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Arctic tundra - what animals are in the tundra. Tundra animals - mammals, birds, insects, predators and other fauna

My friend often leaves me her son for a couple of hours to go shopping or get a manicure. I know that many people sit their children at a computer or tablet to keep them occupied and go about their own business. But then who will tell them about our world. Kirill is 6 years old, he will go to school soon. The child is just very inquisitive. Recently, for our small gatherings with him, I bought card game"Animal world". I will say that such games will not hurt adults either. You can learn a lot of new things for yourself. So, I'll tell you about the tundra and the animal world of this area.

Natural tundra zone

Just the mere mention of the words "North Pole" gives me goosebumps from the cold. And that's where it's located natural ecosystem called tundra.


The tundra also includes other parts the globe where there is a very similar climate. These regions are: the Arctic, a piece of Alaska and the northern part of Canada. Air temperature in the tundra in winter about -34 ° С. In summer, the air warms up to +3° and +12° C. Not very hot, I would say.


The warm season here lasts only a couple of months.. Surprisingly, even in such harsh conditions, the tundra has variety of plants and animals. Plants in this area grow quite densely to each other. This helps them escape from strong cold winds. Animalse living in the tundra spend most of their time inhibernation or migrate in search of warmth.

What animals live in the tundra

It is difficult to imagine how living beings can be in such a cold. I think in those conditions only the strongest wins. No wonder it is believed that they live in the tundra the most powerful and fearless representatives of the animal world.


live in the tundra:

  1. reindeer- they are significantly different from the domesticated representatives of these animals. Reindeer excellent adapted to life in the snow They know how to swim well, so water is not an obstacle for them.
  2. tundra wolf- the animal is very hardy. They can easily go a whole week without food. In just one day, they can travel 20 km. They are skillfully hunt for hares, ducks, and even deer.
  3. blue fox- an incredibly beautiful animal. luxurious fur protects it from severe cold. They live in groups. They are well developed mutual assistance.
  4. white hare- he lives where bushes grow. For him, this is the best place to find food. To hide from the cold, hares dig small holes for themselves. Helps them survive sub-zero temperatures twarm fur and fat reserves on the body.

In addition to these animals, numerous animals also live in the tundra zone. marine mammals and birds. All of them are able to tolerate the harsh climate of this area well. With animals, my little friend and I figured it out, now we need to look for another educational entertainment. :)

Tundra is a natural ecosystem located at the North Pole. It is included in the biome surrounding the Arctic Circle, which is also the coldest on Earth. natural area The tundra is located in the center of the North Pole, but there are other parts that are included in its territory, since they have the same climatic conditions. These regions include the Arctic, part of Alaska, and northern Canada. In the tundra average temperature in winter it is -34° C, and in summer it is between +3° and +12° C. The tundra area warms up only for two months a year. But, despite the severe cold, the tundra biome is rapidly developing. Here you can find a wide variety of flora and fauna. Plants found on the territory of the tundra are concentrated quite densely in order to protect themselves from the harsh northern winds. Tundra animals hibernate for a significant part of the year or migrate to warm regions. It is the animal world of the tundra that the list below is dedicated to.

Reindeer

This hardy animal can be safely called one of the main inhabitants of the tundra. Without him, it would be very difficult for the local population. The reindeer belongs to artiodactyl mammals.

From the appearance of the animal, its elongated body and neck and short legs disproportionate to such a physique should be distinguished. Such a structure makes the animal not ugly, but rather peculiar. They are large and slightly smaller. The first live in the Far North. The second can be seen in the taiga Siberia. Their distinctive feature is the horns, which are inherent in both the male deer and the female. This nomadic animal migrates throughout the tundra depending on weather conditions and seasons.

Many of them have become pets and are a valuable trade for local population. Deer have enemies in the face of the wolf, wolverine, arctic foxes and bears. Deer live for about 28 years.

Beluga whale

Beluga is an animal with a very memorable appearance. It has almost white skin without any markings. Only juveniles, recently born into the world, have dark blue skin, which eventually brightens to gray, and then to white. They grow up to 6 m in length and reach a weight of 2 tons.

These animals are "sociable", gathering in flocks of up to thousands of individuals during the feeding period. By talking among themselves with many sounds and even using facial expressions, beluga whales confirm the status of a very smart animal. They are easily trained and are widely represented in dolphinariums around the world.

Belugas are born off the coast, and spend most of their lives in their place of birth. By observing the movements of tagged individuals, the scientists found that the beluga whale remembers its place of birth, periodically returning there. On the shore, beluga whales roll on the pebbles to exfoliate dead skin. The width of the skin reaches 20 cm and does not stretch as it grows, so the animal needs to get rid of its upper layers.

In summer, they stay in shallow water due to the abundance of food and warm water, and in winter they go north to the drifting ice. Wintering takes place at the edge of the ice sheet, although animals can swim several kilometers under the ice, breathing through polynyas. So that these areas open water did not freeze, beluga whales break through the ice crust, which can reach 10 cm.

But still, there is a risk of suffocation or not finding wormwood in time, and for some belugas wintering ends tragically. Also in winter, beluga whales are of great interest to polar bears, which drown animals through thin ice. The beluga whale contains a lot of fat, and for bears such prey is an exceptional success.

arctic fox

The arctic fox looks like a fox, only he has small round ears, a short nose, and he himself is smaller. In winter, the animal is dressed in a bright white fur coat, only curious eyes and the tip of the nose stand out with dark spots on the white muzzle. The winter fur of the arctic fox is long, fluffy, thick. Even the soles of his paws are covered with hair. And in summer it is grayish-brown, shabby and thin. At this time, he raises offspring and is constantly busy looking for food. In summer, the arctic fox hunts on land, but in winter it can move hundreds of kilometers deep into the ocean from the coast on ice.

The animal eats whatever it can get. He picks up leftover food for a polar bear, steals eggs from birds - after them he climbs rocks, eats berries, plants and even algae. Devastates the supplies of the explorers, if he can get to them. But its main food is lemmings. When there are many foxes, up to twenty puppies are born in burrows that they dig themselves. Under the ground, they dug entire labyrinths of tunnels with nesting chambers and many exits. Puppies, when they grow up a little, crawl out of the hole for food that their parents bring them, and after six months they catch up with them in weight and begin to live on their own.

polar Wolf

This white handsome man appearance is no different from its counterparts, except for the light coat color with light additions of red. In addition, the polar wolf has a fluffy tail resembling a fox.

With the help of this color, the wolf camouflages itself in the snow and can get close to its victims. This wolf has a rather impressive size, and the females are usually smaller than the males.

The polar wolf has 42 powerful teeth that inspire fear even in the most daring hunter. With these teeth, the animal can easily gnaw even the largest bones. As the others animals that live in the tundra, the polar wolf has learned to survive in such difficult conditions.

The saying that the feet feed the wolf is appropriate in this case. Having strong legs, the animal can travel considerable distances in search of food or in pursuit of its prey. Wolves are picky eaters. Moreover, they can do without it for about 14 days. This pack animal is still a thunderstorm for all the inhabitants of the tundra. Lives for a short time, no more than 7 years.

Walrus

In the waters of the North Arctic Ocean the largest pinniped mammal lives - the walrus, leading a gregarious lifestyle off the coast of Franz Josef Land, Novaya Zemlya, in the Laptev Sea, Chukchi and Bering Seas. Despite its clumsy appearance, it swims deftly and nimbly in coastal waters and moves on land.

The length of the giant's huge body can reach 5 m, and the mass - 2 tons. characteristic feature walrus are long powerful fangs, weighing 2-4 kg each, which are a formidable weapon in a fight with a polar bear. This five meter sea ​​animal usually attacks the bear from below, thrusting its fangs into it to their full length.

The walrus is not afraid of icy water and cold arctic climate. His body, which has a thick fat layer and thick skin (3-5 cm), is well protected from hypothermia, which allows him to sleep not only on the icy shore, but also in the sea. An airy subcutaneous sac connected to the pharynx helps him stay on the water during sleep. The walrus does not see well, but it has a good sense of smell, thanks to which it senses the approach of danger. In case of alarm, the whole herd rises from its place, and in a panic rushes into the water. In a stampede, several individuals often die, the carcasses of which become food for polar bears.

Walrus skin is covered with sparse coarse hair. On the upper lip in several rows are mobile thick vibrissae, equipped with a large number of nerve endings. Vibrissae are organs of touch, with the help of which the walrus probes food at the bottom of the sea, extracting various mollusks, crustaceans, worms, and less often small fish. Fins serve as swimming and diving organs in walruses, while the rear flippers can be tucked under the body, which allows the animal to push off the ice surface.

Walruses start breeding at the age of five and only once every 3-4 years. The female gives birth to one cub and gently takes care of it for about a year, until the walrus cub grows fangs.

Unrestrained fishing on these animals led to a reduction in their numbers, and in some places even to complete extinction. Therefore, walruses are included in the Red Book of Russia as rare, endangered animals.

Bunting

Light colored birds with reddish brown backs; the size of a sparrow. Where there are people, you will also meet these cheerful, friendly birds - sometimes even at the North Pole, near the dwellings of polar explorers! "Tewie, Tewie," their silvery trills are carried over the tundra. And the residents rejoice: "Spring is coming!".

In the meantime, snow buntings deftly run from plant to plant, pecking at the seeds. In the summer, when the tundra turns green and hordes of insects appear, the birds switch to animal feed. The chicks are also fed insects.

Snow buntings have thick warm fluff under smooth feathers - they don’t care about the cold. But in winter, they still fly south, where there is more food. flying over Central Russia, snow buntings descend on the fields to refresh themselves with plant seeds. And after them, winter creeps up here imperceptibly ...

tundra wolf

Many animals live in the northern expanses of the Arctic and the tundra. Various types of mammals live here: from small rodents to large bears.

There are also predators. On the top the food chain there is a wolf. A subspecies of the wolf lives in the tundra - the tundra wolf.

The tundra wolf is one of the largest subspecies in the wolf family. An adult can reach a weight of up to fifty kilograms. Body length is up to 140 cm, females are slightly smaller. The color of the coat changes depending on the season and the age of the animal. In winter, it is practically white, with small dark spots on the muzzle or back. Old wolves acquire a reddish hue of wool, it persists into the winter.

The winter skin is denser and thicker. In any season, it is very long and soft. Under the influence of the sun, by the end of winter, the skin of the wolf fades and becomes almost white.

The tundra wolf can sleep on cold stones, buried in the snow. They do not dig holes, they can only settle in the already created minks of other animals. Tundra wolves live in packs of up to 20 adults. Most often, descendants of leaders live in a pack: alpha male and alpha female. Sometimes they can accept lone wolves into their pack. A rigid hierarchy determines the position of the wolf and his "duties". Young wolves up to 2 years of age enjoy a great position and respect in the pack.

The alpha male has "deputies" in large flocks. Usually 3-4 large adult wolves. They help keep order and suppress riots. In hunting, each wolf also has its own task: some hunt down, others drive prey, only the leader can kill a large animal. Wolves make their way through the snow in a chain, leaving a trail only from the leader, the rest must follow the trail without giving out the number of the pack. Wolves form married couples for life with one wolf. Only the leader and his alpha female can have offspring. If other couples want to have offspring, then they must leave the pack and start their own family. In the spring, the alpha male and female leave the pack for a few weeks and spend time together to have new offspring.

Tundra wolves live mostly on the territory of the tundra part of Russia from the Kola Peninsula to Kamchatka. They prefer tundra fields, can be found in the taiga and on the coasts. northern seas. They can also be found in Scandinavia.

eider-comb

The male of this sea duck has a bright comb-like growth on his forehead, which attracts the attention of females from a distance. The female is painted modestly, because it is she who will have to hatch the chicks, and she should not attract attention.

Combs arrange nests on elevated places in the tundra, lining them with their fluff. They cover their eggs with fluff when they occasionally go to feed. The eider has a light, warm down, she plucks it out of her abdomen. The male leaves the duck as soon as she sits on the eggs. And the comb incubates the ducklings and goes with them to the tundra lakes, where it is safer and more food for them. And when the chicks grow up, everyone moves to the open sea.

Diving, eiders row with both paws and wings. Collect crustaceans, mollusks from the bottom of the sea, swallowing them together with shells. They also eat benthic insects, sometimes fish. In the spring - the berries of crowberry and blueberries left over from the winter. Birds winter in the open sea, among polynyas. Comb eiders live only in Russia.

Seal

The Baikal seal is a representative of the seal family, which is the only one of all mammals that lives on Lake Baikal. She also feels good in freshwater, unlike her relatives. How the individual got into the lake, no one can answer for sure, there are only assumptions. Perhaps they came here from the Arctic during the last ice age, when the Baikal rivers were connected to the Arctic Ocean.

Body length 120 - 130 cm, weight about 80 kg. From birth, the animal grows up to 18 years. She has a gray coloring of the streamlined body, the belly is slightly lighter. The fur is short, thick and very warm.

Strong short legs in the form of flippers, small head, short tail. The forelimbs have strong claws, while the hind legs are smaller and thinner. For swimming, it uses the flippers of the hind limbs, the front ones perform a secondary role, such as turning or braking. On land, it moves with difficulty and clumsily, but it swims well. The seal lacks an outer ear. She dives to a depth of 400 meters, is under water for 30 minutes without difficulty, while her nostrils and internal hearing aid are closed with a special membrane. Vision, hearing and sense of smell are well developed.

Mustaches (vibrissae) help when hunting, they, like the nose, pick up fluctuations in water and changes chemical composition water. Leads mainly an aquatic lifestyle.

On land, they get out to rest, bask in the sun and, most importantly, give life to the cubs. She has a rather thick layer of cumulative fat 12 cm. In winter, animals do not leave the water, they make holes in thin ice in advance, through which they breathe. Eats fish.

The female's pregnancy will last 11 months. In March, one, rarely two babies are born in snow holes, which are pure white. The weight of one cub is about 4 kg. With his mother, he will stay in the den for about 2 months until the snow shelter collapses. All this time the cub eats fatty nutritious milk and quickly gains weight.

Arctic hare

This polar hare is considered the largest among its fellows. There are some other differences between rabbits. The length of the arctic's ears is much shorter than everyone else's, this helps his body retain more heat.

Their front paws are equipped with sharp and curved claws, with which they dig up the snow. Under the snow, the animal finds food, even if it is deep enough thanks to its excellent sense of smell. The main enemies of the animal are ermines, wolves, arctic foxes, lynxes, snowy owls. Arctic hare live no more than 5 years.

Whitefish

Whitefish is a fish that belongs to the salmon family. Valuable commercial fish. There are more than 40 species of this family, but it is rather problematic to distinguish between them. After all, she lives in the rivers, lakes of America and Europe, as well as northern Asia, where it is completely different conditions existence. Scientists distinguish whitefish by living conditions, places and terms of spawning of fish, by taste
The body is covered with medium-sized scales and compressed at the sides. The mouth is very small, and there are no teeth on the upper jaw. On other parts they quickly disappear, they are always very poorly developed.

He needs clean and oxygenated water with a temperature of 15 degrees C. Oxygen should be at least 8 mg / l. It feeds on plankton, and large whitefish feed on fry and small fish. The mass of one-year-old fish reaches 100 grams, and the body length is up to 30 cm. A sexually mature individual is considered at the age of 3 years.

Skuas

The skua lives in the Arctic and Antarctic tundra. Here the bird nests in the warm season. In winter, flocks of skuas move closer to the sea coast. Representatives of some species of skuas wait out the winter even within the Southern Tropic.

Skua looks like a gull, but differs from it in larger sizes. In addition, skuas have darker plumage and large skin-covered beaks. The body length of the skua is about 55 cm, and the wingspan reaches 135 cm. Due to the powerful wings, the skua shows miracles of agility during the flight, attacking the prey in the air until it takes the prey from it.

Skuas are often compared to pirates. They also appropriate someone else's food, like sea robbers. This behavior of skuas is due to the fact that these birds do not know how to fish on their own, so they take the catch from other birds. These feathered bandits attack birds not only in the air, but also on land. They often destroy bird nests. In times of famine, they even eat their own masonry.

Skuas feed not only on bird eggs and fish, although feathered robbers prefer this food. Wandering throughout the sea, skuas eat any seafood indiscriminately. Crustaceans, mollusks, worms and even the meat of dead marine animals are used. Chasing other birds, they force them to burp their prey and take it away. They do not refuse berries growing in the tundra, as well as human food waste. There are cases when South Polar skuas got so used to feeding on food waste that they took it from the hands of polar explorers on duty at Antarctic stations.

weasel

This name does not quite correspond to this animal. Weasel is a small, but predator, distinguished by its dexterity and ferocity. The fur of the animal is brownish-red.

In winter, the weasel dresses in a snow-white fur coat with a long nap. On the strong short legs of the animal, sharp claws can be seen, with the help of which the animal easily moves through the trees and breaks the holes of mice. Weasel uses jumps to move. She looks around the area, rising on two hind legs.

For affection, it is important that there is a lot of food around her. She will not live in an area where there is no one to hunt for. Is different good appetite and in a matter of days can massively destroy an entire population of rodents.

In winter, the animal moves in snowy tunnels. And in the case of severe frosts, it may not appear on the surface for a long time. Weasels should not encounter wolves, foxes, badgers, martens and birds of prey. The animal lives for about 8 years.

ptarmigan

In winter, this bird wears plumage the color of snow. Even her paws are covered with feathers - as if in white downy felt boots - and they do not freeze, and they do not fall into the snow. In winter, strong strong claws grow on the fingers, with which the partridge rakes the snow, looking for food: buds of dwarf birches and willows. She sleeps in the snow. Buried so that only the head sticks out. When food is scarce, partridges gather in huge flocks and move to the forest tundra. And so that they do not lose each other in flight, their undertails are decorated with coal-black feathers. A bird is flying, in front is a black beacon.

With the advent of spring, birds arrange nests on dry bumps. The female sits on the eggs, and the male guards his nesting site. By summer, the birds turn from snow whites into pieds - they change winter plumage to summer, lighter and darker. Yes, and their chickens are colorful, nimble. In multi-colored swamp mosses, they are difficult to notice. Children catch insects, and parents eat seeds, berries, grass shoots and vigilantly guard their offspring. Chicks grow quickly, at the age of two months, young partridges are already catching up with their parents in size.

northern fur seal

The way of life of male and female northern fur seals is very different. Adult males never move far from the islands in the Bering Sea area, where their rookeries are located. Females go annually to travel the ocean and fish. Some females even reach the coast of California. Northern fur seals are much more mobile on the ground than seals because they can bend their hind limbs under the body.
In the water, they also move differently than seals: northern fur seals row with a circular motion of the front flippers, while the rear ones mainly act as a rudder. It is known that the hearing, taste and vision of northern fur seals are very well developed, but so far it has not been possible to find out how they navigate underwater.

Northern fur seals spend most of their lives feeding in the fish-rich northern waters of the Pacific Ocean. It is fish that is the basis of their menu. In addition, northern fur seals prey on cephalopods and crustaceans. Like other pinnipeds, they find food with the help of vibrissae, which tremble at the approach of prey, which cause waves in the water. Trembling is transmitted by nerve endings. During the mating season, females regularly leave their cubs alone, going to the sea to feed, being absent for 7-8 days. Often they move up to 160 km from the coast. The seals swim, rest and sleep in the water until they reach fish-rich areas. There they hunt.

The billhooks are the first to appear in the rookery area. They fight each other for best plots. Queens appear on rookeries in mid-May-early June. They go ashore, where billhooks are waiting for them, who are trying to capture and drive more females into their harem. Harem females are jealously guarded by billhooks. During the first 1-4 days after the appearance on the rookery, the females give birth to cubs. The baby weighs about 2 kg, its length is 50 cm.

Salmon

Salmon is the most famous type of salmon. This large beautiful fish reaches one and a half meters in length and 39 kg of weight. The body of the salmon is covered with small silvery scales; there are no spots below the lateral line. salmon in the sea eating small fish and crustaceans, and entering the rivers for spawning, he stops eating and becomes very thin. The courtship attire is expressed in the darkening of the body and the appearance of red and orange spots on the sides of the body and head. In males, the jaws are lengthened and curved, a hook-shaped protrusion is formed on the upper jaw, which is included in the notch on the lower jaw. Salmon feeding places - the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean.

From here it enters to spawn in the rivers of Europe, from Portugal in the south to the White Sea and the river. Carriages in the north. Along the American coast, salmon is distributed from the Connecticut River in the south to Greenland in the north. There are several species of the genus Salmo in the Pacific Basin, but they are few in number compared to Pacific salmon of the genus Oncorhynchus. Previously, salmon were extremely numerous in all the rivers of Europe, where there were suitable spawning grounds. Walter Scott mentions the times when Scottish laborers, when they hired, made it a condition that they were not fed salmon too often. Hydro-construction, pollution of the rivers by household and factory waste, and mainly overfishing, have led to the fact that this condition is easily satisfied in our time. The number of salmon has now declined sharply, and to maintain the herd is widely used artificial breeding in special hatcheries. The course of salmon in the rivers is rather complicated. In our rivers flowing into the Barents and White Seas, large autumn salmon go from August until freezing. Its sex products are very poorly developed. The course is interrupted with the onset of winter.

polar bear

This animal is considered the largest among its fellows. His body is clumsy and angular. In all seasons, the animal has the same white-brown color. The skin consists of wool and undercoat, which saves bears from severe frosts, and also makes it possible long time be in ice water.

It may seem at first glance that polar bear clumsy and inflexible. But understanding comes when you see how skillfully this giant swims and dives.

Overcoming great distances in search of food, the bear skillfully hunts. It is very dangerous for humans. Meeting with polar bear brings big trouble.

Such hostility in an animal probably comes from its subconscious. After all, it is people who are the reason for the large decline in the number of bears due to poaching. Among the other inhabitants of the tundra, the bear has no enemies. The life expectancy of an animal in nature reaches up to 30 years. In captivity, it can increase up to 15 years.

Ermine

The ermine is a close relative of the marten, so it has many similarities with this animal: a long thin body, short limbs equipped with tenacious sharp claws, a pointed muzzle, sharp teeth and rounded ears. The paws of the animal have membranes that facilitate the movement of the ermine in the snow.

The animal is small in size and weighs between 80 - 270 grams. The length of its body reaches up to 38 cm, including a third of the length of the body is the tail.

The ermine has a wonderful snow-white color in winter time, and in summer period the animal acquires a reddish color on the back and yellowish on the abdomen. But the tip of the tail always remains black.

The ermine's favorite habitats are the polar and temperate latitudes of the northern hemisphere. Practically in all European countries meets this animal. It is not found only in the Mediterranean countries. Among Asian countries, ermine is found in Afghanistan, Iran, northern Japan, China and Mongolia. On the American continent, this animal lives in Canada and on the island of Greenland.

The ermine hunts thanks to its excellent sense organs: sense of smell and sight. It is mainly the female ermine that pulls the prey out of the hole, since it is much smaller than it in size and easily penetrates the rodent's hole.

Ermines are polygamous animals and all responsibility for bearing and raising babies lies with the female. After mating games pregnancy occurs, but in the ermine, like in many mustelids, the embryo is preserved until spring, and later its development begins. A female stoat gives birth to 3 to 17 cubs, completely helpless, which she feeds for about 2 months. Already at the age of 3-4 months, the cubs are able to get their own food on their own. Despite the high fertility, the ermine is listed in the Red Book. This animal has always been an object of hunting because of its regal fur.

tundra swan

In size, the smallest among waterfowl relatives. They feed on algae, fish and coastal vegetation. Grace, grace of birds have become symbols of beauty.

Created pairs of swans are inseparable all their lives. Large nests are built on high ground and are lined with their own feathers and those of other birds. The chicks are not left alone and are protected by strong wings and beaks.

Young growth grows stronger in 40 days. The short summer hurries the birds. Lesser tundra swan is listed animals of the red book of the tundra. Shooting birds is prohibited.

snow sheep

The bighorn sheep (bighorn) is an artiodactyl ruminant animal that belongs to the bovid family. Adult weight male can reach up to 150 kg. The snow sheep lives in the highlands of Siberia, Sakhalin and Kamchatka. The number of species in 2017 is slightly more than 100 thousand individuals around the globe. Detailed description help you get a more accurate picture.

The bighorn sheep, or bighorn, has a large downed physique. Due to the fact that the habitat of animals is mostly high mountain ranges, their structure is more similar to the exterior of mountain goats than to their closest relatives. The cervical region is shortened, the loin is long and wide. The changes also affected the distal legs: they also became shorter.

In the warm season, the body of the Snow Sheep is covered with short fur. In autumn, the process of changing the coat begins, but outwardly this practically does not manifest itself. Already in September, there is an active growth of spinous undercoat. Fluffy hairs and guard roots have a lighter color, therefore, by the onset of cold weather, the shade of the coat changes due to breaking off the upper part of the guard hairs. In the summer, when there is enough pasture in the meadows, the weight of the lambs is significantly greater than in the winter.

The snow sheep reaches sexual maturity at 2 years of age. The birth of young animals falls on the warm season. Lambs develop quickly and adapt to grazing. Already at the age of 1 month most of livestock refuses milk and completely switches to adult food. Fertility is low: the female at a time brings mainly one lamb.

The structure of the digestive tract of the Snow Sheep is the same as that of domesticated representatives. The length of the intestine is 30 times the length of the body, so pets can eat enough a large number of fodder. A powerful chewing apparatus allows the lambs to eat not only juicy greens, but also thorns, as well as all kinds of spikelets, carefully separating with their teeth even twigs close to the ground.

musk ox

The musk ox is a unique animal, the only one of its kind that has been preserved since the Ice Age. Its name was determined by the similarity with a bull and a ram. Scientists have proven that the musk ox is an intermediate link between them, although it is much closer to sheep in its genotype.

The musk ox got its second name because of the characteristic smell emitted by the infraorbital or orbital glands. The musk ox lives in a dry, harsh arctic belt Canada, Greenland, as well as Norway, Russia and Alaska, where they were brought by man to restore livestock.

The body of the musk ox is strong, squat. The powerful head is firmly planted on a thick neck. The ears are pointed, the eye sockets look to the sides, the eyes are dark brown. The horns converge on the forehead with a powerful base and are designed to protect against enemies and fights during the rut. The horns grow up to six years, curving first down and forward, and then up and out. The limbs are short with two main hooves, small side hooves and wide heels. This structure allows you to move well on slippery crust. The long and very warm coat consists of down, intermediate, outer and guide hair.

Musk oxen feed on forbs, sedge, and willow. With their front hooves, they are able to extract dry plants from under the snow.

The main natural enemies of musk oxen are polar bears, wolverines and wolves, as well as man, due to whose activities they were partially exterminated and listed in the Red Book. Today, the livestock of musk oxen has been restored by reintroduction and is constantly monitored.

Sterkh (white crane)

The white crane is the rarest species of cranes, which is endemic to the northern regions of Russia. Slender bird, covered with white plumage, with high and steady legs. Nest in the Tyumen region, and mostly in Yakutia. Winters in India and China.

The total weight is 5-9 kg, the wingspan is 230 cm, the height of the bird reaches 140 cm. long body, thin elongated neck and small head. The tips of the wings are decorated with black primary plumage, visible during flight. It has an elongated red beak. Each foot has four toes. The membranes connect only the middle and outer fingers.

The existence of the white crane is endangered. To improve the population of Siberian Cranes international union Conservation of Nature has included them in the lists of the Red Book. They are also in the Russian Red Book. The total number of individuals in wild nature Yakutia is somewhere around 2900–3000. The West Siberian Siberian Cranes have a depressing situation - only about 20 individuals remain in nature.

Excessive legibility in habitat conditions makes it difficult to preserve Siberian Cranes. The bird avoids the presence of people, leaving the nest when a person approaches. In food, Siberian Cranes are not picky. The spring and summer diet consists of small rodents, eggs and chicks of other birds, fish, insects, cranberries, sedges and cotton grass (underwater). During winter migration, they feed on plant foods.

Lemming

Lemmings are small mouse-like rodents famous for their unprecedented fertility and amazing migrations. Lemmings belong to the hamster family and are systematically close to voles and hamsters, but they have a more distant relationship with mice. In total, 4-8 species of these rodents are distinguished.

Lemmings are small animals, but still noticeably larger than mice, their body length is 12-18 cm, the tail is short - only 1-2 cm. They are very similar in physique to well-known hamsters: small beady eyes, short sensitive vibrissae (“whiskers” ) and the same short legs. In ungulate lemmings, the claws on the paws grow and become wide by winter, besides, they are also bifurcated at the ends - hence the name "ungulate". Lemmings have short hair, their fur is of no value. The color of different species varies from gray to brown.

Lemmings live exclusively in cold latitudes. northern hemisphere. The ungulate lemming is distributed circumpolarly, that is, its range covers the north pole in a ring, the rest of the species occupy separate areas of the tundra. For example, the Norwegian lemming is found only in Scandinavian and Kola Peninsula, Siberian lives in the tundra from the Northern Dvina to Eastern Siberia, the Amur lemming is found exclusively in Eastern Siberia, and the brown lemming is found only in Alaska and northern Canada. Like all rodents, lemmings live alone, meeting each other only for mating, which, however, happens often. They are active almost around the clock.

Most of the time, lemmings live sedentary, occupying certain areas of the tundra. Each animal digs a hole in its area in the upper layer of soil thawed from permafrost, sometimes lemmings make half-open nests of twigs and moss in the deepening of the soil. Tiny paths trodden by the animal diverge from the hole in all directions. Lemmings prefer to move along such paths and completely eat away the greenery around them, in winter they also adhere to these summer paths, breaking through passages under the snow. Lemmings do not hibernate during the winter.

american gopher

The American ground squirrel is a species of small rodent from the squirrel family. It is found in the tundra and is the prey of foxes, wolverines, lynxes, bears, and eagles. In summer, it feeds on tundra plants, seeds and fruits to increase fat before hibernation. By the end of summer, male ground squirrels begin to store food in burrows so that in the spring there will be something to eat until new vegetation grows. The burrows are covered with lichens, leaves and musk ox fur.

During hibernation, the gopher's brain temperature drops to near freezing, body temperature reaches -2.9°C, and heart rate drops to ~1 beat per minute. The temperature of the colon and blood becomes minus. Hibernation in adult males it lasts from late September to early April, and in females from early August to late April. Body temperature drops from 37° C to -3° C. Coat color changes depending on the season. The fur is soft and velvety, and protects the animal from cold winds. Its homeland is North American arctic tundra, and the main habitats are on the slopes of mountains, lowlands of rivers, shores of lakes and mountain ranges. Ground squirrels prefer sandy soil due to easy digging and good drainage.

Sea lion

Sea lion - representatives of the eared seal family got their name due to their close resemblance to land lions. males sea ​​lions emit a growl-like growl African lion. On their heads you can see the same shaggy manes. The pinniped animal (in Latin “with feet-fins”) is streamlined, bulky, but flexible and slender, capable of reaching more than two meters in length.

Many are interested in how much an adult sea lion weighs? The mass of a flipper mammal reaches 300 kg. Although the sea lion is quite bulky and looks too big and unwieldy, it feels great for its weight. Female sea lions are much smaller than males by several times - an average of 90 kg. The head of the animal is small in size, outwardly resembles the head of a dog: an elongated, flexible neck, huge bulging eyes. On the muzzle are large, dense whiskers. At the top of the head of the lions is a real hairstyle - a tuft.

The fur of marine life has a brown-black tint. The coat is quite short and sparse, so it is not particularly valued, unlike fur seal fur. Due to the presence of thick limbs-fins, animals deftly move along the coast. Their seal relatives are not as nimble as lions. The body of animals is much more plastic than that of relatives.

Sea lions easily overcome long distances in the water and show real acrobatic etudes. With the help of flippers, they professionally maneuver in the expanses of water and easily redirect their bulky body in any direction. Thus, getting food is not difficult, and the marine life has won the title of a successful getter. Going in search of food, the lion can swim several kilometers from the coast.

phalarope

The flat-nosed phalarope is a bird from the genus flat-nosed phalaropes of the snipe family. Distributed in the arctic regions of Eurasia and North America. This is a migratory bird, which is unusual for waders, migrating mainly along oceanic routes, wintering in tropical seas. They return back from the end of May to the second half of June.

The phalarope is about 21 cm long, with lobed toes and a straight beak that is somewhat thicker than that of the round-nosed phalarope. The weight of the male is 42–51 g, the female is 57–60 g. The length of the wings is 12–14 cm. During the breeding season, females are black on the upper body and red on the lower, with a white spot on the cheek. The beak is yellow, with a black tip. Juveniles are light gray or brown on top, with buffalo-colored underparts and dark spots on the eyes. In winter, the plumage is gray-white.

Females are larger in size than males. They chase males, compete for breeding territory, and actively defend their nests. The nest is located near the water. The female lays three to six olive-black eggs and migrates south, after which the male begins to incubate the eggs. Chicks, as a rule, are able to feed themselves, and can fly by the age of 18 days.

When feeding, phalaropes often swim in a small, fast circle, forming a gentle whirlpool. Sometimes they fly in the air, catching insects. In the open ocean, they feed near whale populations. Outside of the nesting season, they often travel in flocks. Flat-nosed phalaropes can very often be tame and easily accustomed to humans.

Kamenushka

Kamenushka is a species of birds of the duck family. It is distinguishable from other ducks by the color of its plumage: the drake is dark with rusty-red sides, a white crescent spot in front of the eye, a white collar, white spots and stripes on the sides of the head and on the body. Its head and neck are black, matte. The female is also dark, with three white spots on her head.

The kamenushka is widespread in North-Eastern Siberia, the Far East, North-West America, Greenland, Iceland. Inhabits highlands, mainly rivers of the glacial zone. It is a migratory bird throughout most of its range. It winters along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts located south of the breeding grounds. In winter, it stays on the sea near rocky shores.

Kamenushka is an animal-eating duck, it feeds on insects, crustaceans, mollusks and other animals, for which, as a rule, it dives. It floats high on the water with its tail up and takes off easier and faster than most diving ducks. The voice of a drake during the mating season is a loud two-syllable cry that is difficult to convey and even more difficult to describe. In a flock, the birds communicate with a quiet quack, similar to the voice of a mallard.

In view of the small number of kale, it does not have any noticeable commercial value, with the exception of some wintering areas. The indigenous peoples of Siberia do not touch this beautiful duck at all, since many of them believe that the stones are the souls of drowned children.

peregrine falcon

The peregrine falcon is very widespread - it is found in almost every corner of our planet. Peregrine subspecies inhabit Australia, North America, Europe and Asia, Africa (except for the rainforest zone). Least rare in South America.

The peregrine falcon belongs to the group of "true falcons". This is the second largest bird of the falcon family, only the gyrfalcon grows larger. The peregrine falcon is endowed with a wide chest, dense plumage and a strong skeleton. He has a well developed muscular system. The peregrine falcon has large pointed wings, long fingers, a short tail and tarsals. The claws are strong and sharp, sickle-shaped.

The weight of an adult peregrine falcon varies from 700 to 1200 grams. The wingspan is 85-120 cm, the size of one wing is about 30-40 cm, the total body length can be from 40 to 50 cm. Males are about a third smaller than females.

The color of males and females practically do not differ. The back of the predator is decorated with a transverse bluish pattern on a gray-brown background of different shades, the lower back and undertail are painted in lighter shades. The wing feathers are dark brown (almost black). On the inner side of the wing, a pattern of red or Brown. The belly of young peregrine falcons is red in color with brown longitudinal variegated stripes. Black claws, paws yellow color. The beak is black at the tip and gradually brightens towards the base.

Peregrine Falcons are predominantly inhabitants of open spaces - they do not settle in dense forests. Often they nest near the forest, in the river valley, the bird is often found in cities. Nests are usually not built, occupying the dwellings of other birds. Nest pads are not used. Often peregrine falcon nests are located on tall trees or rocks, as well as on tall buildings if the peregrine falcon lives in an urban area.

With the exception of peregrine falcons living in the warm southern regions, all other representatives of the species are nomads. With the onset of cold weather, they move further south. Only peregrine falcons living in warm southern regions lead sedentary life.

red-throated goose

The red-breasted goose is one of the most unusual species birds of those that have ever lived in our country. This is a Russian endemic, that is, this bird is not found in any other country. It lives in Siberia, and more than 70 percent of all red-breasted geese are concentrated on the Taimyr Peninsula. Legends have been circulating around the world since ancient times about the unusualness and beauty of these birds. Here are a few cases of close interest in the red-breasted geese. In 1723, Peter I sent an expedition to Siberia and ordered that as many hitherto unseen animals and plants be brought to him from there.

Among the animals delivered to the king were "goats - black wings, brown goiters." These birds were known earlier (apparently thanks to explorers), then they were called red geese. In the 1960s, India wanted to acquire several red-breasted geese, offering two elephants in return.

The red-throated goose is a small goose-like bird. Body length 55cm, weight up to 2kg, wingspan 130cm. It is sharply distinguished from other birds by its beautiful plumage, which so attracted kings, foreigners and just lovers of wildlife. The head, back and belly of this goose are black, with white stripes running along the sides. The neck and chest (goiter) are red-brown in color, framed by a white stripe; on the cheeks there are the same red-brown spots, around which there is also a white stripe.

Undertail is white. The beak of the red-breasted goose is quite small, it is painted black. Like other geese, red-breasted geese move to warmer climes for the winter. Previously, they wintered on the coast of the Caspian Sea, but today they fly only to the Black Sea. They arrive in their native places not earlier than the second half of June, and fly away already in September; thus, "at home" they live no more than three months a year.

The red-throated goose leads a diurnal lifestyle, sometimes in the middle of the day the flock temporarily stops looking for food and goes to the watering place. These goose spend the night in the water, although sometimes they can stay on land.

Orlan

Eagles are birds of prey from the buzzard subfamily of the hawk family. Eagle species are widespread on all continents except South America, but 2 species and 1 subspecies are listed in the International Red Book. Eagles prefer to live near water bodies. Unlike eagles , these birds have a bare tarsus.

The eagle is a massive, majestic bird. Her body length is from 70 to 110 cm, the wingspan is 2-2.5 m, the weight is in the range from 3 to 7 kg. The beak is large, hooked, the tail and wings are wide, the legs are strong, without plumage, with long curved claws. The pads on the paws are rough, which is necessary for the bird to hold slippery prey (primarily fish). The plumage is mostly brown, with some parts of the body white. In some species, white plumage of the head, shoulders, tail, and body is found. The beak is yellow.

The basis of the eagle's diet are fish and waterfowl. Eagle prey usually becomes big fish weighing from 2 to 3 kg (salmon, pike, carp), from near-water birds the eagle hunts gulls, herons, geese, storks, ducks, flamingos. The eagle looks out for its victims from tall trees or in flight around a body of water.

Having spotted the prey, the predator approaches it very quickly: it plunges its long claws into the birds right in the air, and deftly snatches the fish from the surface of the water, but never dives under water after it. If there are a lot of fish in the reservoir, then up to ten eagles can hunt in the same place. In such joint hunting, birds often steal or take prey from each other.

Eagles are very widespread and are not found only in Antarctica and South America. Birds of this species always stay near water bodies: they do not fly near the coast of rivers, lakes, seas, inland. This is explained by the fact that sea eagles get their main food in or near water. Eagles are sedentary birds, but in cold winters, when water bodies freeze, they migrate south.

Merlin

Body length 50 - 95 cm, weight 1 - 2 kg. Wing length 34 - 42 cm, wingspan 120 - 135 cm. Females are larger than males. The plumage is dense, pockmarked. Gray-brown in color with white speckles on the back, head and wings. The belly of the bird is white with a rare transverse dark pattern. The throat and cheeks are white. There are white gyrfalcons with dark spots. The beak is short, bent down with a hook, a tooth on the edge of the mandible. The eyes are large and dark, vision is excellent. The legs are yellow, half-feathered, on the fingers there are sharp curved claws. The tail is long, the wings are pointed.

They live in Europe and North America. They live in the tundra and in the northern forest zone. They lead both sedentary and migratory lifestyles. From the northern regions, birds migrate to the forest-tundra.

They form pairs for life. They hunt alone. They feed mainly on birds, their main food is white partridges. In times of famine, rodents are caught. Hunts birds in flight, swooping down in mid-flight. He grabs the prey with strong paws, then kills it with a blow of his beak and eats it, sitting on a branch or a rocky stone. In general, this is a silent bird, but in an alarming state it makes hoarse sounds “hhek”, “heekk”. It flies quickly and flaps its wings frequently. Gyrfalcon is strong and hardy, smart and cautious.

The nest does not build, it occupies strangers - ravens, or other large birds, and uses it for several years. If necessary, can repair the building. The nest is lined with moss or grass. Or maybe arrange a nest on a rocky ledge. mating season starts in April. Soon the female will lay 2 - 4 buffy eggs in red-red spots. She incubates alone for a month. The male provides food for the mate. The chicks are born in white fluff, they will spend two months in the nest, during which time they will change the fluff to feathers. Parents feed the children together, protect and educate. Then the chicks leave the nest and take to the wings, receive lessons in hunting skills from their mother and father. By September, the family will break up, and young birds begin an independent life.

Tundra Horned Lark

Slightly larger than a sparrow (body length up to 20 cm, wingspan up to 37 cm). Thanks to the original pattern and black "horns" of feathers, the birds are well distinguished from all other representatives of passerine birds. Sexual dimorphism is weakly expressed. The male is a little brighter than the female, he has a monochromatic pinkish-red crown.

The breeding range is discontinuous, occupying high latitudes and individual parts of the mountain ranges of Eurasia and North America.

Inhabits mountainous and dry lowland tundras and steppes, avoiding low and damp areas of tundras and steppes. For nesting, birds choose moss-lichen or dryad-moss areas on the peaks and slopes of tundra hills with clumps of grasses and patches of bare, clean rocky ground. They arrive in the mountain tundra with the appearance of the first thawed patches. The nest is located quite openly, usually next to a tuft of grass. The nest is built from grass, vegetable fluff; sometimes it contains the hair of rodents, deer, and extremely rarely feathers. The clutch contains from 2 to 5 eggs of ocher-gray color, with small uneven specks of gray or brownish color. Both adult birds feed. After leaving the nest, some chicks are led by the male, others by the female. Chicks are fed insects. In winter, they eat various seeds, choosing them from grass sticking out above the snow, from hay, picking them up on the roads. At the end of summer, they roam in broods, which gradually unite into large flocks by autumn. In the south of the nesting area, birds may overwinter.

sperm whales

The sperm whale is the most big representative toothed whales: the body length of males reaches 20 meters with a mass of about 60 tons, females - 13 meters and a weight of 30 tons. The origin of the species name is probably related to the Portuguese word cachola, which means "big head". It is difficult to argue with this fact, because the square head of the sperm whale is about a third of the length of the whale's body. The square shape of the head is given by a cushion of spermaceti, which can weigh up to 6 tons. There is still no consensus about its purpose: someone claims that the pillow is used for echolocation, others that it plays the role of a swim bladder.
The lower jaw of the sperm whale is much narrower and shorter than the muzzle, but it can open to 90 *, and is strewn with at least two dozen pairs of conical teeth. There are practically no teeth on the upper jaw.

The upper body and sides of the whale are covered with wrinkled skin, the color of which varies from grayish-brown to black-brown (this can be clearly seen in the video below). The dorsal fin is poorly developed and looks more like a hump, the tail is large, the pectoral fins are rounded and wide and short.

This whale belongs to those few species of animals that can be found almost anywhere in the oceans, almost the same as the blue whale. This is largely due to what the sperm whale eats, since its main prey - squid and octopus - are found almost everywhere. Also occasionally, stingrays, small sharks, cod, pollock, and some other marine fish fall into the menu of the sperm whale.

For prey, the sperm whale can dive to a depth of 3 km, which is a record for mammals, and can stay at a depth of up to 2 hours. It is here that he encounters giant octopuses up to 10 meters long, after contact with which large scars remain on the body of the whale.

The tundra occupies a vast area of ​​northern Russia. Although there is no forest at all and the climate is very harsh, many animals find their food and feel at home. Due to low temperatures, no trees can grow in the tundra, even conifers can't stand the cold. However, in this area there are about 1300 species of animals that have managed to adapt to extreme conditions north. What animals live in the tundra? What do these animals eat?

Vegetation

Despite the cold, mosses and lichens grow in the tundra, and in the south of the region you can find polar willow and dwarf birch. The development of this vegetation contributes humid climate. There is little precipitation in the tundra, but due to low temperatures and low evaporation, there are many swamps and lakes. What do animals eat in the tundra?

The most common plant in this northern zone is reindeer moss (moss). For its growth, there is enough moisture here, but it does not require heat. Moss moss grows very slowly and is the main source of food for reindeer.

There are also many shrubs in the tundra. They are not afraid of frost and at the first manifestations of heat begin to be covered with juicy fruits. These are blueberries, lingonberries, cloudberries and cranberries.

The vegetation of the tundra has a creeping or cushion shape. Even birches and willows grow here as dwarf species, miniature, about 30 cm. strong winds capable of breaking their stems.

There is permafrost in the tundra, and juicy grass is simply not to be found here. However, the animals of this region have adapted to its inhospitable conditions and have learned to get food from under layers of snow, find leaves and eat moss. What animals live in the tundra?

arctic fox

This beautiful animal belongs to the canine family. Depending on the species, the fur of the arctic fox is white or blue, and changes its shade slightly with the season. The light fox in the summer becomes dirty brown, and in winter its fur coat shines with noble whiteness and merges with the snow. Blue fox in the cold season becomes darker: brown or blue-gray.

This northern beast is famous for its thick and incredibly beautiful fur. In spring and autumn, he has a molt, which lasts about 4 months. The finest and thickest fur of Arctic foxes grows during the winter months.

Animals in the tundra survive under severe frosts and harsh winds. The polar fox carefully prepares for the winter: it digs a hole near the water, surrounded by stones. This allows him to reliably hide from the cold and hide from larger predators.

The Arctic fox feeds on small rodents, birds, fish and berries. During lean periods, this animal follows polar bears in search of the remains of the meat of dead seals. The life expectancy of a fox is about 10 years.

Lemming

This animal is one of the most common and numerous inhabitants of the tundra. Lemmings feed on fruits, plant roots, and seeds. When rodents reach the age of only 2-3 months, they are ready to breed and reproduce. For a year, one female brings about 60 cubs.

Animals living in the tundra often migrate. Basically, lemmings move to other places to search for food. These small rodents are of no value to humans. But the fauna of the tundra simply will not survive without lemmings, since they are the main food for foxes and arctic foxes.

Reindeer

This noble animal has excellent endurance, and thick fur protects it from frost and winds of the tundra. Reindeer migrate annually to the northern parts of the region. With sharp hooves, they scrape the remains of lichens from the frozen soil, but there are very few of them for proper nutrition. Therefore, deer change their habitat and head north.

When moving, a deer can reach speeds of up to 80 km / h. And very often this saves him from the attack of predators such as a wolf or a bear. The reindeer has the ability to see in the ultraviolet spectrum, so the fur of any animal in the snow appears to him as a dark spot.

polar Wolf

These are incredibly smart and strong animals. In the tundra of Russia there are white wolves, whose thick wool saves them from the severe frosts of the north. They mostly live near their birthplace. However, they often have to travel enormous distances in order to feed and survive.

An adult animal needs about 5 kg of meat per day to feed. Therefore, wolves are picky in food and use any living creature. In summer, they catch birds, frogs, and in winter they hunt polar hares and lemmings.

However, deer are the main source of food for these predators. At the time of migration, wolves pursue them, divide the herd and skillfully hunt, resorting to tricks in the form of ambushes or a long pursuit of a weak prey.

white hare

Mostly representatives of this class are small animals. Larger hares live in the tundra, sometimes reaching a weight of 5 kg. Belyaks live in burrows near the slopes of rivers, where there is more vegetation. Since there is little grass in the tundra, hares have adapted to eat branches and roots of shrubs, tree bark.

Mostly white hare are active at night, but in the tundra they have to go out in search of food during the day. Hares have a very well-developed hearing, and in the event of the slightest rustle, they take to their heels, skillfully hiding and confusing their tracks. The burrows of these animals reach a length of up to 8 meters. Sensing danger, hares hide deep in their shelters, and no noise can make them leave.

Animal protection

Most of the inhabitants of this northern region are endangered animals. It is very rare to see polar bears in the tundra. Basically, these large animals live in the Arctic. Polar bears are listed in the Red Book, and any kind of hunting for them is completely prohibited in Russia.

Several reserves have been created to protect the tundra fauna. Information about animals in the tundra is constantly updated, and their numbers are counted annually. It is difficult for animals to survive in the difficult conditions of this cold region, and rare species may disappear completely.

By the word "tundra" the Finns mean "a treeless, bare upland." Scientists call the tundra a natural ecosystem located at the North Pole. The tundra is not limited to the central part of the North Pole. The regions falling under this concept include territories with identical climatic conditions: the northern part of Canada, some areas of Alaska and the Arctic. In winter it often gets cold down to -50°C. In the fleeting summer months, the air temperature often warms up no higher than 3°-12°C above zero.

photo: Martien Uiterweerd

Despite such harsh conditions, the tundra has become a home for many representatives of the fauna. Adapted to harsh reality, animals are waiting out hard times by migrating to warmer climes. Some of them prefer to conserve energy by hibernating.

With the advent of spring, the tundra comes to life. The top layer of soil warms up, in which earthworms can be found. The special mucus that formed the capsules prevented them from freezing during the long winter months. Ice-bound rivers, swamps and lakes are thawing. Eggs of mosquitoes and midges awaken to life.

Photo: Alvaro F. Polo

Swarms of insects flying above the ground attract numerous feathered brethren to deserted places in winter: ducks, geese, cranes, horned larks, snow bunting, small (polar) swans, black and barnacle geese, turnstones, sea sandpipers, ptarmigans and white-winged plovers. Donnoye Atlantic Current supplies plankton, molluscs and fish. The latter is food for gulls, terns, eiders, skuas and others. sea ​​birds. Records for the distance of flights are set by the arctic tern, which annually overcomes a distance of 70,000 km. By the end of their lives, these birds have time to fly about 2 million km.

Local streams and lakes also abound with fish, in which vendace, nelma, omul and broad whitefish live. There are no reptiles. Many animals suffer from pesky blood-sucking insects. There are 12 species of mosquitoes alone in the tundra.

photo: Squier

From emerald sea ​​waves seals periodically emerge, expressing sincere surprise with their whole appearance. If you're lucky, you can see a whale. Killer whales are perfectly adapted to living in the tundra. A high-calorie diet helps build up an insulating layer of fat that makes it easier to survive in cold water. Thick skin protects the beluga whale floating among the ice from damage.

Coastal areas were chosen by sea lions and seals. Tireless swimmers can be called walruses, not being on land for several days. Amazing animals are able not only to relax, but also to sleep in icy water. Inflated throat pouches help them stay near the surface of the water. half a ton subcutaneous fat protect giants from low temperatures, and powerful fangs help to repel the attack of such a serious enemy as a polar bear.

photo:Allan Hopkins

A typical representative of the tundra fauna is the reindeer. Huge migratory herds are hunted by polar wolves gathering in packs. They can travel hundreds of kilometers per day. Adults need about 4.5 kg of meat daily. AT better days this figure can increase up to 10 kg. The skin merging with the whiteness of the snow helps them to sneak up on potential prey unnoticed. In addition to deer, wolves can also pursue other large herbivores (moose, musk oxen). They do not disdain smaller animals: rats, hares, beavers, etc.

photo: Martien Uiterweerd

The life of most inhabitants of the harsh region depends on the population of lemmings, ground squirrels and field mice. small rodents are included in the diet of both birds (tundra falcons, gyrfalcons, polar owls) and four-legged predators (arctic foxes, ermines, minks, polar foxes, etc.).

Arctic fox (Arctic fox) photo: Brigitte E

Arctic foxes live exclusively in Arctic zone. In nature, there are two varieties: blue and white. The first type is common in non-snowy Arctic territories, while individuals of the second type can be found exclusively in snowy regions. By nature, these beautiful animals are loners, live in small holes. Snow-white fur helps the animal to hide from predators in winter. In the summer, its skin darkens.

photo:Sophia Granchinho

Changes color depending on the time of year and arctic hare. The body of this hare is equipped with large hind legs, with the help of which it makes jumps up to 3 meters if necessary. Escaping from persecution, the hare is able to develop a rather impressive speed (up to 43 km / h).

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The world of the tundra is unusually harsh in its climate, but at the same time it has an attractive beauty. Its richness of landscapes is incalculable, and the animals, adapted to local conditions, amaze with their grace. Tundra is a natural ecosystem located in the north of the globe. The zone where life flourishes is in the central part of the North Pole. In winter, the temperature here fluctuates around -35°С, and in summer it does not rise above +12°С.

The totality of tundra ecosystems (biome) is actively developing, despite the difficult climatic conditions. The fauna of these places is full of great diversity. Animals spend a lot of time hibernating or looking for warmer regions.

Animals and plants of the tundra: list

The world of tundra flora is presented in a very poor way:

  • Moss- a small shrub, not exceeding 5 cm in height. The plant does not have flowers and a root system at all. Moss absorbs a significant amount of water, which allows you to maintain a balance of fluid in the tundra.
  • Lichens- relatives of microscopic fungi and algae. They are the main component in the diet of deer, which, due to a special enzyme, are able to digest them. Lichens also feed on insects and invertebrates.
  • On the southern borders of the tundra regions grow dwarf birches and willows. In summer you can observe the flowering of buttercups, poppies and forget-me-nots. Berry plants bear fruit at the end of summer.

The fauna of the northern regions is not as diverse as in areas with warm climate but replete with the same lust for life. All animals in the tundra are perfectly adapted to cold winters, as they have thick coats. For each of them wise nature stored up a source of food, which allows you to maintain your own population. What animals live in the tundra, a world of cold and danger?

  • Predators live here: arctic foxes, tundra wolves, ermines.
  • You can see mammals: killer whale, sea lion, seal.
  • The tundra sheltered a huge number of rodents: lemmings, ground squirrels.
  • Large animals thrive in this cold world: polar bear, musk ox, elk and reindeer.

Let us describe some representatives of the fauna of the tundra.

Man, having made friends with this giant, mastered the extreme expanses of the earth. The wild reindeer is slightly larger than its domesticated counterpart. These animals live in communities of several thousand individuals. Their migration path always remains constant from generation to generation. In every nomadic season they cover about 500 kilometers.

The structure of their hooves is designed to move on loose snow cover. Special indentations on the limbs, shaped like a scoop, help the reindeer to get their own food (moss and reindeer moss). These beautiful animals swim well and easily cope with large bodies of water.

In the diet of reindeer, one can find variety of berries, herbs and mushrooms. These animals sometimes gnaw the horns of their fellow tribesmen in order to restore salt losses during migrations. The cubs are able to stand on their feet the very next day after birth and suck their mother's milk. A serious danger to weak individuals and newborns is the tundra wolf.

These tundra animals can be found throughout the Arctic region. Polar foxes are very fond of eating small rodents and feathered eggs. In difficult times, the arctic fox will not disdain even dead flesh. They may follow polar bears in the hope of feasting on the remains of their dinner. Berries and some herbs are also included in the diet of these tricksters.

Polar foxes build burrows for habitation and shelter. The slopes of small hills or the space on the banks of rivers are suitable for building sites. Burrows are equipped with several exits for unforeseen situations. Foxes are endowed with thick down on their paws and body, which helps them not to lose the necessary warmth in extreme weather conditions. The body of the fox is small, and the tail, on the contrary, is colossal. The polar fox uses it as an additional source of heat.

Wolf

The beast has incredible endurance: it can live for a whole week without any food and run about 20 kilometers per day. But when this animal of the tundra catches up with its prey, not even a claw will remain of it. Packed wolves hunt, and the roles of beaters and those who attack are strictly distributed. Wolves are endowed with an excellent sense of smell, a hearing aid and see perfectly at a considerable distance. A large flock preys on deer cubs or their weak individuals.

Wolves have unsurpassed strength and cunning. This beast tries to avoid humans. The female and male meet only once, during the mating season (early-mid-spring). However, they never cheat on each other.

This tundra animal belongs to the dolphin family, where it is the most major representative. sea ​​predator perfectly adapted to living in the harsh conditions of the Arctic.

The killer whale is distinguished by a great mind and ingenuity. Despite the fact that these mammals live in all the oceans of the planet, they still prefer cold waters.

Killer whales start migrating if there is a shortage of food in the tundra world. Predatory killer whales need an abundance of food, as the fat layer allows you to keep warm in the body. The diet includes:

  • large seals;
  • dolphins;
  • small whales and sharks;
  • squids, octopuses and turtles;
  • rodents living in the seas and rivers.

The length of the torso of an adult reaches eight meters, the weight is about seven tons. Killer whales are united in families numbering about fifty individuals. They are able to leave food for their relatives and do not leave the location of the pack for a long time.

Lemmings

These very small rodents have become known for their extraordinary fecundity, with which they make up for the permanent extermination of their own population by tundra predators. Lemmings are very voracious and eat twice their weight in food per day. They are distinguished by inextinguishable energy and do not fall into hibernation at all. Rodents eat for twenty hours, the rest of the time is devoted to short sleep.

Where there are plenty of these animals, huge populations of other tundra animals flock. Lemmings themselves roam to new places if the species has overpopulated the area. They live in small burrows with several exits.

Sea lion

The mammal is distinguished by small ears, wide and long front flippers, which are the main tool for moving in the aquatic environment. The body of a sea lion is covered with a thick coat of wool. The life span of an animal is 20 to 30 years.

Sea lions need a significant amount of food to survive. They feast on fish, representatives of cephalopods and bivalves. These animals can hunt at great depths due to the peculiarities of their physiology. Sea lions go to land to rest, bask in the sun and breed.

Save the tundra world

The flora and fauna of the northern regions is extremely vulnerable, so the human task is to ensure the safety of representatives of the Arctic latitudes. Today is being created more nature reserves, where animals listed in the Red Book are sent.