Tundra Biome Animals Adaptations

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.

Tundra biome animals adaptations. Certain plants in the tundra have hair covering their stems and leaves. Animals need shelter and insulation in the Tundra. 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. Animal Adaptations in the Tundra Biome Animals have many adaptations to survive in this harsh environment. Animals and plants in the tundra make special adaptations to survive the extreme cold.

Adaptations that these animals need to survive in the arctic tundra include thick fur to protect from harsh temperatures and insects. 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. The animals here tend to have thicker and warmer feathers and fur.

Tundra means treeless therefore most of the plants in the tundra are low growing plants. 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. Lemmings are small mammals that burrow under.

Many of the birds of the tundra have two coats of feathers to help keep them warm. This food is then converted to fat and stored. Animal adaptations in the tundra biome animals have many adaptations to survive in this harsh environment.

Food and feeder relationships are simple and they are more subject to upset if a critical species disappears or decreases in number. 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. They have long stiff hair in between their feet that provide them traction.