10 COLD WEATHER ANIMALS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS - BIOLOGY - 2025

The animals climate cold are those who have developed special features that allow them to inhabit places of low temperatures. Among the characteristics developed by cold-climate animals to withstand low temperatures are abundant fur, special circulatory systems, short limbs, and accumulation of fat, among others.

Besides the animals; plants and microorganisms have also adapted to cold climates. These adaptations are necessary for the establishment of biotic relationships that have allowed the survival of the animals that inhabit these climates.

Cold weather animals. Polar bear on the upper left, Alpaca on the upper right, Penguin on the lower left and Snow Monkey on the lower right.

Animals commonly found in cold climates include some bears, some aquatic mammals, and various types of birds.

Characteristic animals of the cold climate

Polar Bear

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus). Source: Alan Wilson

It is one of the largest predators in the North Pole. It is known for the abundant fat it accumulates and its dense coat.

The number of polar bears is currently low and many believe that global warming may lead to their disappearance.

Penguins

Penguin couple with their young By Christopher Michel

This bird can be found mainly in Antarctica. It has a layer of fat under its feathers that allows it to withstand cold climates.

Their population is highly sensitive to the changes that occur in their environment and for that reason they are highly studied to evaluate natural changes in the southern oceans.

Seals

These animals mainly feed on cold-weather fish and birds such as penguins.

They have a large layer of fat to retain heat and are great swimmers to get food.

Arctic wolves

Specimens of Black Wolf and White or Arctic Wolf in France Zoo By Stéfan

As their name implies, they are animals that mainly inhabit the arctic regions. They have a dense coat that is mostly white to resist the cold. The popular Siberian husky is a descendant of these wolves.

Alpacas

Alpacas San Pedro de Atacama. Source: search.creativecommons.org

Along with llamas, they are mammals native to the highlands of the Andes.

They are highly domesticated and are used for the daily work of the peasants in those areas. They are mainly herbivorous animals

Snow monkeys

They are also known as the Japanese macaque for inhabiting the cold areas of this country. They have abundant fur that allows them to withstand temperatures of several degrees below zero.

Snow owls

This species of Owl can be found in some cold climate countries in America and Europe. It feeds on small rodents and is one of the main predators of the Tundra.

Reindeer

This mammal mainly inhabits the cold areas of the tundra and taiga in the north. There are several eco-types of this animal, some sedentary and others migratory, which allows them to be found in various places.

Lemmings

They are small mammals that inhabit the tundra. They are mainly herbivores and in turn are preyed upon by cold weather birds such as the snow owl or the rough-legged hawk.

Their population varies cyclically every year, probably due to fluctuations in prey-predator relationships.

Walruses

This aquatic mammal lives in the arctic areas. They are large and have large fangs that help them obtain their food based mainly on other aquatic animals. They have a thick skin that protects them in cold climates.

References

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