Animals:
The Tundra is an environment with a very harsh climate. There are only two seasons: winter and summer. The temperature ranges from -70 degrees fahrenheit and 20 degrees fahrenheit. To add to the harsh seasons, the Tundra only gets six to four inches of precipitation per year. Because of this, not many plants grow so herbivores and omnivores work on small amounts of food. The hunting competition is fierce, so the carnivores have to compete for food or harvest the leftovers of others. The animals also have to adapt to stay warm. Different animals use different techniques ranging from growing extra fur or feathers, burrowing holes with others, or hibernating during the winter to altogether avoid the cold.
Arctic Fox:
The arctic fox is a small white fox that burrows in the ground of the Tundra. The arctic fox is usually ten to sixteen inches in length and weighs six to twelve pounds. Rather than hunting, the arctic fox will follow a polar bear or other predator and eat what the predator leaves behind. In the summer, the arctic fox has gray fur to blend in with its surroundings and in the winter it has white fur to blend in with the snow.
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Arctic Hare:
The arctic hare is a small white hare that burrows with other arctic hares to provide itself warmth. The arctic hare is twenty to thirty-four inches in length and weighs six to fifteen pounds. The arctic hare eats various types of moss, lichens, berries, and leaves. In the summer, the arctic hare has gray fur to blend in with its surroundings and in the winter it has white fur to blend in with the snow.
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Caribou:
Caribou are large deer-like mammals that migrate annually to cope with the changes in temperature. Caribou range from four to five feet in height and weigh two hundred to seven hundred pounds. Caribou have large hooves that protect from the harsh snow and also enable them to paddle through water. Caribou manage in the winter by scraping away the snow to eat hidden shrubs and lichens.
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Ermine:
The ermine is a small white rodent that burrows between rocks or in crevices. The ermine ranges from seventeen to thirty-three centimeters in length. They usually weigh between sixty-eight and one hundred grams. The ermine is a great hunter and it has adapted to survive in the Tundra. It will eat mice, shrews, and small rodents but if needed it will attack larger animals such as hares.
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Grizzly Bear:
The grizzly bear is a large mammal that digs hillside dens in the winter for hibernation. The grizzly bear is five to eight feet in length and weigh approximately eight hundred pounds. The grizzly bear is a fierce hunter at the top of its food chain, but as an omnivore it eats berries, fruit, leaves, rodents, and caribou.
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Harlequin Duck:
The harlequin duck is a small swimming mammal that lives by the waters of the Tundra. The harlequin duck is about one to one and a half feet in length and weigh about two pounds. The harlequin duck has many feathers to provide warmth and webbed feet allow the duck to swim. The harlequin duck usually eats crustaceans, insects, and small fish.
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Musk Ox:
The musk ox is a very large animal that lives in herds of two to three dozen. The musk ox is about four to five feet in height and weighs five hundred to eight hundred pounds. The musk ox has two layers of fur to keep it warm, but in the summer it sheds the bottom layer to prevent overheating. The musk ox is an herbivore and during the winter it eats underbrush covered in snow. In the summer, it eats flowers and grasses.
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Polar Bear:
The polar bear is a large mammal that dig dens for their family. The polar bear is about seven to eight feet tall and weighs 900 to 1,600 pounds. The polar bear has thick fur to keep it warm and even grows fur on its paws. Its paws are slightly webbed in order to enable swimming and hunting. Polar bears typically eat seals, but if they are desperate enough they will eat the carcasses of other animals.
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Snowy Owl:
The snowy owl is a large white bird that builds nests in the Tundra. The snowy owl is twenty to twenty-eight inches in height and weighs three to seven pounds. Its wing span is four to five feet, enabling the snowy owl to fly through the harsh Tundra winds. The snowy owl generally eats rabbits, rodents, smaller birds, and fish.
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Tundra Swan:
The tundra swan is a white bird that nests by lakes and bays. The tundra swan is four to five feet in length and weighs eight to twenty-three pounds. Its wing span is five and a half feet, enabling it to migrate in the winter. Tundra swans are omnivores, and they feed by dipping their heads under the water and feasting on shellfish, aquatic plants, and roots.
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