What do Arctic animals eat? What animals live in the Arctic?

The Arctic and the Antarctic are the areas around the North and South poles of the Earth, respectively. As is known, our planet has the so-called earth's axis. It is invisible and passes through the top and bottom points of the planet. These very points are the Arctic and the Antarctic. The animal world is unique here.

It is known that the Subarctic and arctic deserts inhabit more than 20,000 different species of plants, fungi, animals and microorganisms. It is remarkable that every organism living in such extreme conditions is unique in its own way. In this article we are interested in the most vivid inhabitants of the eternal Arctic ice. Let's get to know them closer and learn how to live and eat Arctic animals.

Severe winter in the Arctic

Life near the extreme poles of the Earth are real games for survival. Winter in the so-called circumpolar region in general is a time of cold, hunger and, of course, darkness. For this reason, many animals of the Arctic and Subarctic for wintering are moving to the edges with a more sparing climate. The fact is that life at high latitudes of the globe fluctuates, like a huge pendulum.

For example, when winter is in the Northern Hemisphere of the planet, it retreats from the Arctic, advancing to the Antarctic. It is there that at this time many sea animals and birds migrate. When birds fly north in summer, Antarctica is already winter. Here is such natural arithmetic. But we are not interested in the climate and the change of seasons in this area, and what animals live in the Arctic. About this and talk.

Polar Tern

Above we compared life in the Arctic with the oscillation of a giant pendulum. If we continue to speak the language of metaphors, then the point of this very pendulum inevitably translates into annual flights of a unique painted Arctic bird - a polar tern. The so-called northern summer it nests in the highest latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth, and when winter comes, it moves to the coast of the Antarctic islands. These are the moving birds.

It is interesting to know, but what do Arctic animals have wings and feathers, in particular, the polar tern? "Menu" in this bird in such severe conditions of survival is not very diverse. Polar terns eat small crustaceans, mollusks and fish, which they like to catch in the Arctic waters. Every autumn and winter, these birds make long flights - a length of 10 000 km. They cross the equator to settle in the Circumpolar and not live in the eternal darkness of the polar night. For them, this is a real test!

The owner of the Arctic

Of course, the polar bear is recognized as a universally recognized symbol of the North. Moreover, it is the largest land predator in the world. Adult males can reach 3 m (and more) from the muzzle to the edge of the tail and up to 1.5 m - at the withers. Thus their weight can exceed the whole ton! The bear, standing on its hind legs, generally becomes a four-meter giant! But such individuals, fortunately, are rare here. Usually, males weigh about 400 kg, and females weigh about 200 kg. The smallest polar bears are found in the south of Greenland.

The life of animals in the Arctic is subject to certain laws of nature. For example, one of the conditions for survival in such extreme conditions is the ability to merge with the environment. That is why many residents of the Arctic have a light or pure white color. By the way, the color of the polar bear's fur can not be called exclusively white. Polar bears usually stand out against the background of snow and ice with a certain yellowing of their cover. The fur of these predators is wavy, but closely adjacent to the body. Its length is also different. A very long coat covers the back of the paws of the beast, and the short coat covers its head.

Polar bears are mobile predators. They easily overcome deep snow and ice water. Talking about what the animals of the Arctic eat, one can not help but mention the diet of polar bears. These animals live on drifting sea ice, where, in fact, they hunt. They are happy to pick up seals, walruses, etc. It is necessary for the victim to stick his head out of the water, as a polar bear instantly stuns her with a lightning blow of a healthy paw, then pulls him out of the water onto the ice and regales for his pleasure.

Another inhabitants of the Arctic are marine seals!

Which animals live in the Arctic? Well, for example, sea seals. These mammals, like polar bears, are regulars of icy Arctic deserts. The most famous is the harp seal. Its distinctive feature is a beautiful and specific pattern on the skin. Another type of seal - sea hares - is one of the largest in the Arctic. Along with them there are ordinary seals with beautiful and expressive eyes, as well as ringed seals. This species is much smaller than its counterparts, but its representatives excellently dig burrows in the snow. Sea seals feed mainly on fish and shellfish.

All penguins are penguins!

Penguins are birds that can not fly. Among them there are also "kings". Royal Penguin is one of the largest species of these birds in the world. Its height in height reaches 1 m, and weight - 15 kg. Royal penguins like to gather in numerous flocks on the islands of the Arctic. There, they mate, after which more than 1000 individuals form colony and grow new offspring. What do Arctic animals eat, called royal penguins? Of course, fish and small clams! Incidentally, these birds can dive into the icy water to a depth of 50 m.

The eternal companion of a polar bear

It's about northern fox. It is a small polar fox, at all times being a companion of a polar bear. Unfortunately, these predators are exterminated for their thick and beautiful fur. At present they are taken under guard. Arctic foxes are the animals of the Arctic and tundra (other natural zones beyond the northern limits of forest vegetation). In addition, these are real wanderers. Like polar bears, they wander the Arctic: leaving their native tundra for young foxes is the most common thing. In summer, these handsome men eat small rodents, and in winter they pick up the remains of their food for the polar bears. Such is the harsh living Arctic!

Animals of the Arctic. Wolverine

It is impossible not to mention the so-called demon of the North, or the wolverine. This predator from the family of cunies is a real glutton and a fierce hunter. Often, wolverines attack livestock, and sometimes people, for which they were massacred not so long ago. Currently, these animals are found only in remote corners of Alaska, Canada and Siberia. In the summer, wolverines pass to the fodder: they feed on carrion, insect larvae, bird eggs, nuts and fruits. This is explained by the fact that in the summer these predators can not hunt as professionally as in winter.

The largest smooth whale of the North

The Greenland whale is a marine mammal. Its other name is the mustachioed whale. What is interesting about this inhabitant of the northern waters? It is a representative of the family of smooth whales. They are called so because of the absence on the throat and belly of all kinds of furrows and bands. The maximum length of the bowhead whale is 22 m with a weight of 140 tonnes. Inhabits the cold waters of the Northern Hemisphere. These animals feed exclusively on plankton, consisting of crustaceans and mollusks. It's hard to believe, but the adult male of the bowhead whale can eat up to 2 tons of food daily!