Learn about some Amazing Tundra Animals

On our planet, there are places still unknown to us, along with their flora and fauna. This is the case with the Tundras and tundra animals. Would you like to know which animals live there? Well, here we’ll tell you everything you need to know!

What is the Tundra?

We can define the Tundra as a biome devoid of vegetation due to its climate, as they are areas extended by the north pole areas of the Earth. It’s a place where vegetation is virtually non-existent, as it’s beyond the regions where trees grow.

However, because of the cold and humid climate, the soil is filled with moss and lichens, and, even in some places, arctic willows grow. This happens thanks to its summers, which although short (they don’t last more than two months), are a lot less cold than its winters, although they rarely exceed 50°F.

It turns out that there isn’t much rainfall either, so the little vegetation that grows can stay alive and thus serve as food for the tundra animals.

Tundra landscape

Normally, tundras are filled with flat surfaces that have icy releases under them, which can reach an ice thickness that is between 1 and 3 feet deep. Therefore, it’s impossible for water to drain in these places and it stagnates forming lagoons and swamps, which provide the moisture needed for plants to survive.

Constant thaws form cracks in geometric shapes on the ground. Meanwhile, nodules and mounds form in the surface where ice doesn’t thaw or melts away. In addition, it’s also easy to find rocky landscapes with lichens, which allow a wide variety of animals to make their small habitats.

Tundra animals

Due to the strange climate that exists in the Tundra, the animals that live there must be prepared to withstand extreme temperatures. Therefore, it’s possible to find species that we wouldn’t otherwise see anywhere else. Some of these include:

• Caribou. Also known as reindeer, the caribou moves up to the tundras when summer arrives. They don’t withstand the high temperatures of other places further south. They can find temperatures of 50°F in the tundras, which is more bearable for them.
• Muskox. The prefix to its name, “musk”, comes from the strong smell it gives off and which allows it to attract females. They are covered with chocolate brown and leafy hair, which allows them to withstand low temperatures, and they can reach up to 23 inches long.
• Arctic hare. This animal is white with black spots on its long ears and looks more like a rabbit, yet it’s one of the largest hares in the world. In addition, its skin is thick and covered with thick, soft hair that protects it from low temperatures.
• Mountain goat. This is a species of common goat that can be found among the animals living in the tundra. Thanks to its thick hair and physical strength, it has fully adapted to live in the extreme climate found in these biomes.
• Lemming. A lemming is a small rodent covered in hair and, as you may know, they’re known for their tendency to commit suicide. Strangely, they do it en masse by throwing themselves into the sea.

What else is in the tundras

In addition to these animals, other common species can be found in the tundra. Such animals are the white bear, the wolf, the falcon, and the owl. In the sea, we can find fish like salmon.

These beautiful animals all like it a little colder than most of us. However, this is what makes them perfect for living in the cold and frigid temperatures of the tundra! Despite its harsh and inhospitable climate, the tundra plays host to many different animals throughout the entire year.

While some animals may migrate during the winter months, they’ll return in the summer. This is because the biome of the tundra holds special resources that are necessary for the survival of their species.

In addition to the tundra fauna, we can also find some flora, formed mainly by grass and small shrubs. These can survive, and have adapted well, thanks to the moisture generated by the underground ice.

We had fun discovering more about the animal world that inhabits the tundras and we hope you did too!