The tundra is one of the harshest biomes on Earth, with bitterly cold temperatures, strong winds, and little precipitation Despite the inhospitable conditions, a variety of specially adapted animals call the tundra home In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at some of the most iconic tundra animals and how they survive in this extreme environment.
Overview of the Tundra Biome
The tundra biome can be split into three main types
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Arctic tundra – Found in the far northern reaches of North America, Europe, and Asia. Characterized by permafrost and short summers.
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Alpine tundra – Occurs at high elevations in mountain ranges worldwide. Trees cannot grow due to the cold.
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Antarctic tundra – Limited to Antarctica and some subantarctic islands. The coldest and driest tundra type.
All tundra regions share some key features – low temperatures, brief summers, stunted vegetation, and permafrost. Animals living here must be able to withstand the cold and find food despite minimal plant growth.
Iconic Tundra Mammals
Some of the most well-known tundra animals are the mammals. Let’s look at a few of the most iconic:
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Muskox – A large bovine well adapted to the cold with its dense, layered coat. It feeds on tundra grasses and sedges. Population around 120,000.
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Reindeer – Known as caribou in North America. Migrates long distances and feeds on lichen and flowering tundra plants. Vital to native cultures.
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Arctic fox – Its thick white coat provides camouflage in winter. Feeds on lemmings, birds, fish, and other small animals.
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Polar bear – Spends much time hunting seals on the Arctic sea ice. Population declining due to climate change impacts.
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Snow leopard – Lives in Central Asian high mountains. Has thick fur and hunts nimble prey like ibex and marmots. Endangered.
Hardy Tundra Birds
Some birds are able to eke out a living in the harsh tundra as well. Some key examples:
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Snowy owl – Mostly white plumage provides camouflage when hunting lemmings and other small prey.
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Ptarmigan – Camouflages itself with molted white feathers in winter. Feeds on willow buds and other exposed vegetation.
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Snow bunting – Migratory songbird that nests in rock crevices in the tundra. Feeds on seeds and insects.
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Tundra swan – Large white waterfowl that migrates to tundra lakes and ponds to breed in summer.
Tough Tundra Rodents
Several rodent species manage to survive the tundra’s long, brutal winters:
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Lemming – Lives under the snowpack in winter, feeding on roots. Population undergoes boom-and-bust cycles.
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Arctic ground squirrel – Hibernates below ground for up to 8 months per year. Feeds on seeds, mushrooms, and other vegetation.
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Pika – Does not hibernate but caches food in rock piles called “haypiles” to survive the winter.
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Tundra vole – Remains active all winter, tunneling below the snow. Food includes grasses, sedges, and seeds.
Other Iconic Tundra Residents
Some other animals perfectly adapted to tundra life include:
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Caribou – Migratory deer with sharp hooves to dig through snow. Up to 1 million in some Siberian herds.
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Muskox – Shaggy bovine with long, curved horns. Endures cold with its very thick coat.
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Arctic wolf – Hunts in packs. Follows polar bear kills to scavenge leftover meat.
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Wolverine – Fearsome predator that feeds on carrion and small animals. Ranges widely across tundra.
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Arctic fox – Its white coat provides winter camouflage. Omnivore with a varied diet.
As you can see, tundra animals have developed amazing adaptations that allow them to survive, and even thrive, in Earth’s harshest environments. Their specialized traits and behaviors enable them to eke out a living in areas too extreme for most other forms of life. Although the tundra biome is sparse, it supports a unique array of specially adapted flora and fauna.
Adaptations: How do animals survive in the tundra biome
Surviving in the cold:
- Animals living in the tundra regions have thick fur and extra layers of fat to keep them insulated.
- The bodies of most animals are large with short limbs and tails helping them to retain heat within their body as much as possible.
- Birds of the tundra usually have two layers of thick feathers to stay warm.
- Animals like bears, arctic squirrels, and marmots hibernate through the winter season.
- Smaller animals like lemmings and stoats dig holes, known as burrows and spend the cold season in there.
- Many animals, especially birds, migrate away from the Tundra during the winter season, and come back during the brief summers.
Locomoting on the snow:
- Most ground-dwelling species have a characteristic fur lining on their feet to prevent them from getting too cold when walking long distances.
Camouflaging to the surroundings:
- Many animals of this region are white in color so they can blend in with the white snow, and use it as an effective camouflage. This adaptation is useful for both predator and prey. Arctic foxes lose their white fur in the summer to maintain the masquerade through that season.
- Penguins have a unique coloration because of their regular forays in the water. For something that looks up towards the surface of the water, the penguin will blend in with the skies above, and for predatory birds looking into the water from above, it blends in with the black background of the sea floor.
Optimizing food resources:
- The competition for food is naturally extremely high, especially during the winter months. So, many tundra animals have been seen to grow at a slower rate to optimize whatever little food they get during the summer.
Top 10 Animals That Live in the Tundra – And the Three Types of Tundra
FAQ
What animal lives in a tundra?
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Mammals:
- Polar Bears: Apex predators, primarily hunt seals.
- Musk Ox: Large, shaggy herbivores with thick fur to withstand the cold.
- Arctic Foxes: Adapt to the cold by changing their fur color to white in winter for camouflage.
- Caribou (Reindeer): Migrate across the tundra in search of food.
- Arctic Hares: Shortened limbs and ears, a thick coat, and a body that is 20% fat to survive the cold.
- Lemmings: Small rodents that are a food source for many tundra predators.
- Arctic Wolves: Adapted to the cold and hunt for prey like caribou and lemmings.
- Polar Bears: Apex predators, primarily hunt seals.
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Birds:
- Snowy Owls: Large, white birds of prey that hunt lemmings and other small animals.
- Snowy Owls: Large, white birds of prey that hunt lemmings and other small animals.
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Other:
- Pikas: Small, rabbit-like animals that live in rocky areas.
- Mountain Goats: Adapted to rocky terrain and can survive in the cold.
- Wolverine: Fierce and vicious, they are a small but powerful predator.
- Pikas: Small, rabbit-like animals that live in rocky areas.
Are there about 48 different animals in tundra?
Compared with other climatic zones on Earth, the diversity of animal species that make up a tundra ecosystem is rather low. Only 48 mammal species call the tundra their home, although thousands of birds and insects migrate to these cooler areas during the summer months.
What are 10 herbivores in the tundra?
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These large, shaggy herbivores graze on grasses, sedges, and other tundra vegetation.
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These hares have thick, white fur and eat a variety of tundra plants, including grasses, twigs, and berries.
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These small rodents are a crucial part of the tundra food web, feeding on grasses, mosses, and lichens.
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Similar to lemmings, voles are small rodents that graze on various tundra plants.
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These small, rabbit-like animals are found in rocky areas of the tundra and eat grasses, sedges, and other vegetation.
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These birds are adapted to harsh tundra conditions and eat buds, twigs, and insects.
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These birds are also adapted to harsh tundra conditions and eat seeds and insects.
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These ground squirrels are herbivores, feeding on grasses and other vegetation.
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These small mammals are herbivores, feeding on grasses and other vegetation.
What are 7 animals that live in the Arctic?
The polar bear, caribou, snowy owl, Arctic hare, Arctic fox, narwhal, walrus, musk ox and the beluga Whale are some of the animals that live in the Arctic.