Animals of the Tundra
Marine Animals of The Arctic
The Tundra is continuously cold, and so animals who survive there need to be prepared.
Animals of all sizes have adapted to these harsh weather conditions and long winters of the
Tundra. Many of the animals have shorter legs and ears to reduce the amount their skin is
exposed to the cold. Some species are fast runners or have great camouflage, as because there
can be little vegetation in places, they need a way to escape and hide!
The Arctic Ocean is a very unique place to live – it is one of the coldest oceans on Earth and is often
capped with sea ice. In the very coldest winter months there is little to no sunshine through the
water, and in the summer, the sun shines all day. Animals that can survive in this ocean are adapted
for this extreme environment. Some have big, fatty, dense layers of blubber and thick, warm fur.
The Arctic Lynx
The Polar Bear
Although the arctic lynx is mainly a forest
creature, they can often be found on the
Tundra over the summer months. They have a
brown coat which blends well with the Tundra
landscape, and in the Winter their coat becomes
lighter and whiter so they are harder to see
against the snow.
The polar bear is the largest and most powerful hunter of the Arctic – they have no natural enemies.
They are considered marine animals although they do not spend much of their time in the water.
An average polar bear male weighs as much as six adult people! They are solitary animals and
only meet to breed. They do not hibernate and in the Winter they venture out over the frozen
pack ice to hunt for seals b