Animals of the Polar Ice Caps

Despite the extreme temperatures of the earth’s polar ice caps, the polar regions are host to a range of animals that have adapted to live successfully in the arctic conditions.

Polar bears

It is almost impossible to think of the polar ice caps without thinking of polar bears. Polar bears and penguins are synonomous with the polar ice caps.

# Interesting Polar bear fact

Did you know - Polar bears actually only live in the northern arctic and not antartica. Not many people know that!

polar bear on ice

Polar bears are the largest meat eating animals on land and also the largest type of bear. The main diet of the polar bear are seals, but polar bear also eat other arctic animals and vegetation.

polar bear on ice sheet

Penguins

emperor penguins

Emperor penguins are the largest penguins on earth and liev in the Antarctic. Emperor penguins main diet is fish. Emperor penguins are perhaps best known for long journeys, up to 75 miles that they trek to reach the Antarctic breading grounds each year.

Whales

Narwhales are only found in artic waters but the polar regions are often the hunting ground of other species of whale, including killer whales.

Narwhale and calf

Walrus

The walrus is easily identified by its two prominemt tusks. Walruses hunt mollusks found on the sea ice of the polar ice caps.

walrus

Arctic Fox

Arctic foxes live off of lemmings that live under the snow and scavenge for left over food from the kills of larger predators such as polar bears.

arctic fox

Snowy owl

Snowy owls hunt small prey such as lemming on the polar ice caps. Snowy owls themselves are often the prey of arctic foxes during the owl’s nesting season.

snowy owl in flight

Polar ice cap habitat

The habitat and existance of all these animals of the polar ice caps are threatened by the effects of global warming and the melting of the polar ice caps.

Do read the artciles on this site to find out what is happening to the animals of the polar ice caps and their environment

Regards,
Peter

Polar Ice Caps Melting