Arctic Ocean Animals Adaptations
The Arctic Ocean is probably the least studied of the world oceans.
Arctic ocean animals adaptations. During the summer months the sun shines up to 24 hours a day. Some of the most amazing adaptations are from ocean animals like sharks jellies starfish stingrays and dolphins. Many animals such as ptarmigan and snowshoe hare turn white in winter to blend in with the snowly landscape.
From color changing coats to layers of blubber these animals are prepared for the coldest of winters. It is inaccessible due to ice coverage and therefore the marine ecology of the Arctic Ocean is poorly known Blix 2005. These animals adapt to permanently low temperatures such as those found in the Arctic by having low metabolic rates.
Blubber is a thick fatty tissue just under the skin of many arctic. Antarctica is a very harsh and extreme environment though is very rich in wildlife Animals need to have a whole range of specializations to be able to take advantage of the abundant summer food. Some marine mammals such as whales migrate over large distances and may spend time in a combination of arctic tropical and temperate waters.
Ocean animals have unique adaptations depending on what ocean habitat they. Allocate each group one of the animals - polar bear snow fox and reindeer. They are adapted this way not so much to conserve heat as animals do but to conserve water.
Diving physiology physiological and anatomical - Whales and seals have a number of adaptations that allow them to dive deep beneath the sea for extended time periods narwhals can dive to 1500m 4900 feet and stay submerged for up to 25 minutes. Gray whales Eschrichtius robustus migrate thousands of kilometers every year as they swim from the cold Arctic Ocean in summer to the warm waters off the coast of Mexico to winter. Camels long leg eyelids hump are all examples of adaptation.
Animals have to be well adapted for survival in this extreme habitat. Arctic animals have special adaptations that allow them to survive on the frozen tundra in this unique region of the world. For marine life the Arctic Ocean is a unique place to live.