1.2.4 Animal Adaptations (Cold Environment) Flashcards
Polar animals
Polar bears
Arctic foxes
Polar bear adaptations
Fur on soles of feet
Large body
Large feet
Sharp teeth and claws
Small ears
Strong legs
Thick layer of blubber
Thick white fur
Fur on soles of feet
Better grip on ice
For insulation
Large body
Small surface area to volume ratio
Reduces heat loss
Large feet
Spreads weight on snow and ice
Small ears
Reduce heat loss
Strong legs
For swimming and running
Helps them to catch prey
Thick layers of blubber
Insulation
Store of energy in the winter
Thick layer of white fur
Insulation
Camouflage
Arctic fox adaptations
Fur on soles of feet
Fur on tail
Thick camouflage seasonal Fur
Fur on tail
Provides extra insulation
Thick camouflaged seasonal fur
-Summer coat is thin and grey/brown to camouflage against background of rocks and vegetation
-Winter coat is thick and white to camouflage against frozen background
Tundra animals
Caribou
Tundra Arctic hare (snowshoe)
Caribou adaptations
Compact stocky body with short tail and ears
Skinny legs
Noses with special chambers
Double coat
Split hooves
Compact stocky body with a short tail and ears
To avoid losing body heat
Skinny legs
Arteries and veins run side by side so arterial blood heats up blood from veins
Nose with special chambers
Holds heat and moisture
Double coat
They layers hold air and keep them dry
Split hooves
- So their weight can be distributed so they don’t sink in snow
- Also acts as paddles to swim
Tundra arctic hare adaptations (snowshoe)
Fur changes colour
More fur on larger toes
Long front claws
Can reach speed of 64km per hour
Fur changes colour
White in winter to blend in with snow
Brown/grey in summer to blend in with surroundings
More fur on larger toes
Provides additional surface area and support for walking on snow
Long front claws
Used for digging hard packed snow
Can reach speeds of 64km per hour
To run away from predators
