Animals of the tundra: names of species, photos, descriptions

Tundra is an ecosystem located outside the vegetation of the continents. This ecosystem includes the Arctic Circle, which according to some sources is the coldest place on the planet.

In fact, the Arctic Circle itself is not the coldest place on the planet. In light of the fact that the coldest places on the planet are generally located in Antarctica, it is not at all possible to talk about the coldest places in relation to the Arctic Circle. There is a cold pole of the Northern Hemisphere and it is located in the Oymyakon region, and the circle is just a conditional boundary.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the tundra is an ecosystem typical of areas north of the Arctic Circle, characterized by low average annual temperatures and, in most cases, very harsh winters.

There is also tundra in the Arctic, northern Canada and Alaska. In these harsh regions, the average winter temperature is around -34 degrees, and in the summer it ranges from just +3 to +12 degrees.

Plants in the tundra grow quite densely to provide protection from harsh winds. And animals spend most of their time hibernating or waiting out harsh conditions in warmer regions.

polar fox

The polar fox is better known by another name - the arctic fox, which is famous for its snow-white fur coat. Arctic foxes are much smaller in size compared to their forest counterparts. The arctic fox's body length is 50-75 centimeters, and it has a gorgeous tail 25-30 centimeters long.

The arctic fox is a gorgeous decoration of the Arctic tundra.

There are white and blue arctic foxes, the latter have a darker coffee or gray body color with a bluish tint. Thanks to their beautiful fur, arctic foxes are valuable game animals. Blue foxes are the most prized.

Fish

The rivers flowing through the tundra are rich in salmon fish belonging to the whitefish genus. They play a large role in the tundra ecosystem, as they are part of the diet of many species of predators.

Whitefish

This genus includes more than 65 species, but their exact number has not yet been established. All whitefish are valuable commercial fish, and therefore their numbers in rivers are declining. Whitefish feed on small fish, plankton and small crustaceans.

The most famous representatives of this genus are whitefish, whitefish, muksun, vendace, and omul.

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killer whale

Killer whales are marine mammals. Perfectly adapted to survive in the harsh conditions of the tundra. Killer whales eat high-calorie foods, which accumulate an insulating layer of fat in their bodies. This fat makes life easier in icy waters.

Thanks to the presence of a huge layer of subcutaneous fat, killer whales do not freeze in icy water.

In harsh conditions, the character of killer whales has been tempered; it is not for nothing that they are called killer whales. They attack dolphins, sea otters, pinnipeds, sea lions and even large whales.

Illustrative examples

Information about the inhabitants of the region, their eating habits and lifestyle helps to create tundra nutrition plans for the “World around us” in 4th grade. Having studied northern plants, intermediate and final predators, the child can independently form the correct patterns . Examples of food chains in the tundra will help with this:

blueberry - lemming - polar owl - arctic fox - polar bear;
dwarf birch - hare - arctic fox;
algae - fish - polar bear;
mosquito - dragonfly - sandpiper - wolf.

Due to uncontrolled extermination, many species of tundra animals have become rare. The number of livestock is influenced by the factor of animal disturbance, as well as the availability of sufficient food.

For example, an increase in the number of lemmings leads to an increase in the number of predators that feed on them. When the rodent population decreases, rodent hunters have to look for other prey, and sometimes even leave their habitat en masse and go to forests and forest-tundra areas.

Consequently, the life cycle of all animals and plants of the tundra is fragile and interconnected. This is clearly shown in the figure:

The tundra is an interesting and rich region that has not been fully explored by scientists. Food chains are one of the topics that introduce primary school students to this amazing region. Perhaps some of the guys will be really interested in him. Having matured, they will be able to take part in a research expedition.

Sea lion

Like killer whales, sea lions are adapted to life in the waters of the icy tundra. The individuals are quite large and have a good layer of fat. Males weigh on average about 300 kilograms, and females weigh up to 90 kilograms. Given their massive size, sea lions are successful hunters.

The sea lion is an animal that is also perfectly adapted to living in the harsh conditions of the tundra.

Features of behavior

The white wolf is a universal hunter. Such animals have an extremely acute sense of smell, excellent vision and hearing. Animals obtain food in packs. Each group member knows his task. Some wolves play the role of beaters, others - attackers. Following their prey, tundra wolves move in a single chain. Each individual tries to place its paws in the tracks left by the previous member of the pack. This behavior confuses inexperienced trackers, who think that only one animal passed along the existing path.

Tundra wolves gather in relatively small packs. The group usually includes an adult dominant pair, as well as young individuals from the previous litter. In some cases, you can see single animals from other packs here. The latter occupy a subordinate position in an unrelated group.

Life in the North is harsh. Flocks cannot feed many mouths. Therefore, in groups, only the dominant male and female produce offspring. For mating purposes, other adults usually leave the family and later form their own packs.

Lemming

These are another small rodent, a family of hamsters that live in the cold tundra. They are not afraid of frosts due to their smooth fur and thick layer of fat. They remain active throughout the year and spend the winter in nests made in the snow. During the day, this small animal eats twice its own weight. They feed all day with short breaks, and also store food for the winter.

The little fat lemming is not afraid of severe frosts, because it is protected by the warm interstitial and subcutaneous fat.

The influence of soil on the species diversity of vegetation

In the tundra and forest-tundra zones, high temperatures are observed. It is especially noticeable during the period of snow melting. Water cannot penetrate deep due to the presence of permafrost. Its evaporation is also not very intense due to the low air temperature. For these reasons, meltwater and precipitation accumulate on the surface, forming large and small swamps.

High swampiness, the presence of permafrost, and the predominance of low temperatures make it difficult for chemical and biological processes to occur in the soil. It contains little humus and ferric oxide accumulates. Tundra-gley soils are suitable for the growth of only certain plant species. But tundra vegetation adapts to such living conditions. A person who has visited these parts during the flowering period of plants will have indelible impressions for many years - the blooming tundra is so beautiful and attractive!

In the forest-tundra, the natural fertile layer of the earth is also thin. The soil is poor in nutrients and is characterized by high acidity. When cultivating land, large amounts of mineral and organic fertilizers are added to the soil composition. In the treated areas of the forest-tundra, there is a more diverse variety of herbaceous vegetation, trees and shrubs.

Belukha

The beluga whale's body is covered with a thick layer of skin, the thickness of which reaches 15 centimeters. This thick skin protects beluga whales from injury when they swim among the sharp ice. And a layer of subcutaneous fat, the thickness of which is 10-12 centimeters, prevents them from getting too cold.

Seals and beluga whales do not freeze in the water due to their thick layer of fat.

Wintering for belugas is not easy; they constantly have to maintain ice holes so that they do not freeze, since these animals periodically need to rise and breathe fresh air. They break through the ice with their strong backs. But sometimes wintering ends tragically for them, when the polynyas are covered with too thick a layer of ice, and belugas are trapped in ice.

Seal

There are many species of seals that live in the tundra, including the harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), long-snouted seal (Halichoerus grypus), Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii), elephant seal (Mirounga) and striped seal (Histriophoca fasciata). Seals are excellent swimmers, diving deep into Arctic seas to hunt fish, but coming to land to breed, socialize, and give birth to their young. Thanks to their thick fat deposits and waterproof coat, they are well adapted to living in cold conditions.

Seals hold their breath underwater for long periods of time and dive very deep, allowing air to escape from their lungs. Weddell seals can hold their breath for up to an hour. Many species often remain under the ice, which helps them avoid predators such as polar bears. Most seals molt during the warmer months, and some tundra-dwelling species migrate to warmer seas to molt.

Elk and reindeer

Both of these species are common in the tundra and are native to northern latitudes. Most often, moose and reindeer migrate to warm regions in winter. Moose can feed on bark in winter, so having a large layer of snow is not a problem for them.

Reindeer's main protection against the cold is their warm coat and fluffy undercoat.

Reindeer's fur is warm, the undercoat is very fluffy and thick, the length of the guard hairs is 1-2.5 centimeters. The hairs inside are hollow, which improves thermal insulation; in addition, they allow the animal to stay afloat when it wades across the river.

Animal world

Aviation and all-terrain vehicles are used for communication in the tundra. All-terrain vehicles severely damage fragile vegetation, which then takes decades to recover. The best transport for northern residents is reindeer teams.

Although the tundra is poorer than other natural zones, it is capable of feeding polar animals and migratory birds.

Therefore, we need to protect its nature.

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The tundra zone is a unique part of Russian territory in its own way. Its existence is due to climatic changes observed when moving from any point on the globe to the north or south. Landscapes and the composition of flora and fauna take on a different appearance: closer to the north there are fewer trees and more lichens, and arctic foxes, reindeer and other animals not found in other regions live there.

Arctic hare

This species of hares is well adapted to life in polar regions. The paws have a special shape, thanks to which hares can easily move through the snow and not fall through, and also not slide on the ice.

The fur of Arctic hares is fluffy and very warm, so they do not freeze in cold weather. The color is completely white, only the tips of the ears and nose remain black, so the hares are invisible among the polar snows.

Both in their morphology and behavior, Arctic hare are perfectly adapted to the Arctic climate.

Their incisors are longer than those of ordinary hares, and are well adapted for gnawing frozen plants. Arctic hare are active all year round and do not hibernate.

Predators

Arctic fox

Arctic fox is the second name for the arctic fox, and for good reason: the arctic fox belongs to the genus of foxes, which includes red and black-brown “cunning” representatives. The Arctic fox has a stockier body, short round ears and a shortened muzzle. This appearance allows them to survive in the harsh tundra climate.

The Arctic fox is omnivorous: they love lemmings, attack stray fawns, do not disdain carrion and fish, and readily eat berries and algae.

Arctic foxes form and live in large families, consisting of a pair of male and female, young one-year-old females and cubs. The male takes an active part in feeding the cubs.

Wolves are well-known predators with the widest habitat. A tundra subspecies of wolf stands out - with long, thick and light hair. Their population is almost directly dependent on the distribution of reindeer, which constitute almost their only source of food in the winter. In summer, wolves hunt white hares, lemmings, and bighorn sheep in the mountainous areas.

Polar bear

Polar bears are precisely those animals that many associate with the Arctic. These large predators have an impressive reserve of fat deposits, which they accumulate in the spring and summer, thanks to which they survive the lean winter months.

The wool is devoid of pigment coloring, translucent hairs transmit only ultraviolet radiation, improving thermal insulation properties. The hairs are hollow inside, so the wool is very warm.

The soles of polar bears' feet are also lined with fur, so they don't get cold and don't slip on ice.

Between the toes there is a swimming membrane, thanks to which polar bears can hunt for prey in the water.

Polar bears make seasonal migrations. In summer they retreat closer to the pole, and in winter they move south, climbing to the mainland.

In winter, polar bears can lie in a den. Mostly pregnant females go into hibernation, and it lasts 50-80 days, while males and young females do not go into hibernation every year, and its duration is less significant.

Literature

When preparing the article, materials from the books were used:

Great Soviet Encyclopedia. (In 30 volumes.) Ch. ed. A. M. Prokhorov. Ed. 3rd. M., “Soviet Encyclopedia”. 1977. T. 26 Tardigrades - Ulyanovo. 1977. 624 p. from illus.
Soviet Union. Geogr. description in 22 volumes. Russian Federation: General overview and the European North. Rep. ed. S. V. Kalesnik, A. V. Darinsky. M.. “Thought”, 1971. 565 p. from illustration, map. and diagram
Orlyonok V.V., Kurkov A.A., Kucheryavyi P.P., Tupikin S.N. Physical Geography: Textbook / Ed. V.V. Eaglet. Kaliningrad, 1998. – 480 p.
Physical Geography: Reference. materials: Book. for middle school students and Art. age / A.M. Berlyant, I.V. Dushina, N.P. Neklyukova, E.M. Rakovskaya. – 2nd ed. – M.: Education, 1995. – 288 p.: ill.
Encyclopedia for children. T. 3. Geography. – 3rd ed., revised / Chapter. ed. M. D. Aksenova. – M.: Avanta+, 1997. – 704 p.: ill.

Gray wolf

Gray wolves are the ancestors of sled dogs, with the help of which people moved through the snow. Gray wolves are larger than their southern relatives.

The fur of gray wolves is thick, fluffy, and consists of two layers. One layer consists of the undercoat, including waterproof down, which keeps the body warm. And the second consists of hard guard hairs that repel dirt and water.

The low thermal conductivity of their fur helps gray wolves survive in harsh winter conditions.

During periods of starvation, gray wolves can switch to frogs and even large insects; also in winter, a large percentage of the diet consists of plant foods - wild berries and mushrooms.

Basic soils

The permafrost terrain, which includes the swamp soils of the forest-tundra, is divided into lowland and highland. Among the latter, peat-gley and peat-gley soils, formed on small hilly terrain, predominate. In addition, areas with peat bog soils are quite common. They, in turn, form on flat-bummed peat bogs, the active thickness of which can consist of a series of horizons that differ from each other only in the degree of decomposition.

Sometimes this type of forest-tundra soil is underlain by a mineral layer that has a light mechanical composition. This circumstance contributes to the most intense outflow of moisture, and this creates the most favorable conditions for the relatively rapid decomposition of peat. Permafrost high soils are characterized by superficial cracking of peaty horizons followed by their drying out, which is why they are deprived of an integral plant cover.

Ermine

Stoats live in the tundra of Europe and North America. They have a protective color: in winter it becomes completely white, while the tip of the tail remains black. These animals lead a solitary lifestyle; they climb and swim well.

The stoat is a good swimmer and climber, but is essentially a specialized terrestrial predator.

Tundra spiders

The tundra is home to many spiders. Among them are species such as wolf spiders, haymaking spiders, and weaver spiders.

Wolf spiders

They live everywhere except Antarctica. Wolf spiders lead a solitary lifestyle. They hunt either by walking around their possessions in search of prey, or by sitting in ambush in a hole. By nature, they are not aggressive towards people, but if someone disturbs them, they can bite. The venom of wolf spiders that live in the tundra is not dangerous to humans, but causes such unpleasant sensations as redness, itching and short-term pain.

The spider of this species, after the birth of her offspring, places the spiderlings on her upper abdomen and carries them on herself until they begin to hunt on their own.

Harvesting spiders

These spiders are distinguished by a relatively large and voluminous body and very thin, long legs, which is why they are also called centipede spiders. They often settle in human dwellings, where they choose the warmest places as habitats.

A peculiarity of spiders of this species is their trapping webs: they are not at all sticky, but have the appearance of a random interweaving of threads, in which the victim, trying to escape from the trap, becomes even more entangled there.

Weaver spiders

These spiders are found everywhere. As a rule, they weave small triangular-shaped nets in which they catch their prey. They hunt mainly on small dipterous insects.

An external feature of these spiders is a relatively large oval-shaped cephalothorax, almost comparable in size to the abdomen, slightly pointed at the end.

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Muskox

Musk oxen live in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Siberia, Norway and Sweden. They have incredibly long fur, so they are not afraid of life in the north, they can withstand even the most severe frosts. The fur hangs down to the ground, covering the legs. It consists of two types of hairs: the outer ones are long and coarse, and inside there is a soft and thick undercoat. The undercoat is called giviot, it is 8 times warmer than sheep wool.

Musk oxen have long and thick hair that hangs almost to the ground and protects them from the severe arctic cold.

American ground squirrel

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

During hibernation, the ground squirrel'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 sub-zero. Hibernation for adult males lasts from late September to early April, and for females - from early August to late April. Body temperature decreases from 37° C to – 3° C.

The coat color changes depending on the time of year. The fur is soft and velvety, and protects the animal from cold winds.

Its homeland is the North American Arctic tundra, and its main habitats are on mountain slopes, river bottoms, lake shores and mountain ranges. Gophers prefer sandy soil because of easy digging and good drainage.

White or polar owl

These birds are distributed throughout the tundra. The color of polar owls is white, camouflage with a large number of black spots. Thanks to this color, snowy owls are well camouflaged in the snow.

In winter, polar owls fly to the forest-tundra and steppe zones. Also in winter they can fly into settlements. But some individuals remain in the nesting areas in winter, sticking to areas with a small amount of snow and ice.

Birds

Ptarmigan

Outwardly it resembles a chicken and a pigeon. During the year, the female changes plumage three times, and the male four. This contributes to effective camouflage. The partridge flies poorly; it feeds mainly on plant foods. Before winter, the bird tries to eat worms and insects in order to stock up on fat for the winter.

polar owl

In the wild, the life expectancy of snowy owls reaches 9 years, and in captivity, some individuals break records and live up to 28 years. For a long time it was believed that the number of these birds was quite large, but only recently it became clear that their number is much smaller than expected. Currently, snowy owls are included in the list of protected animals.

Red-breasted Goose

Red-breasted geese are capable of reaching high speeds during flight by flapping their wings frequently. Being an extremely active and noisy bird, they form chaotic flocks, which sometimes stretch out in one line, sometimes huddling together. In the wild, these birds are easily recognized by their characteristic cackling and hissing sounds.

Pink seagull

This representative of gulls is notable for its characteristic soft pink color of feathers, which is combined with the blue tint of the head feathers. Despite their small size, these birds survive well in the tundra. Life expectancy reaches a maximum of 12 years. Listed in the Red Book.

Swift-winged gyrfalcon

Has a middle name - white falcon. In its dimensions it resembles a peregrine falcon. The plumage is usually white with a gray tint. Notable for its ability to reach speeds of up to 100 meters per second, and also has extremely acute vision. At the moment, this species is listed in the Red Book as in need of help and attention.

White-billed loon

Quite a large representative, with a body length of up to 91 centimeters and a weight of up to 6 kilograms. It is distinguished from other loons by its ivory-colored beak. The population of this bird is extremely low throughout its habitat. It is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation and is also protected in a number of Arctic reserves.

Yellowjacket

Represents the finch family. A small bird with a body length of up to 20 centimeters. Distinguished by its characteristic sandy plumage. As the only representative of the genus, Canadian sandpipers are a very rare species. Distributed throughout the tundra of North America. Spends the winter in Argentina or Uruguay.

Lapland plantain

A bird that lives in the northern tundra. It can be found in Siberia, Sweden, Norway and the northern part of Europe. Usually settles in areas covered with many plants.

The plumage is dull and colors vary from grayish to brown. There are stripes and small dark specks on the head and wings. By the breeding season, the Lapland plantain undergoes a noticeable transformation: quite a few black and white stripes appear on its body, the back of the head changes its color to red, thereby creating a noticeable contrast in comparison with the body.

When the snow just begins to melt, Lapland plantains begin building their nest. They collect tree roots, grass and moss from all over the area, and then cover the surface with dried grass and animal hair left after molting.

Bunochka

This bird has a second name - snow plantain, usually lives in the tundra zone of America and Eurasia. During the breeding season, males change their color to black and white, and females become black and brown with small gaps on the belly and chest, which can often be pure white. They have a light outline on their dark feathers. In winter, they change their color to adapt to their environment and be less noticeable to predators. It is in the browned grass that the buntings live in winter, as their color blends with them. In summer, this bird feeds on insects, and in winter it eats only grains and seeds.

Plover

Quite small birds from the waders family, in appearance quite similar to sparrows. They differ from them in their strong build, straight and short beak, as well as longer wings. They have short legs without hind toes. Basically, the color varies from gray to brown, but the underbelly is light gray or almost white. Sometimes they have stripes on their neck or head.

Plovers feed on invertebrates, and not in the most usual way: they run along the ground at high speed, looking for and catching their prey. They live in the northern parts of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

Tundra swan

The main habitat of tundra swans is considered to be the Asian part of the Russian tundra, as well as some part of Europe. They usually eat grass, berries, and aquatic vegetation, which these birds can reach without any problems thanks to their long necks. The eastern inhabitants of its range are disdainful of eating small fish that are found in shallow water, as well as aquatic invertebrates such as fry.

In appearance it is not particularly different from other swans, for example, from the whooper swans, but this species is considered one of the smallest in size among its fellows. All of them, without exception, are monogamous - their couple remains with them until death; only in extreme cases are there individuals who can show polygamy, but these are exceptions to the rule, since swans are considered a symbol of love until the grave. They build a nest using branches, dry leaves, and cover the inside with their down, creating a softer surface. Their place of residence is located on the hills. These birds leave their habitats in the fall, and in winter they go to Western Europe for the winter, since their bodies are not able to withstand severe cold.

Red-breasted Pipit

Living in the Eurasian part of the tundra and on the western shores of Alaska, the bird, which stands out among the rest with its variegated colors and small size, belongs to the wagtail family. It chooses swampy areas as a place to build a nest, and builds its place of residence directly on the ground. This arrangement prevents birds of prey that can fly over and eat the eggs, as well as predators that can climb trees, from eating the family or the pipit itself. Their colors are similar in shades to a swamp, so in summer or autumn it becomes problematic even for the human eye to notice them.

This bird got its name due to its memorable colors in certain places, which contrast very much with the rest of the body: their throat, sides, and chest are painted in brown-red shades. The area around the eyes is white or gray, the belly and eyebrows are the same, the back and wings have dark stripes of brown color. All other parts of the body are yellow-green, rather dull, which contributes to good camouflage among plants. The singing of red-breasted pipits is very memorable; they usually perform their trills in flight and only in rare cases sing on the ground.

Summer paradise for waterfowl

In summer, the endless expanses of the tundra are literally saturated with water. These include melted snow waters, numerous lakes, swamps, and rivers. Therefore, the fauna of the tundra is replenished with a huge number of waterfowl. They find algae and insect larvae in the water, and they do not refuse the insects themselves.

Geese, ducks, loons, waders, swans - this is not a complete list of birds that feed and raise their chicks in the far north. And in the fall they take their chicks south, to warmer climes.

Mosquitoes

There are more than 3,000 species of mosquitoes that are found throughout the world except Antarctica. On the tundra you can find twelve species of these bloodsuckers, which are especially active in the summer.

In cold climates, they remain active for several weeks each year, when, due to the development of thermokarst, pools of water form. During this time, they multiply to huge numbers and feed on the blood of reindeer. Mosquitoes can tolerate freezing temperatures and exposure to snow.

Natural zone tundra - characteristics, birds, animals, vegetation, types