Animal Adaptations
Arctic Fox
-Its thick bushy coat keeps the fox warm in freezing cold temperatures and its white colour camouflages it from prey.
-Thick hair on its paws keep feet warm and help when walking over ice.
-A long bushy tail that can wrap around its face makes a nice blanket in cold temperatures.
-In the summer the fox hides its food under rocks or in its den - storage for later use.
-Once the snow starts to melt, the arctic fox sheds its winter coat for a thinner brown-grey coat to keep in cool and camouflaged.
-Females can give birth to 25 pups a year, however most do not survive, this maintains population growth.
-Thick hair on its paws keep feet warm and help when walking over ice.
-A long bushy tail that can wrap around its face makes a nice blanket in cold temperatures.
-In the summer the fox hides its food under rocks or in its den - storage for later use.
-Once the snow starts to melt, the arctic fox sheds its winter coat for a thinner brown-grey coat to keep in cool and camouflaged.
-Females can give birth to 25 pups a year, however most do not survive, this maintains population growth.
Snowy Owl
-Light coloration allows for easy camouflage in the snow.
-Dense layer of feathers and down insulate the owls body.
-Large round yellow eyes reflect sound waves to its ears.
-Powerful hearing allows this owl to detect prey even in the darkest of conditions.
-Eat most mammals smaller than themselves - not very picky eaters.
-Dense layer of feathers and down insulate the owls body.
-Large round yellow eyes reflect sound waves to its ears.
-Powerful hearing allows this owl to detect prey even in the darkest of conditions.
-Eat most mammals smaller than themselves - not very picky eaters.
Polar Bear
-Long hair between the polar bears pads protect from the cold, prove traction on the ice and helps bear when swimming.
-Hollow hairs allows buoyancy in water and insulation.
-Small and round ears prevent water from entering and maintain body temperature.
-Dig dens several meters deep to have shelter from wind.
-White fur provides camouflage.
-Are able to swim at 10kph allowing them to catch quick moving prey.
-Have a thick layer of blubber and black skin to keep in heat.
-Hollow hairs allows buoyancy in water and insulation.
-Small and round ears prevent water from entering and maintain body temperature.
-Dig dens several meters deep to have shelter from wind.
-White fur provides camouflage.
-Are able to swim at 10kph allowing them to catch quick moving prey.
-Have a thick layer of blubber and black skin to keep in heat.
Arctic Hare
-Long claws allow for digging in hard snow.
-Short thick undercoat and a long top coat maintain warmth.
-Changing fur colours to blend in with the environment.
-Form large groups for protection and hide from predators.
-Short thick ears to conserve heat.
-Short thick undercoat and a long top coat maintain warmth.
-Changing fur colours to blend in with the environment.
-Form large groups for protection and hide from predators.
-Short thick ears to conserve heat.
Caribou
-Annual migration allow caribou to seek conditions that will allow survival.
-Compact body shape conserves heat
-Long legs are ideal for ploughing deep snow and swimming.
-Like the polar bear, caribous have buoyant hairs which maintain heat and allow for buoyancy.
_The pads of their hooves change from a thick fleshy shape in the summer to hard and thin in the winter.
-From as deep as 5 ft caribou can smell their favourite food - lichen.
- A four chambered stomach allows caribou to thrive on food that is available in large quantities but not always packed with nutrients.
-Compact body shape conserves heat
-Long legs are ideal for ploughing deep snow and swimming.
-Like the polar bear, caribous have buoyant hairs which maintain heat and allow for buoyancy.
_The pads of their hooves change from a thick fleshy shape in the summer to hard and thin in the winter.
-From as deep as 5 ft caribou can smell their favourite food - lichen.
- A four chambered stomach allows caribou to thrive on food that is available in large quantities but not always packed with nutrients.