| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
The Arctic is far from a suitable habitat for most amphibians on Earth. Freezing temperatures and long periods of darkness make the Arctic almost inhabitable for '''herpetofauna'''. There are only 5 amphibian and 1 reptile species recorded in the Arctic. Please browse the section below to learn more about these resilient, unique animals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arcticbiodiversity.is/index.php/the-report/chapters/amphibians-and-reptiles |title=Amphibians and Reptiles |website=Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) |access-date=26 August 2019}}</ref> | The Arctic is far from a suitable habitat for most amphibians on Earth. Freezing temperatures and long periods of darkness make the Arctic almost inhabitable for '''herpetofauna'''. There are only 5 amphibian and 1 reptile species recorded in the Arctic. Please browse the section below to learn more about these resilient, unique animals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.arcticbiodiversity.is/index.php/the-report/chapters/amphibians-and-reptiles |title=Amphibians and Reptiles |website=Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) |access-date=26 August 2019}}</ref> | ||
| − | * [[ | + | * [[Arctic_Life/Arctic_Animals/Arctic_Amphibians | Arctic Amphibians]] |
=Birds= | =Birds= | ||
| Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
=Fish= | =Fish= | ||
| − | = | + | =Invertebrates= |
=References= | =References= | ||
Revision as of 15:06, 21 October 2019
The Arctic's ecosystem is very diverse and vulnerable to the slightest of alterations, which can have dramatic effects. This section will provide an overview of the most charismatic species present in the Canadian Arctic including cool facts, adaptations, and links to external resources. The content was structured hierarchically around current taxonomic classifications.
Arctic Amphibians and Reptiles
The Arctic is far from a suitable habitat for most amphibians on Earth. Freezing temperatures and long periods of darkness make the Arctic almost inhabitable for herpetofauna. There are only 5 amphibian and 1 reptile species recorded in the Arctic. Please browse the section below to learn more about these resilient, unique animals.[1]
Birds
Birds are vertebrates that belong to the class Aves. Members of this class are characterized by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweight skeleton, can lay hard-shelled eggs. There are around 200 bird species that migrate to the Arctic from all parts of the World during the summer months [2]. The State of Canada’s Bird 2019 report currently lists a total of 449 bird species found throughout Canada [3]. The full list of Canadian bird species found both in Artic and non-Artic regions could be consulted here.
The section below will exclusively focus on Canadian Arctic birds providing detailed information on their adaptations, physiology, evolution, history, taxonomy and other details. We invite you to explore this section by following the link below.
Mammals
Mammals are warm-blooded animals which are partially or completely covered with fur. They give birth to live young, which means that mammals also have mammary glands so they can produce milk for offspring.[4] Mammals play an extremely important role in ecosystems; either acting as prey for other organisms, or predators which regulate prey populations.[5]
The term mammal is rather recent and was proposed by Linnaeus in 1758 in the final edition of his book, Systema Naturae. He derived the term mammalia from the words for breast and animal (mamma + animalia = mammalia). From this derived the vernacular English term "mammal". Basically, members of the class Mammalia are distinguished from other animals by the possession of mammary glands and hair. Mammals owe some of their evolutionary success to endothermy, their ability to produce and control body heat internally. However, mammals are distinct in many other ways as well.
This section delves into countless amazing facts about Arctic mammals, their biology, hunting and trapping regulations, and Inuit legends, cultures, and languages regarding mammals. Please explore the section below to learn more about different Arctic mammals!
Fish
Invertebrates
References
- ↑ "Amphibians and Reptiles". Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF). Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ↑ "Birds of the Arctic Guide: Expeditions Online". Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ↑ "The State of Canada's Bird 2019 report" (PDF). July 16, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
- ↑ "Mammals". Canadian Wildlife Foundation. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
- ↑ "All About Mammals". Canadian Wildlife Foundation. Retrieved 26 August 2019.
