Tundra

By: Maren Wenger, Pierce Hammack, and Ethan Schaefer

Animals

Polar Bears

Diet: seals; sometimes walruses; occasionally carcasses of whales

Size: largest land mammals on Earth; males can be 700-1400 lbs and 8-10 ft tall; females are slightly smaller- 350-700 lbs

Adaptations: hairs are translucent and clear; skin is black; coat & skin are designed to absorb sunlight and retain heat; short ears

Reproduction: give birth every 2-3 years; mating season in the spring; give birth in winter; litter of 1-2 cubs

Musk Ox

Adaptations: live in herds; outer coat- long, brown hair; inner coat- wool; horns; glands that produce a strong, musky odor

Reproduction: season- late summer to early fall; 1 calf in the spring; males compete for dominance over a harem of females

Predators: wolves and bears

Diet: vegetarian; willow shoots, grasses, shrubs, and lichen

Size: 6-7.5 feet tall; 400-900 lbs; shoulder height of 4-5 feet;

Rock Ptarmigan

Adaptations: change color - brown spots in summer, white in winter; males have red comb over eyes;

Reproduction: females lay between 6-10 eggs; incubation of 3 weeks; male leaves female during incubation; chicks get fledgling in 10-12 days

Predators: hawks, eagles, owls, foxes

Diet: leaves, flowers, berries, buds, twigs; chicks will feed on insects

Size: 12-16 inches

Caribou/ Reindeer

Diet: summer- vegetation (willow leaves); winter - dig through snow to get moss/ lichen

Size: female - 180-200 lbs; males - 400-600 lbs; 35-55 inches at shoulder

Adaptations: wide hooves- help when walking on mud & snow, help caribou swim & dig; migrate; thick fur and skin; shed their antlers; live in herds

Reproduction: mating season (rut) in fall; females give birth in spring; one calf

Predators: golden eagle - preys on calves; grizzly bears; wolves

Snowy Owl

Diet: small rodents (lemmings and voles); rabbits; other birds (ptarmigans); eggs of larger birds

Size: 1.75-2 feet in length; 4.5-5.5 foot wingspan;

Adaptations: can move heads 270 degrees both directions; thick layer of feathers on body and feet; keen eyes; great hearing

Reproduction: mating season - April-June; clutch - 2-14 eggs; 4-5 weeks until they hatch; male & female will tend to the nest before the chicks leave

Arctic Hare

Diet: buds, berries, twigs, mosses, woody plants,

Size: length - 20-26 inches; 8-14 lbs

Adaptations: color change; large hind feet allow them to move quickly through snow; claws help them dig through snow; sometimes forage shelters in snow to protect against bitter cold

Reproduction: mate in early spring; give birth in June-July

Predators: arctic wolves, foxes, and ermines

Arctic Wolf

Diet: musk ox, arctic hares, caribou

Size: 1-1.8 meters long; 45-70 kg

Adaptations: small ears; short snout; white fur; live in packs

Reproduction: typically live in rocky outcrops or caves; 2-3 pups

Bald

Eagle

Diet: tundra swan; fish (salmon); rodents; carcasses

Size: 2.5-3 feet in height; wingspan of 6.5 feet

Adaptations: claws; size; where they build their nests

Reproduction: solitary; mate with same eagle in the spring; lay 2-3 eggs; incubated for 35 days; chicks are brown without white head

Tundra Swan

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Ermine

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Pika

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Arctic Fox

Diet: small mammals (lemmings; voles), birds and their eggs, carcasses left by other animals (polar bears)

Size: 3-3.5 ft head to tail, 6-9 lbs, femalse are normally smaller than males

Adaptations: fur on paws; thick, dense coat of fur; short ears; small body; large, bushy tail used to curl around it's body

Reproduction: mating season in the spring, build dens, average litter of 6-8 kits