![]() *Insulation as a Core Function of Fur in Tundra Animals It plays a crucial role in their survival within their environment, under the harsh conditions typical of the tundra. Dense Furĭense fur is an adaptation of most tundra animals, especially mammals. In summer, their white fur moults and transitions to gray-brown color which again conceals them in the now grayish brown environment. In winter, Arctic foxes' fur turns white, which conceals them in snowy terrain. *Camouflage in Arctic FoxĪrctic fox is another animal in the tundra that is capable of changing its fur color with the seasons, to match the landscape. Some species of ptarmigan that occur in the tundra and have variable camouflage are willow ptarmigan ( Lagopus lagopus ), and rock ptarmigan ( Lagopus muta ). Their feathers also molt as winter gives way to spring and summer thereby assuming a mottled-brown coloration which again blends with the brown, mottled summer landscape of vegetation, soil and rocks. Ptarmigan refers to any of multiple species of birds in the tundra ecoregion, known for distinctive change in feather colors in winter and summer seasons.įor many ptarmigans, the color of their plumage in winter is white which enables them blend into the snowy landscape. Adaptations of Animals in the Tundra: Snowshoe Hare Uses it Camouflage to Elude Predators like the Snowy Owl (Credit: Jeffery J. Through its camouflage, snowshoe hare eludes its predators like snowy owl, Arctic fox and lynx, and thereby has a higher chance of survival.Ĭhange in the color of fur in snowshoe hares is usually driven by changes in solar duration and intensity which are indicative of the transition from one season to another. Īs a result, the animal is able to remain undetected as it traverses the tundra landscape all year round. The fur of snowshoe hares changes from white in winter to gray-brown or brown in summer. Snowshoe hare is a well-known example of a tundra animal whose adaptations include a seasonally-variable camouflage. Some examples of tundra animals with seasonally-variable camouflage are snowshoe hare ( Lepus americanus ), ptarmigan ( Lagopus spp. With camouflage, predatory animals can effectively stalk and ambush prey, while prey can hide from predators by blending into the background. The main reason for seasonal variability in the camouflage of these animals, is the fact that tundra climate is seasonally-variable, with significant changes in the conditions and appearance of the landscape in summer and winter. Many animals in the tundra have this adaptation, which enables them to blend in with the surrounding thereby increasing their chances of survival as predators or/and prey. One of the remarkable adaptive characteristics of tundra animals is seasonally-variable camouflage. Seasonally-Variable Camouflage (as one of the Adaptations of Animals in the Tundra) This article discusses the adaptations of animals in the tundra, as follows 1). Adaptations of animals in the tundra are seasonally-variable camouflage, dense fur, hibernation, compact body morphology, communal hunting and grazing, communicative vocalization, and fat layer for insulation.
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