44+ Tundra Animals And Their Adaptations
Background. The coldest areas on earth, such as regions close to the north pole and the south pole, have unique features. While they sleep, their body temperature drops to just a tad above freezing, and their heartbeat slows way down.
Arctic tundra animals do not enjoy the luxury of simply heading into thick forests to escape the biting wind. Animals living in tundra biome have developed special adaptations to get by in such extreme temperatures. Those are the areas where the temperatures are extremely low for most of the year, the sunlight is also scarce, and the soil is hardened due to permafrost.
If you thought survival in the tundra was impossible, you will be surprised to see the list of animals found in this region.
Plants, too, must deal with the cold of winter (which most do by going dormant). When food becomes scant in the tundra, caribous are able to. Polar bears also have a special snout that minimizes heat loss, keeping their body temperature high. This short video goes over some of the basic adaptations found in the plants and animals that live in the tundra biome.