into flippers, and their body became spindle-shaped and streamlined. Seals move on land with great difficulty and, in case of danger, immediately dive into the water - they can remain in a state of immersion for several minutes.

Seals feed mainly on fish. In pursuit of schools, they often swim into the lower reaches of rivers.

Unlike whales, seals breed exclusively on land. Their cubs are dressed in lush white or gray fur, which disappears after the first molt.

Walruses

Walruses are huge sea animals, inhabitants of the Arctic. They, like seals and fur seals, belong to the order Pinnipeds. Walruses have sparse hair, and in older individuals it is completely absent. They are warmed by a thick layer of subcutaneous fat. The skin is very strong, almost like armor, with many huge folds. Among modern animals, walruses have the most powerful tusks. In some males their length can reach 80 cm!

In Arctic waters, walruses stay in shallow water areas rich in bottom animals: mollusks, worms, crabs - this is their main food; they use their extraordinary fangs to dig up prey from the bottom of the sea.

Walruses are excellent swimmers and divers. On land they are clumsy and move with great difficulty, and when getting out onto an ice floe they help themselves with their fangs.

They breed on land. Fierce fights occur between males. Their thick skin protects them from serious damage from powerful fangs. Cubs are born with thick hair, which disappears over time. Nobody teaches little walruses to swim; immediately after birth, they fearlessly throw themselves into the icy water and dive with pleasure.

Due to predatory fishing, there are few walruses left (they were hunted for their meat, skin, fat and tusks). In our country, walruses are protected.

The Arctic climate is quite harsh. Snowfalls, strong cold winds, fog and gloom are all part of this northern region. Despite this, Arctic animals have learned to survive and defend their territory on this icy land.

The nature here has been preserved in its original form, however, the constant melting of ice, oil production and poaching can lead to the fact that many species living exclusively in this corner of the Earth will disappear forever.

Herbivores

The vast northern spaces shelter many representatives of the animal world on their territory. And no matter how strange it may sound, herbivorous fauna also live on the icy Earth. Every day begins with a search for food. Only in constant movement can natural selection be overcome.

The Arctic is home to animals that differ in the way they feed, obtain food, and habitat.

This representative of lagomorphs is an amazing animal. Previously, it was classified as a subspecies of the mountain hare, but today it is distinguished as a separate species. It has short ears, which reduces heat transfer. The fur is fluffy and very thick, which also saves the animal from extreme cold. The tail is only 5 cm, but the hind legs are long and powerful, which allows it to move through deep snowdrifts.

The hare runs very fast - 60-65 km per hour. This speed often saves him from a predator. It finds food with the help of its excellent sense of smell, and its claws help it reach plants by digging through layers of snow.

This rodent is not much different in appearance from an ordinary hamster. The small animal reaches only 8-15 cm in length and weighs about 70-80 g. Small ears are hidden under fur, which in some subspecies turns white by winter. This camouflage helps to hide from dangerous predators. However, most representatives have completely gray or gray-brown fur. The rodent is found where there is vegetation. Well adapted to harsh climates. Lemmings feed on young shoots, moss, various seeds and berries. Life expectancy is only 2 years.

An elegant animal that wears branched horns on its head and has warm and dense fur. Perfectly adapted to the harsh climate of the Arctic. Reindeer feed on reindeer moss. Weighs about 200 kg, reaches a height of 1.5 meters. It lives not only throughout the region, but also inhabits nearby islands. Vegetation obtains itself with the help of wide hooves.

Interesting fact! Reindeer have variable hooves. In summer they are loose, which improves shock absorption on soft ground. In the winter season, the pores tighten, the hooves become dense and pointed, which prevents slipping on ice.

A large and powerful animal. The musk ox can be up to 1.5 meters in height and weigh up to 650 kg. These herbivorous mammals have thick and long hair, which retains heat and protects from strong winds in such a harsh climate of the region of our planet. They live in large herds of 20-30 animals. This is how they protect themselves from predators. They feed on moss, tree roots, lichen, grass and flowers. Rounded hooves help them move freely on ice and rocks, as well as rake layers of snow to find vegetation.

Reference! The musk ox has ancient roots. These mammals were hunted by primitive people. Today there is only one single species on our planet. The animal is listed in the Red Book as a rare animal of the Arctic.

It is also called bighorn or chubuk. This is a beautiful artiodactyl animal with beautiful horns on its head. The bighorn sheep is slow and peaceful. It is more active during the day, but can search for food at night. It lives in the mountains in groups of 20-30 animals. It feeds on lichen, moss, tree roots, pine needles, dry grass and other vegetation, which it digs out from under the snow with its powerful hooves.

Despite their massive body, chibouks easily move by jumping up to 2 meters in height. The number of these artiodactyls is gradually increasing, however, the bighorn sheep is currently under protection and is included in the Red Book.

Dangerous land predators

The animals of the Arctic, despite the strong winds and lack of heat, are diverse. Among the inhabitants of the northern space there are many predatory mammals. Their way of life is to constantly move and search for food.

Belongs to the canine family. This beautiful predator is known for its luxurious “fur coat” far beyond the Arctic. This is a small animal up to 30 cm in length and weighing up to 50 kg. The predator runs fast and is distinguished by its endurance. Often stays near polar bears during hunting and eats their leftovers. The animal can be found throughout the icy land. They are good parents. As soon as the female becomes pregnant, the male begins to hunt for two, bringing prey until the babies are born.

Reference! A notable feature of polar foxes (the second name for arctic foxes) is the change in fur color. In summer it is brown in color, and closer to winter it becomes snow-white.

The largest and most formidable predator that lives on land in this icy region. The animal can reach about 2.5-3 meters in length and weight up to 500 kg. The bear's skin is dark, almost black. The fur is snow-white, but in the summer, under the rays of the sun, it can become covered with yellow spots. Under the skin there is a thick layer of fat. The animal is characterized by endurance and patience in obtaining food.

Hunts walruses, penguins, seals, dolphins. The polar bear not only runs fast, but also swims well, and it is not difficult for him to get food. Therefore, all Arctic animals can fall into the clutches of this predator. Pregnant females mainly go into hibernation.

From infancy, these representatives of the animal world become ruthless predators, although they are born deaf and blind. The weight of an adult wolf is 70-80 kg. Wolves eat their prey alive because, due to the structure of their teeth, they are unable to kill it quickly. This predator is omnivorous and can feed on any type of food. Can live for a week without food.

Outwardly they resemble a fluffy, pointy-eared dog. Nature endowed polar wolves with thick snow-white fur and sharp claws, with the help of which the animal easily moves along the icy surface.

Aquatic inhabitants of the Arctic

The fauna of the Arctic shelters a huge number of aquatic fauna in its vastness. Let's look at the most amazing animals that have adapted to eternal ice.

This is a ferocious and dangerous predator of the Arctic Ocean. It belongs to the seal family, although it does not look like them in appearance. The animal has a snake-like body, a flattened head with two rows of sharp teeth. Leopard seals weigh 270-400 kg and can be up to 3-4 meters in length. There is practically no subcutaneous fat. The color of the skin is dark gray, the belly is white. There are dark spots on the sides and on the head, which is how it got its ferocious name.

Polar whale is its second name. The mammal ranks second in the world in terms of its mass. The length of males is 17 meters, females are slightly smaller. Weight can vary from 70 to 100 tons. Subcutaneous fat is about 60 cm. The whale has a large skull with a huge oral cavity. A distinctive feature is the U-shaped lower jaw, which is covered with light skin. Life expectancy can be 180 years. The diet consists mainly of crustaceans and small zooplankton.

Lives in coastal ocean waters. This is a fairly large representative of the body of water. It can reach 3.5 meters in length (females are larger than males). Weight up to 800 kg. A unique feature of walruses is their huge tusks, up to 80 cm long, protruding from their mouths. Each weight is 2.5-3 kg. Pinnipeds have a wide muzzle and special whiskers called vibrissae, which help to detect the smell of shellfish (it eats about 45 kg of them per day). The animal is myopic. The eyes are very small.

A mammal inhabiting coastal waters, which in appearance resembles a large dolphin 4-6 meters long. It is also called a unicorn because the males have a straight, long (3 m) tusk. The narwhal's skin is speckled brown and its belly is light. The head is round with a clearly visible frontal part. The oral cavity is low, the eyes are small with keen vision. The diet consists mainly of mollusks, fish and crustaceans.

Amazing birds

The cold region with a harsh climate called the Arctic surprises with its diversity of fauna. Birds also found their place on this piece of land.

A very beautiful bird. This is a harsh predator that is in constant flight for prey. The wingspan of an owl can reach up to 1.5 meters. Males are smaller in size than females and have a distinctive feature in the form of black specks. The eyes are yellow, the ears are so small that they are not visible. The beak is black, but completely hidden under the plumage.

Long claws help them hunt and perch comfortably on high places. The diet consists of small mammals.

Interesting fact! In times when there is not enough food, owls stop breeding for this time and fly closer to the southern regions.

Despite the strong cold winds, this small bird has found its home in the Arctic. It builds nests on the shores of the ocean. The seagull is no more than 35 cm long and weighs only 250 grams. The head is pale pink, and the back and wings are gray. The paws are bright red, and on her neck there is a black collar, which disappears with the onset of severe cold. Swims well in water and can sometimes land on ice floes. It feeds mainly on small insects, fish, crustaceans and mollusks. These fragile birds are often targeted by predators. They are hunted by Arctic foxes and reindeer.

The little auk is the second name for these birds. They nest in high latitudes. Little auks are the most mobile and smallest inhabitants of the Arctic among birds.

They move on land very deftly and quickly. They also feel confident at sea. Great maneuverability and frequent flaps during flight resemble a large insect rather than a bird. The color of the plumage resembles a tailcoat.

Arctic animals are in a daily struggle for life. Natural selection is cruel. Despite this, the northern region shelters a variety of fauna on its land.