Polar birds. Wildlife of the Arctic - mammals, birds, predators and marine animals living in the Arctic

It is located on the northernmost outskirts of Asia and North America, including all the islands in the Arctic basin, which are part of the polar geographic zone. The climate is arctic, with long and severe winters, summers are short and cold. Seasons don't exist. During the polar night - winter, and during the polar day - summer. Average temperatures are -10 to -35°, dropping to -50°. In summer - from 0° to + 5°. There is little precipitation (200-300 mm per year).

The vegetation is sparse, so the fauna of the Arctic deserts is relatively poor: these are the Arctic wolf, seal, walrus, seal, lemming, musk ox (musk ox), arctic fox, polar bear, reindeer, etc .; birds - guillemots, puffins, eiders, pink gulls, snowy owls, etc. Cetaceans are a separate group, for which the conditions of the Arctic do not create any problems.

The most numerous inhabitants of the harsh northern region are birds.

The pink gull is a fragile creature, with a weight of 250 grams and a body length of 35 cm, feels quite confident and freely spends harsh winters in the tundra, or above the sea surface, which is covered with drifting ice floes. Often joins the meals of larger predators.

Guillemot is a black and white bird that nests on high sheer cliffs and spends the winter in the ice without experiencing much discomfort.

The common eider is a northern duck that can easily dive in icy water to depths of up to 20 meters.

The most ferocious and largest among birds is the polar owl. A ruthless predator with beautiful yellow eyes, snow-white plumage preys on other birds, rodents, and sometimes on cubs of larger animals, such as arctic foxes.

Typical animals of the arctic deserts:

cetaceans

The narwhal is interesting for its long horn protruding from its mouth, which is an ordinary tooth, only with a length of 3 meters and a weight of 10 kg. Photo: One for all and all for one 🙂

The bowhead whale is a relative of the narwhal. But he is many times larger than him, and instead of a strange tooth, there is a whalebone in his mouth with a huge tongue, which is convenient for licking stuck plankton.

The polar dolphin or beluga whale is a large animal weighing up to 2 tons, with a length of up to 6 meters, feeding on fish.

The killer whale ranks first among the largest and strongest marine predators in the Arctic waters, where it preys on beluga whales, walruses, seals and seals.

Beasts

Seals are animals that make up a special Arctic cohort that has been living in this region for thousands of years.

This species includes the harp seal with a very beautiful patterned skin.

Klokova Maria

The presentation contains material about the birds of the Arctic

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Birds of the Arctic Ocean

In summer, many seabirds nest on the rocky shores of the islands of the Arctic Ocean: guillemots, guillemots and gulls of various species. In spring, birds fly to their nesting sites. They are located on the ledges of steep rocks in huge colonies, forming "bird colonies". Such settlements can number hundreds of thousands of individuals. This diversity of species is explained by the fact that the waters of the Arctic are unusually rich in plankton and fish, so all birds are in a hurry to hatch their chicks during the short Arctic summer.

Arctic tern Signs: very similar to a small river tern - its length is 35 cm, while that of a river tern is 38 cm. beak is yellow with a black tip. But in winter, when the beak of both species is black, this sign disappears, sometimes in spring, during molting, it also turns out to be ineffective. The Arctic tern has very short legs, a light gray coat on the chest, and bright white cheeks. The tips of the wings (the outer side of the primary flight feathers) when viewed from below the Arctic Tern appear to be bordered with gray. In the common tern, these feathers are dark gray and black. In winter plumage, the forehead and crown of Arctic terns are white, while in common terns only the forehead is light. The voice of the Arctic tern is harsh, especially when this bird is defending its nest. Distribution: The arctic tern succeeds the common tern in the north, although there are areas where both species coexist and even nest in the same mixed colonies, such as off the German coasts of the Baltic and North Seas. Arctic terns are found in all countries around the North Pole. In the skerries of the Baltic Sea, these birds nest on the highest cliffs, while the common tern prefers islands near calm waters near the seashore. In the north, Arctic tern breeds on flat rocky islands, on pebbly coasts, in sand dunes, on beaches, in lichen tundra close to the coast and in similar places. Sometimes some individuals can be found on the banks of rivers and lakes.

Black guillemots Distribution: The common guillemot is common in cold seas around the entire North Pole. In Europe, its nesting area extends as far south as Ireland. In the Baltic Sea, the common guillemot lives even in the Gulf of Finland, where the water is almost fresh and freezes in winter. Then the guillemots migrate south to the coast of Germany. In the North Sea, guillemots are almost never found. The common guillemot is not a bird of the open sea, it lives in calm waters under the protection of islands located near the coast, in fjords and in shallow waters. Birds live here all year round. The guillemot nests between boulders and among rocks, that is, in the same places as the great auk, which competes with the guillemot in the fight for nesting sites. But usually the guillemot nests lower than the razorbill, most often immediately behind the surf line, and only sometimes at a distance of up to 3 km from the coast. In 8 bird colonies, the guillemot settles among the boulders at the foot of the rocks. Sometimes on the islands covered with scattering of boulders there are colonies in which only common guillemots nest. Reproduction: nest in colonies of several dozen pairs or simply separate pairs at the foot of rocky bird rookeries. Partners are very tender to each other: in the language of many fishermen, guillemots are called doves. Unlike their relatives, common guillemots usually lay two eggs, although sometimes only one chick survives. Both parents incubate the chicks; Interestingly, the yolk of auks' eggs is bright red. The incubation time of the chicks is from 21 to 24 days, breeding occurs in June and early July. Often a bird sitting on eggs can even be picked up. The hatched chick has a dark gray down and stays in the burrow for 35 to 39 days, like chicks and other birds nesting in caves and burrows. But when after that the chicks leave the nest, they already know how to fly well and are almost completely independent. Food: as a rule, common guillemots look for food at the bottom of water bodies. Therefore, they never move away from the coast. The main food of guillemots is all kinds of crustaceans, marine worms, mollusks and polyps. If you throw a stone into the water next to a guillemot, then sometimes the bird immediately dives and raises it to the surface in its beak. In search of food, birds rarely dive for more than 30 seconds to escape danger. The sticks can stay underwater for up to 2 minutes. Signs: slightly smaller than the guillemot, length 34 cm, wing length 68 cm. The guillemot is the only representative of the auk family, whose abdomen is black in summer, and in any bird plumage there is a clearly defined white spot on the wings. In winter, the underside of the plumage is white, and the top is covered with dark spots. With such a difference between summer and winter plumage, birds look very bizarre during molting. During the rest, the guillemots sit on rocks and ice blocks, straightening their body up and bending their neck in the shape of the letter S, while the birds are so gullible that in the old days hunters killed them with long lances right from the boats passing by. When walking, the guillemots waddle heavily, their flight is fast, reminiscent of the flight of dragonflies, the guillemots take off after a short acceleration through the water. Under water, birds row their wings and steer their tails. Like other seabirds, white-tailed eagles prey on guillemots from the air, chasing their victims until the tired birds can no longer dive and cease to resist. The voice is quiet.

Guillemots We all know that chicken eggs are oval. The same form and duck, and pigeon, and ostrich. The same eggs are laid by most other birds. But bird eggs come in a different form. In some they are round, and in guillemots they look like a pear. Kaira lays eggs in the shape of a pear, because she is forced to adapt to the natural conditions in which she lives. Guillemot is found in the north. In summer, autumn and winter, it lives far from the coast, in the open sea and feeds on fish. In spring, the guillemot moves ashore and settles on practically inaccessible rocks. The guillemot does not build nests and lays its eggs right on the rocky ledges of rocks. Round eggs would immediately roll down from there and break, and oval ones would break, so guillemots lay small eggs that look like a pear. Such eggs roll only in a circle and are held on small rocky ledges. After the female guillemots lay an egg, they, like other birds, incubate it in turn with the male. Birds in this case carefully lay the egg on the web of their paws. One of the parents sits on the egg and warms it, while the other flies into the sea to feed. Sometimes they both fly away to feed, and when they return, in some incomprehensible way they find their egg among thousands of similar eggs belonging to other guillemots. Obviously, guillemots recognize their eggs by color. In guillemots, the eggs are usually painted in the color of the rocks: grayish and spotty, but there are no two eggs that are completely identical in shade. After the chick hatches from the egg, he is no longer afraid of height. Murmur chicks, not even able to fly yet, can jump into the sea from a cliff up to 40 meters.

Ivory Gulls Not all migratory birds of the northern hemisphere fly south in winter. The pink gull, which lives in the north-east of Siberia and in Greenland, flies, on the contrary, to the north when frost sets in. There are many places on the coast of the Arctic Ocean where open water is preserved, not completely covered with ice, and here pink gulls spend the winter, feeding on fish and crustaceans.

Populations of most species of seabirds in Franz Josef Land are in relatively good condition. Here, birds are not threatened by many negative factors associated with human activities in other areas of the Barents Sea, especially in the south and southeast, such as egg collection, bird hunting (mainly in the past), undermining the food supply due to overfishing of mass fish species , high levels of chemical pollution, by-catch in nets, hunting. Thus, archipelago seabird populations can be considered as a good indicator of background changes in Arctic marine ecosystems.

sea ​​birds

The population of seabirds in the area is typical for the islands of the high-latitude Arctic. Species that depend on the resources of the sea absolutely predominate here - these are typical seabirds, coastal near-water and waterfowl species.

Marine colonial birds undoubtedly form the core of the local avifauna. They absolutely prevail in number and are the most important component of the marine and coastal ecosystems of the region. To date, over 100 seabird colonies have been recorded for Franz Josef Land, but this list is still far from complete. For example, based on the results of the analysis of multispectral space satellites on the islands of the archipelago, about 300 potential seabird nesting sites were identified, marked by characteristic spectral characteristics of plant communities in the corresponding coastal habitats. The existence of numerous populations of seabirds is ensured by the presence of a rich food base in the waters adjacent to the islands, as well as by the distribution of rocky cliffs and screes suitable for nesting along the long coastline.

The population of bird rookeries is referred to the so-called high arctic type, which is characterized by the predominance of little auks. Common numerous species are thick-billed murre and kittiwake; characteristic species are burgomaster, polar guillemot and Atlantic fulmar. The white gull is also characteristic, but it nests in separate colonies. All six species rarely nest together in one colony; such a rich settlement is known, for example, on the Rubini rock, about. Hooker. According to rough estimates, the total number of seabirds in the archipelago can reach 400 thousand pairs.

Lurik

Characteristic native of the Arctic, inhabiting the high-latitude regions of its Atlantic sector. In Franz Josef Land, little auk is represented by a large form - polar little auk. Little auks nest everywhere in suitable areas of the coast in shelters of rock crevices and screes. Little auks settle together with other species of birds, and also form independent settlements in places not suitable for nesting of other species. In total, about 70 colonies with a total number of about half a million birds have been described on the islands. Feeding little auks can be found everywhere in the archipelago and beyond. Sometimes they cover distances of 100–200 km to reach water areas rich in food, such as the ice edge zone or the area of ​​the slope of the continental shelf. Little auks are specialized plankton feeders, their main food is small crustaceans, in the area of ​​Franz Josef Land these are calanuses, mainly Calanus glacialis, and amphipods in a smaller number. Little auks are among the first to arrive in the nesting area; already in early March, you can see their flocks swarming near the icy rocks.

Thick-billed murre

A representative of auks, it breeds in the southern and central regions of the archipelago, which is associated with the presence of suitable rocky walls and lighter ice conditions. This is one of the most numerous species of seabirds in the northern hemisphere, with a circumpolar distribution. In total, more than 20 colonies have been described on the archipelago, and the guillemot is probably in second place in terms of abundance after the little auk. The largest colonies of up to 10 thousand or more pairs are located along the southern coast and in the center of the archipelago (on the Rubini rock).

Guillemots nest on cliffs that usually break off directly into the sea, but on Franz Josef Land they also inhabit rocks that are hundreds of meters away from the edge of the coast. Colonies of guillemots are mixed, they usually contain kittiwakes, little auks, guillemots, as well as a small number of burgomasters. The distribution of colonies is limited by ice conditions in the second half of summer and the presence of suitable rocky cliffs near the water's edge. Since guillemot chicks jump off the eaves of nesting colonies before they have acquired the ability to fly, it is necessary that by the end of nesting under the colony there should be no fast ice and solid ice on the sea. On Cape Bystrov, Jackson Island, is the northernmost known colony of thick-billed murres. For feeding, guillemots can fly far to the north of nesting colonies, in particular, feeding accumulations of guillemots were found several tens of kilometers north of the archipelago, in the region of the continental slope. Guillemots are typical seabirds that come to land only for nesting. Food is obtained by diving, they prefer mass species of fish, on Franz Josef Land, this is, first of all, polar cod, with its lack, it consumes various crustaceans.

Guillemots do not make long-distance migrations; in winter they usually move south of the advancing ice edge. A small number of guillemots can stay for the winter in the area of ​​the archipelago, due to the presence of stationary polynyas. The mass appearance of guillemots in the polynyas occurs already at the end of March.

polar guillemot

It occurs throughout the archipelago, but does not form large colonies. Settles in the crevices of rocks alone or in the neighborhood with other species. For the most severe regions of the archipelago and for islands with a limited range of nesting biotopes, joint settlements of guillemots with more numerous little auks are typical. Several dozen nesting sites of guillemots have been described, but this list is very incomplete, since guillemots settle in any suitable places, sometimes only a few pairs. Unlike previous species, guillemots lead a coastal lifestyle and do not form large concentrations at sea. They hunt for coastal fish species, they can gather food at the bottom surface of drifting ice. The guillemots do not make long-distance movements; they can winter in leads and polynyas, incl. in small numbers and in the waters of the archipelago.

common kittiwake

A characteristic species that forms bird colonies along with murre. Breeds throughout the archipelago, where there are suitable rocks: more than 30 colonies have been described. The largest of the known settlements (more than 5000–10000 pairs) are located on the southern coast. Kittiwakes are typical sea gulls that get all their food in the sea, but unlike diving auks, they catch prey from the surface of the water. The basis of nutrition is mass species of small fish, in the conditions of the archipelago it is polar cod, and in its absence, zooplankton.

White seagull

A characteristic representative of the ice zone of the Arctic, this species has a fairly limited breeding range and a low overall abundance. The white gull is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, and in the IUCN Red Book its conservation status was raised to Vulnerable (VU) in 2005. On migrations and migrations, the white gull is found in all Arctic seas, but nests only on the islands of the Atlantic sector. Franz Josef Land is a key part of its breeding range.

The white gull belongs to the typical ice-loving species - it is associated with ice throughout its entire life cycle. The white gull is rarely found in ice-free waters, and on land it is found mainly on islands with glaciers or on islands surrounded by ice-covered waters. The white gull feeds on fish, mainly polar cod, as well as crustaceans and other invertebrates. Seagulls also readily pick up the remains of the prey of other animals, kitchen and hunting waste, and they can often be found near polar bears or in village dumps. In the entire history of development on Franz Josef Land, less than 20 colonies of ivory gulls have been found. In favorable years, the total number of birds nesting in the archipelago can reach 2-3 thousand pairs.

The neighborhood of white gulls with humans is noteworthy - in some years the birds nested right at the runway in the area of ​​the frontier post.

Burgomaster

The largest seagull in the archipelago. It is ubiquitous throughout the archipelago, nesting both in bird colonies and forming small independent settlements, or settles in isolated pairs. In the absence of lemmings and low nesting densities of land birds, glaucous glaucouses in Franz Josef Land are completely dependent on the resources of the sea, either preying on seabird colonies or directly foraging for fish and marine invertebrates.

Arctic tern

Widely distributed throughout the archipelago, but breeds sporadically. It does not form large colonies on Franz Josef Land. Its most numerous settlements, known, for example, on the islands of Hayes and Lamon, do not exceed 100–200 pairs. Usually in colonies up to 15–30 pairs, sometimes single nests are found. Terns settle near the sea on beaches, spits, small islands. They feed on small fish in coastal waters. Terns are among the last to arrive in the archipelago and leave it before others, as they make very long migrations for wintering in the Southern Ocean and the coast of Antarctica.

Other species of gulls, although they do not belong to the species regularly nesting on the islands, are widely distributed in the water area and give a characteristic appearance to the local bird population. These are, first of all, pink gulls and skuas.

Skuas

All four species of Arctic skuas have been recorded in the archipelago, but of these, only the Arctic Skua breeds constantly, but in very small numbers. Its nests are usually located near seabird colonies, which serve as the main source of food for skuas.

The Pomarine Skua is a common, sometimes numerous, roaming species in the water area. The Long-tailed Skua is much less common on roaming roams. Both species feed on mouse-like rodents during the nesting period, and the absence of lemmings on the islands limits their breeding opportunities here. The great skua was first recorded in the archipelago in 1992, and has been recorded occasionally but regularly since then. The great skua is a relatively recent introduction to the Russian part of the Barents Sea and is expanding its presence in the region, and for Franz Josef Land it can now be considered a regular migrant species.

Atlantic fulmar

In Franz Josef Land, it has the northeastern limit of its breeding range. About 15 nesting sites are known throughout the archipelago, except in the extreme northeast, where there are no rocks suitable for breeding. The settlements of the fulmar in the archipelago are small; in the surveyed colonies, the number did not exceed 500–650 pairs. In total, according to estimates, about 2-3 thousand pairs nest on the islands. Fools settle on rocky cliffs together with other inhabitants of bird colonies. These are typical seabirds that forage (mainly zooplankton) in the surface layer of the sea. Fulmars are characterized by very wide feeding movements, and birds fly far beyond the archipelago to hunt.

waterfowl

Greenland Common Eider

A common breeding species, but not numerous and sporadically distributed on the islands. On the territory of the national park and the reserve there are the only nesting places of the Greenland subspecies in Russia. The eider settles mainly on small low-lying islets, beaches and spits, but individual nests can also be found in the depths of the islands. Nesting has been found on more than 10 islands, but the list is far from complete. The most numerous settlements in the form of loose colonies are described from Alexandra Land, the region of about. Apollonov, Hayes, Lamon, Dead Seal, and some others. Brood flocks of up to 20–30 birds can be found in the coastal waters of these islands from the end of July. Eiders often nest under the protection of other birds. In Franz Josef Land, they are known to nest together with Arctic terns and ivory gulls. Common eiders feed on benthic organisms, mainly mollusks and, as well as crustaceans, sea urchins and other invertebrates, catching them by diving in shallow water.

Other species of waterfowl are very rare in the archipelago.

Atlantic black goose

On nesting it is rarer and less numerous than the eider. On Franz Josef Land and, apparently, in the far north of Novaya Zemlya, there are also the only nesting sites in Russia for the subspecies listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Nests of geese were found on the islands of Alger, Graham Bell, Hooker, Elizabeth, Lamon, Hayes. “Gray” geese are also regularly observed in the archipelago, which, judging by the obtained specimens, belong to the short-beaked bean goose.

red-throated loon

An extremely rare nesting species, although birds are found quite regularly throughout the archipelago.

ground birds

Tundra partridge

One of the rarest species of the local avifauna. Its presence has been noted repeatedly on many islands, but its status has remained unclear. Nesting in recent years has been proven only for Fr. Hayes. A flock of partridges was observed in 2011 on about. Hooker. The partridge is the only wintering species in the archipelago that is not associated with the sea.

sea ​​sandpiper

A common breeding species in the archipelago, the most widespread of the terrestrial species. Sandpipers inhabit the flat areas of the islands with the most developed vegetation. Sandpipers feed on small soil and intertidal invertebrates. During the breeding season, waders stick to tundra areas, and after breeding is over, they can often be found on the sea coast, where they can form small flocks before leaving the archipelago.

Necktie

First recorded in the archipelago in 2006. On about. Hayes in the uninhabited territory of the polar station in the last days of July, a brood of downy chicks was found.

Bunting

The only native representative of passerines in the archipelago. It is found everywhere, but nesting is limited by the availability of suitable habitats. The snow bunting arranges nests in a sheltered place, using rock crevices, scree, voids near large stones and other natural niches, as well as human structures. Therefore, nesting snow buntings can be found more often in bird colonies than in the flat tundra. After the end of the nesting season, snow buntings unite in small flocks and roam all over the archipelago before flying away, choosing places with richer vegetation, as they feed on seeds during this period. Of the birds not associated with the sea, snow buntings are the first to arrive in the archipelago - their appearance is noted in early April, there are cases of meetings of the first birds even in March.

Other species are marked as vagrant.

Today, a fairly large number of a wide variety of living creatures live in the northern regions, and beyond the Arctic Circle, in areas where almost eternal frosts reign, there are also inhabitants represented by some birds and animals. Their body has managed to adapt to adverse climatic conditions, as well as a rather specific diet.

mammals

The vast expanses of the harsh Arctic are characterized by snow-covered deserts, very cold winds and permafrost. Precipitation in such areas is very rare, and sunlight may not penetrate the darkness of polar nights for several months. Mammals living in such conditions are forced to spend a difficult winter period among the snow and ice that burn with cold.

Arctic fox, or polar fox

Small representatives of the fox species (Alopex lagopus) have long inhabited the territory of the Arctic. Predators from the Canine family in appearance resemble a fox. The average body length of an adult animal varies within 50-75 cm, with a tail length of 25-30 cm and a height at the withers of 20-30 cm. The body weight of a sexually mature male is approximately 3.3-3.5 kg, but the weight of some individuals reaches 9.0 kg. The females are noticeably smaller. The arctic fox has a squat body, a short muzzle and rounded ears that protrude slightly from the coat, which prevents frostbite.

White or polar bear

The polar bear is a northern mammal (Ursus maritimus) from the Bear family, is a close relative of the brown bear and the largest land predator on the planet. The body length of the beast reaches 3.0 meters with a mass of up to a ton. Adult males weigh approximately 450-500 kg, while females are noticeably smaller. The height of the animal at the withers varies most often in the range of 130-150 cm. Representatives of the species are characterized by a flat head and a long neck, and translucent hairs can only transmit UV rays, which gives the predator's coat thermal insulation properties.

It will be interesting: why are polar bears white

Sea leopard

Representatives of the species of true seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) owe their unusual name to the original spotted skin and very predatory behavior. The sea leopard has a streamlined body that allows it to develop very high speed in the water. The head is flattened, and the forelimbs are noticeably elongated, due to which the movement is carried out by strong synchronous blows. The body length of an adult animal is 3.0-4.0 meters. The upper part of the body is dark gray in color, and the lower part is silvery white. There are gray spots on the sides and head.

Snow sheep, or chubuk

Artiodactyl (Ovis nivicola) belongs to the genus of sheep. Such an animal has a medium size and a dense physique, a thick and short neck, as well as a small head with rather short ears. The limbs of the ram are thick and not high. The body length of adult males is approximately 140-188 cm, with a height at the withers in the range of 76-112 cm and a body weight of not more than 56-150 kg. Adult females are slightly smaller than males. Diploid cells in representatives of this species contain 52 chromosomes, which is less than in any other modern species of sheep.

musk ox

Large hoofed mammal (Ovibos moschatus) belongs to the musk ox genus and the Bovid family. The height of adults at the withers is 132-138 cm, with a weight in the range of 260-650 kg. The weight of females most often does not exceed 55-60% of the weight of the male. The musk ox has a hump-back of the neck in the shoulder area, passing into the back narrow part. The legs are small, stocky, with large and rounded hooves. The head is elongated and very massive, with sharp and rounded horns that grow in the animal until the age of six years. The hairline is represented by long and thick hair, which hangs almost to ground level.

arctic hare

Hare (Lepus arcticus), formerly considered a subspecies of the white hare, but today distinguished as a separate species. The mammalian animal has a small and fluffy tail, as well as long, powerful hind legs, which allow the hare to easily jump even in high snow. Relatively short ears help reduce heat transfer, and abundant fur allows the northern inhabitant to endure very cold quite easily. The long and straight incisors are used by the hare to feed on the sparse and frozen arctic vegetation.

Weddell seal

The representative of the family of true seals (Leptonychotes weddellii) belongs to not too widespread and rather large predatory mammals in terms of body size. The average length of an adult is 3.5 meters. The animal is able to stay under the water column for about an hour, and the seal obtains food in the form of fish and cephalopods at a depth of up to 750-800 meters. Weddell seals quite often have broken fangs or incisors, which is explained by their making special blowholes through young ice.

Wolverine

The predatory mammal (Gulo gulo) belongs to the mustelid family. A rather large animal in its size in the family is inferior only to the sea otter. The weight of an adult is 11-19 kg, but females are slightly smaller than males. The body length varies within 70-86 cm, with a tail length of 18-23 cm. In appearance, the wolverine most likely looks like a badger or a bear with a squat and awkward body, short legs and an arched back curved upwards. A characteristic feature of the predator is the presence of large and hooked claws.

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birds of the north

Many feathered representatives of the north feel quite comfortable in extreme climatic and weather conditions. Due to the specifics of natural features, more than a hundred different species of birds are able to survive on the territory of almost permafrost. The southern border of the Arctic territory coincides with the tundra zone. In the polar summer, several million different migratory and flightless birds nest here.

Seagulls

Numerous representatives of the genus of birds (Larus) from the Gull family live not only in the sea, but also inhabit inland waters in inhabited areas. Many species belong to the category of synanthropic birds. Typically, a gull is a large or medium-sized bird with white or gray plumage, often with black markings on the head or wings. One of the significant distinguishing characteristics is represented by a strong, slightly curved beak at the end, and very well developed swimming membranes on the legs.

white goose

A medium-sized migratory bird (Anser caerulescens) from the genus of geese (Anser) and the family of ducks (Anatidae) is characterized by predominantly white plumage. The body of an adult individual is 60-75 cm long. The mass of such a bird rarely exceeds 3.0 kg. The wingspan of the white goose is approximately 145-155 cm. The black color in the northern bird is predominant only around the beak area and at the ends of the wings. The paws and beak of such a feathered have a pink color. Often in adult birds there is a spot of golden yellow color.

whooper swan

A large waterfowl (Cygnus cygnus) from the duck family has an elongated body and a long neck, as well as short legs carried back. The plumage of the bird contains a significant amount of down. The lemon-yellow beak has a black tip. The plumage is white. Juveniles are distinguished by smoky gray plumage with a darker head area. Males and females in appearance practically do not differ from each other.

Gaga

Feathered representatives of the genus (Somateria) belong to the duck family. Such birds are united today into three species of rather large diving ducks, which nest mainly in the territories of the Arctic coasts and tundra. All species are characterized by a wedge-shaped structure of the beak with a wide nail, which occupies the entire upper part of the beak. On the lateral parts of the mandible there is a deep notch covered with plumage. The bird comes to the coastline only for rest and breeding.

Thick-billed murre

The seabird (Uria lomvia) of the auk family (Alcidae) is a medium-sized species. The bird has a weight of one and a half kilograms, and in appearance resembles thin-billed guillemots. The main difference is represented by a thicker beak with white stripes, black-brown dark plumage of the upper part and a complete absence of grayish shading on the sides of the body. Thick-billed murres are usually noticeably larger than slender-billed murres.

Antarctic tern

Northern bird (Sterna vittata) belongs to the family of gulls (Laridae) and order Charadriiformes. The Arctic tern annually migrates from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Such a small-sized feathered representative of the genus Tern has a body length of 31-38 cm. The beak of an adult bird is dark red or black. Adult terns are characterized by white plumage, while chicks are characterized by gray feathers. There are black feathers in the head area.

White or polar owl

A rather rare bird (Bubo scandiacus, Nyctea scandiaca) belongs to the category of the largest birds of the order of owls in the tundra. Snowy owls have round heads and bright yellow irises. Adult females are larger than mature males, and the average wingspan of a bird is approximately 142-166 cm. Adults are characterized by white plumage with dark transverse streaks, which provides excellent predator camouflage against a snowy background.

arctic partridge

The Willow Grouse (Lagopus lagopus) is a bird of the Grouse subfamily and the order Galliformes. Among many other galliformes, it is the white partridge that is characteristically distinguished by the presence of pronounced seasonal dimorphism. The color of this feathered bird varies depending on the weather. The winter plumage of the bird is white, with black outer tail feathers and densely feathered legs. With the onset of spring, the neck and head of males acquire a brick-brown coloration, which contrasts sharply with the white plumage of the body.

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Reptiles and amphibians

Too severe climatic conditions of the Arctic do not allow the widest spread of various cold-blooded animals, including reptiles and amphibians. At the same time, the northern territories have become quite suitable habitat for four species of lizards.

viviparous lizard

The scaly reptile (Zootoca vivipara) belongs to the family Real lizards and the monotypic genus Forest lizards (Zootoca). For some time, such a reptile belonged to the genus Green lizards (Lacerta). A well-swimming animal has a body size in the range of 15-18 cm, of which approximately 10-11 cm falls on the tail. The body color is brown, with the presence of dark stripes that stretch along the sides and in the middle of the back. The lower part of the body is light in color, with a greenish-yellowish, brick red or orange tinge. Males of the species have a more slender physique and a bright color.

Siberian newt

The four-toed newt (Salamandrella keyserlingii) is a very striking member of the salamander family. An adult tailed amphibian differs in body size of 12-13 cm, of which less than half falls on the tail. The animal has a wide and flattened head, as well as a laterally compressed tail, which is completely devoid of leathery-type fin folds. The color of the reptile has a grayish-brown or brownish color with small spots and a fairly light longitudinal stripe in the back.

Semirechensky frogtooth

The Dzungarian newt (Ranodon sibiricus) is a tailed amphibian from the salamander family (Hynobiidae). An endangered and very rare species today has a body length in the range of 15-18 cm, but some individuals reach a size of 20 cm, of which the tail part occupies a little more than half. The average body weight of a sexually mature individual can vary within 20-25 g. On the sides of the body there are from 11 to 13 intercostal and clearly visible grooves. The tail part is laterally compressed and has a developed fin fold in the back. The color of the reptile varies from yellow-brown to dark olive and greenish-gray, often with spots.

tree frog

Tailless amphibian (Rana sylvatica) is able to freeze in the harsh winter period to the state of ice. An amphibian in this state does not breathe, and the heart and circulatory system stop. When warming, the frog “thaws” rather quickly, which allows it to return to normal life. Representatives of the species are distinguished by large eyes, a distinctly triangular muzzle, as well as a yellow-brown, gray, orange, pink, brown or dark gray-green back area. The main background is complemented by blackish or dark brown spots.

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Arctic fish

For the coldest regions of our planet, not only many species of birds are endemic, but also various marine life. Arctic waters are home to walruses and seals, some species of cetaceans, including baleen whales, narwhals, killer whales and beluga whales, as well as several varieties of fish. In total, the territory of ice and snow is inhabited by a little more than four hundred species of fish.

arctic char

Ray-finned fish (Salvelinus alpinus) belong to the salmon family and are represented by many forms: anadromous, lake-river and lake chars. Anadromous chars are large in size and silvery in color, have a dark blue back and sides covered with light and rather large spots. Widespread lacustrine arctic charr are typical predators that spawn and feed in lakes. Lake-river forms are characterized by a smaller body. At the moment, the Arctic charr population is on the decline.

polar sharks

Somniose sharks (Somniosidae) belong to the family of sharks and the order of catranoids, which includes seven genera and about two dozen species. The natural habitat is arctic and subantarctic waters in any oceans. Such sharks inhabit continental and island slopes, as well as shelves and open ocean waters. At the same time, the maximum recorded body dimensions do not exceed 6.4 meters. The spines located at the base of the dorsal fin are usually absent, and the edge of the upper lobe of the caudal fin is characterized by a notch.

Arctic cod or polar cod

Arctic cold-water and cryopelagic fish (Boreogadus saida) belongs to the cod family (Gadidae) and the cod-like order (Gadiformes). Today it is the only species from the monotypic genus of polar cod (Boreogadus). The body of an adult individual has a maximum body length of up to 40 cm, which has a significant thinning towards the tail. The caudal fin is characterized by a deep notch. The head is large, with a slightly protruding lower jaw, large eyes and a small mustache at the level of the chin. The top of the head and back are greyish-brown, while the belly and flanks are a silvery grey.

Eel-pout

Marine fish (Zoarces viviparus) belongs to the eelpout family and perch-like order. The aquatic predator has a maximum body length of 50-52 cm, but usually the size of an adult does not exceed 28-30 cm. The eelpout has a rather long dorsal fin with short spiny rays at the back. The anal and dorsal fins are fused together with the caudal fin.

Pacific herring

Ray-finned fish (Clupea pallasii) belongs to the herring family (Clupeidae) and is a valuable commercial object. Representatives of the species are distinguished by rather weak development of the ventral keel, which is very clearly visible only between the anal and ventral fins. Typically pelagic schooling fish are characterized by high locomotor activity and constant collective migration from wintering and feeding areas to spawning areas.

Haddock

Ray-finned fish (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) belongs to the cod family (Gadidae) and the monotypic genus Melanogrammus. The body length of an adult varies between 100-110 cm, but typical sizes are up to 50-75 cm, with an average weight of 2-3 kg. The body of the fish is relatively high and slightly flattened on the sides. The back is dark gray with a purple or lilac hue. The sides are noticeably lighter, with a silvery tint, and the belly has a silvery or milky white color. The haddock body has a black lateral line, below which there is a large black or blackish spot.

Nelma

Fish (Stenodus leucichthys nelma) belongs to the salmon family and is a subspecies of the whitefish. Freshwater or semi-anadromous fish from the Salmon order reaches a length of 120-130 cm, with a maximum body weight of 48-50 kg. A very valuable species of commercial fish is today a popular object of breeding. Nelma differs from other members of the family in the peculiarities of the structure of the mouth, which gives this fish a rather predatory appearance, compared with related species.

arctic omul

Commercial valuable fish (lat. Coregonus autumnalis) belongs to the whitefish genus and the salmon family. Anadromous type of northern fish feeds in the coastal waters of the Arctic Ocean. The average body length of an adult individual reaches 62-64 cm, with a weight in the range of 2.8-3.0 kg, but larger individuals are found. A widespread aquatic predator preys on a wide variety of large representatives of benthic crustaceans, and also eats juvenile fish and small zooplankton.

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Spiders

Arachnids are obligate predators, demonstrating the highest potential in terms of mastering the complex Arctic environment. The Arctic fauna is represented not only by a significant number of boreal forms of spiders entering from the southern part, but also by purely Arctic species of arthropods - hypoarctics, as well as hemiarcts and ewarcts. Typical and southern tundras are rich in a wide variety of spiders, differing in size, hunting method and biotopic distribution.

Orioneta

Representatives of the genus of spiders belonging to the family Linyphiidae. Such an arachnid arthropod was first described in 1894, and today about three dozen species have been assigned to this genus.

Masikia

Representatives of the genus of spiders belonging to the family Linyphiidae. For the first time, an inhabitant of the Arctic territories was described in 1984. Only two species are currently assigned to this genus.

Tmetits nigriceps

A spider of this genus (Tmeticus nigriceps) lives in the tundra zone, it is distinguished by an orange prosoma, with a blackish-cephalic region. The legs of the spider are orange, and the opisthosoma is black. The average body length of an adult male is 2.3-2.7 mm, and females - within 2.9-3.3 mm.

Gibothorax tchernovi

The spind species belonging to the taxonomic classification Нangmatspinnen (linyphiidae) belongs to the arthropod arachnids of the genus Gibothorax. The scientific name of this species was first published only in 1989.

Perro Polaris

One of the understudied spider species to date, first described in 1986. Representatives of this species are assigned to the genus Perrault, and are also included in the family Linyphiidae.

sea ​​spider

Sea spiders have been discovered relatively recently in the polar Arctic and in the waters of the Southern Ocean. Such aquatic inhabitants are gigantic in size, and the length of some of them exceeds a quarter of a meter.

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Insects

A large number of insectivorous birds in the northern regions is due to the presence of numerous insects - mosquitoes, midges, flies and beetles. The world of insects in the Arctic is very diverse, especially in the polar tundra, where countless mosquitoes, gadflies and small midges appear with the onset of the summer season.

Burning midge

The insect (Culicoides pulicaris) is capable of producing several generations during the warm season, and today it is a massive and common blood-sucking biting biting, not found only in the tundra.

Karamory

Insects (Tipulidae) belong to the Diptera family and the suborder Long-whiskers (Nematocera). The body length of many centipede mosquitoes varies between 2-60 mm, but sometimes there are larger members of the order.

Chironomids

The mosquito (Chironomidae) belongs to the Diptera family and owes its name to the characteristic sound that the insect's wings make. Adults have underdeveloped mouth organs and are harmless to humans.

Wingless springtails

The northern insect (Collembola) is a small and very nimble arthropod, primarily wingless, usually resembling a tail with a common hopping appendage.

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Source: simple-fauna.ru

Animals living in the Arctic

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

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 coloration) to white (winter coloration). The thick fur coat provides the fox with good camouflage and excellent protection from the cold.

arctic hare

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

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

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

Since the polar wolf is found in the Arctic, unlike other subspecies, it is the least exposed to extermination by humans.

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 bald eagle is called the bald eagle due to the white feathers growing on its head. These birds often catch fish: diving down, they snatch fish from the water with their paws.

Beluga whale

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 around 10 individuals. Their white coloring perfectly camouflages them under the Arctic ice.

caribou/reindeer

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

Sheep Dalla

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

Ermine

The ermine belongs to the weasel family. The name "stoat" 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 burrows of their victims instead of digging their own shelters.

polar shark

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

Polar 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 northern part of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Canada and Greenland. Of all the shark species, they are the northernmost. These animals swim quite slowly and prefer to catch their prey while it sleeps. Also, polar sharks do not disdain to eat up what other predators left after their meal.

harp seal

At birth, harp seal pups have a yellow fur coat. It turns white after three days. As the animal matures, its coloration acquires a silvery-gray color. Harp seals have a thick layer of subcutaneous fat that retains heat well. The seals' flippers 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 is heated.

Lemming

Lemmings are small rodents with long soft fur. They are herbivores and feed on grass, leaves, and plant roots. 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 member of the deer family. Elk 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 feature lies in the fact that they are solitary animals and do not live in herds. As a rule, the elk moves slowly, without haste. But a frightened or angry forest giant can pose a serious danger.

Learn more about moose here: Moose Information

Musk ox (musk ox)

This musk ox is called musky because of the sharp musky smell that the males of this species emit in order to attract females to themselves during the mating season. Musk oxen have thick coats that keep them warm. Both males and females have long, curved horns.

Narwhal

The narwhal is a medium-sized whale that is immediately recognizable by its 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 referred to as the killer whale. This toothed whale belongs to the dolphin family. The killer whale has a very characteristic coloration: black back, white chest and belly. There are also white spots around the eyes. These predators prey on other marine life, for this they very 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 without a polar bear. Polar bears are one of the types of predatory mammals. 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, so it is difficult to see them in the snow. They find food under the snow, and in 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", "alder".

Dead end (axe)

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

ringed seal

The ringed seal is the smallest type of seal. She has a small, cat-like head and a fat body. This seal got its name "ringed" from the fact that silvery rings are visible on its back and sides against the background of brown fur. Ringed seals prey on small fish.

sea ​​otter

Sea otters are one of the largest representatives of the mustelid family, but at the same time, they are 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

White Arctic geese spend the whole summer in the northern part of the USA and Canada, taking care of their offspring, and fly south by winter. During migration, these birds, as a rule, look out for agricultural fields. Here they feed by digging up the roots of plants with beaks adapted for digging the soil.

white hare

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

Walrus

The walrus is easily recognizable by its large tusks, long, stiff whiskers, and short flippers. Walruses, these large and heavy animals, used to be hunted a lot for their meat and fat. Now walruses are under state protection, and hunting for them is prohibited.

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

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

herbivores

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

The Arctic is home to animals that differ in their way of feeding, obtaining food, and habitat.

This representative of the lagomorphs is an amazing animal. Previously, it was classified as a subspecies of the white hare, but today it stands out as a separate species. It has short ears, with the help of which heat transfer is reduced. 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 an excellent sense of smell, and claws help to get to plants, digging up layers of snow.

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

A graceful animal that wears branched horns on its head and has a warm and dense coat. Perfectly adapted to the harsh climate of the Arctic. The reindeer feeds on moss moss. It weighs about 200 kg, reaches a height of 1.5 meters. It lives not only throughout the region, but also inhabits nearby islands. Vegetation extracts itself with the help of wide hooves.

Interesting fact! The reindeer has variable hooves. In summer, they are loose, which improves cushioning on soft ground. In the winter season, the pores tighten, the hooves become dense and pointed, which prevents slipping on ice.

Large and powerful animal. The height of the musk ox can be up to 1.5 meters, and weighing 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 heads. This is how they protect themselves from predators. They feed on moss, tree roots, lichen, grass and flowers. Rounded hooves help to move freely on ice and rocks, as well as rake layers of snow to search for vegetation.

Reference! The musk ox has ancient roots. Even primitive people hunted these mammals. 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 shank. This is a beautiful artiodactyl animal, on the head of which there are beautiful horns. The snow sheep is slow and peaceful. More active during the day, but can also search for food at night. It lives in the mountains in groups of 20-30 heads. It feeds on lichen, moss, tree roots, needles, dry grass and other vegetation, which it digs out from under the snow with powerful hooves.

Despite their massive body, chubouks easily move by high jumps up to 2 meters. The number of these artiodactyls is gradually increasing, however, the bighorn sheep is currently under protection and is listed 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 chic "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 keeps 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 very birth of the babies.

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

The largest and most formidable predator that lives on land in this icy region. In length, the animal can reach about 2.5-3 meters, 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 is a thick layer of fat. The beast is characterized by endurance and patience in the extraction of food.

Hunts for 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 animals of the Arctic can fall into the clutches of this predator. Pregnant females mainly fall into hibernation.

Even 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 cannot quickly kill it. This predator is omnivorous and can eat any kind of food. A week can live without food.

Outwardly, they resemble a fluffy pointed-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 has sheltered a huge number of aquatic representatives of the fauna in its expanses. Consider the most amazing animals that have adapted to the eternal ice.

This is a ferocious and dangerous predator of the Arctic Ocean. Belongs to the seal family, although outwardly it does not look like them. The animal has a snake-like body, a flattened head with two rows of sharp teeth. Sea leopards weigh 270-400 kg, are up to 3-4 meters long. 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, thanks to which he got his ferocious name.

The 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.

It lives in the coastal waters of the ocean. This is a fairly large representative of the water area. In length it can reach 3.5 meters (females are larger than males). Weight up to 800 kg. A unique feature of walruses is their huge fangs up to 80 cm, sticking out of their mouths. The weight of each is 2.5-3 kg. Pinnipeds have a wide muzzle and a special whisker called vibrissae, which helps to catch the smell of mollusks (it eats about 45 kg per day). The animal is nearsighted. The eyes are very small.

A mammal inhabiting coastal waters, which outwardly 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 skin of the narwhal is speckled brown, the belly is light. The head is round with a distinct frontal part. The mouth is low, the eyes are small with sharp vision. Diet consists mainly of shellfish, fish and crustaceans.

amazing birds

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

A very beautiful bird. This is a severe predator, which 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 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 to hunt and comfortably settle in an elevated place. The diet consists of small mammals.

Interesting fact! In those 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 little bird has found its home in the Arctic. Nests are built on the ocean shores. The length of the seagull is no more than 35 cm, and weighs only 250 grams. The head has a pale pink color, 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. It swims well on water, sometimes it can land on ice floes. It feeds mainly on small insects, fish, crustaceans and molluscs. These fragile birds often become the target of predators. They are hunted by arctic foxes and reindeer.

Little auk is the second name of 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 dexterously and quickly. Feel confident in the sea. Great maneuverability and frequent strokes during the flight resemble a large insect rather than a bird. The color of the plumage resembles a tailcoat.

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