Tundra Biome Animals Adaptations

Tundra biome animals and their adaptations.

Tundra biome animals adaptations. Tundra wildlife includes small mammalssuch as Norway lemmings Lemmus lemmus arctic hares Lepis arcticus and arctic ground squirrels Spermophilus parryii and large mammals such as caribou Rangifer tarandus. Before an animal hibernates it will consume large amounts of food. Animals in the tundra are also adapted to extreme conditions and they take advantage of the temporary explosion of plant and insect life in the short growing season.

Hibernation - Although hibernation is often thought of as behavioural it is also in fact a physiological adaptation. We are all aware of creatures like polar bear and reindeer. The fact that many animals do not live year-round in the tundra means they leave or migrate for a length of time to warmer climates.

In Arctic and alpine tundras the number of species of plants and animals is usually small when compared with other regions yet the number of individuals per species is often high. Many of the birds of the tundra have two coats of feathers to help keep them warm. Animals that live in the tundra have special adaptations that allow them to survive the extreme temperatures and conditions that are present in a tundra.

Animals need shelter and insulation in the Tundra. They have long stiff hair in between their feet that provide them traction. The conservation institute notes that there are a few common elements that tie many tundra animals together such as heat retention in the body trapped air insulation fat insulation and oil that keeps moisture at bay.

This also protects their feet from the cold. Tundra means treeless therefore most of the plants in the tundra are low growing plants. The Tundra Biome is a learning set containing 3-part cards description cards information posters student booklets for coloring and practicing handwriting and research worksheets for students to learn about the tundra biome.

The trees need to be. Migration and hibernation are examples of behavioral adaptations used by animals in the Arctic tundra. From the lack of lots of vegetation some herbivores in the Tundra have a hard time finding areas with a abundance of plants to eat during the Winter.