Arctic and the Antarctic - an area located around the North and South Poles of the Earth, respectively.As you know, our planet is a so-called earth's axis.It is not visible and extends through the top and bottom of the planet.These same points - this is the Arctic and Antarctic.Here is unique and fauna.
known that subarctic and arctic desert inhabited by more than 20 000 different species of plants, fungi, animals and microorganisms.It is noteworthy that every organism living in such extreme conditions, is unique in its own way.In this article, we are interested in the most brilliant people of the perennial Arctic ice.Let's look at them more closely and learn how to live and what to eat animals in the Arctic.
harsh winter in the Arctic
Life near the extreme poles of the Earth - is a real game of survival.Winter in the so-called circumpolar general is a time of cold, hunger and, of course, dark.For this reason, many of the animals in the Arctic and Subarctic winter move to the edge with a gentle climate.The fact is that life in the high latitudes of the globe fluctuates, like a giant pendulum.
For example, when the Northern hemisphere winter reigns, she retreats from the Arctic, stepping on Antarctica.It is there at this time wander many marine animals and birds.When in the summer birds fly north to Antarctica has winter comes.Here is a natural arithmetic.But we are not interested in the climate and the seasons in this area, and what animals live in the Arctic.About this talk.
Arctic Tern
Above we compared life in the Arctic with a giant pendulum swing.If you continue to speak the language of metaphors, the spearhead of this same pendulum inevitably embodied in the annual flights uniquely colored arctic birds - Arctic tern.So-called northern summer, it nests in the highest latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, and when winter comes, moved to the coast of the Antarctic islands.These are moving birds.
interesting to know, and what animals feed on the Arctic, having wings and feathers, in particular the Arctic tern?"Menu" at this bird in such a harsh environment survival is not particularly diverse.Arctic Terns feed on small crustaceans, mollusks and fish, which they are so fond of catch in Arctic waters.Every autumn and winter, these birds make the long flights - length of 10 000 km.They cross the equator to settle at circumpolar and live in eternal darkness of the polar night.For them it is a real challenge!
owner Arctic
universally recognized symbol of the North is recognized, of course, the polar bear.Moreover, it is the largest land predator in the world.Adult males can reach 3 m (or more) from snout to tail and edge up to 1.5 meters - at the withers.However, their weight can exceed a ton!Bear, who gets up on his hind legs, generally becomes a giant four-meter!But such individuals, fortunately, there are quite rare.Typically males weigh about 400 kg, while the female - 200 kg.Most small polar bears are found in the south of Greenland.
animal life in the Arctic and is subject to certain laws of nature.For example, one of the conditions of survival in such extreme conditions is the ability to blend in with the environment.That's why many people of the Arctic have a bright or pure white color.Incidentally, the coat color of a polar bear can not be considered exclusively white.Polar bears usually stand out against the snow and ice cover their particular yellowness.Fur these predators wavy, but tight to the body.Its length is also different.Very long hair covers the back side of the clutches of the beast, and the short - his head.
Polar bears are moving predators.They are easy to overcome the deep snow and icy waters.Talking about what animals eat in the Arctic, it is necessary to remember about the diet of polar bears.These animals live on drifting sea ice, which, strictly speaking, and hunt.They are happy to turn up seals, walruses, and so on. D. It is worth the sacrifice just stick his head out of the water as the polar bear immediately lightning strike stuns her healthy leg, and then pulls out of the water onto the ice and regales in the pleasure.
Still other inhabitants of the Arctic - Marine seals!
What animals live in the Arctic yet?Well, for example, marine seals.These mammals like polar bears, are regulars icy arctic desert.The most famous harp seal.Its hallmark is a beautiful and distinctive pattern on the skin.Another type of seal - sea hares - are one of the largest in the Arctic.Along with them there are harbor seals, with a beautiful and expressive eyes and ringed seal.This form is much less than their counterparts, but its representatives have great burrow in the snow.They eat mostly seals marine fish and shellfish.
All Penguin Penguin!
Penguins - a bird that can not fly.Among them there are also "kings".King Penguin - one of the largest species of these birds in the world.Its growth reaches a height of 1 m, and weight - 15 kg.King penguins love to gather in numerous flocks in the Arctic islands.There they mate and then combined into a colony of more than 1,000 individuals and grow new offspring.The animals feed on the Arctic called king penguins?Of course, fish and small clams!By the way, these birds can dive into the icy water to a depth of 50 m.
eternal companion polar bear
We are talking about the northern polar fox.This is a small polar fox, at all times, is the companion of a polar bear.Unfortunately, these predators destroy their dense and beautiful fur.Currently, they are taken under protection.Foxes - are animals of the Arctic tundra and the (remaining natural areas, beyond the northern limits of forest vegetation).In addition, these are real strangers.Like polar bears, they roam the Arctic: to get away from his native tundra young foxes - the most common.In summer, these beauties eat small rodents, and in the winter - is selected for the polar bears remains of their food.Such is the harsh Arctic living!
Animals Arctic.Wolverine
impossible not to mention the so-called demon North, or wolverine.This predator from the weasel family - a real glutton and a fierce hunter.Often Wolverines attack livestock and sometimes people, for which they were not so long massively destroyed.Currently, these animals are found only in remote parts of Alaska, Canada and Siberia.During summer, the Wolverines go to grass they feed on carrion, insects, larvae and eggs of birds, nuts and fruit.The reason is that in the summer, these predators can not hunt as professionally as in winter.
largest whale North
Bowhead Whale - this marine mammal.Another of his name - baleen whales.What is interesting inhabitant of the northern waters?It is representative of a family of whales.They are named so because of the lack on the throat and belly bands and all kinds of grooves.The maximum length of the bowhead whale - 22 meters and weighs 140 tons.It lives in the cold waters of the Northern Hemisphere.They feed these animals exclusively on plankton, consisting of crustaceans and mollusks.It's hard to believe, but the adult male bowhead whale every day able to eat almost 2 tons of food!
