Winter is definitely here. Recent snowfalls covering many of Zoolife’s cameras may have left you wondering how the animals are fairing during winter conditions. Some of them, like the giraffes, retreat into indoor habitats to escape the cold. Others, like the Amur tigers, may seem perfectly at home.
But, why is that? What winter adaptations do tigers and other animals have that help them not only survive the winter but also enjoy it?
Let’s talk about it!
Perhaps the best animal to start a blog about winter adaptations off with is the Amur tiger. This subspecies is the one most accurately identified as a “snow tiger” since their primary habitat is the snowy forests of Russia. Amur tigers are the largest cat on our planet and the largest of the currently living tiger subspecies. The large body size of the Amur tiger is the key feature that allows it to exist so well in freezing winter temperatures. Warm-blooded animals who live in colder climates have larger bodies in order to reduce loss through a reduction in their bodies surface to volume ratio. Another example is that of polar bears who have large, compact bodies, relative to bears in warmer climates, thus giving them a smaller relative surface area (relative to volume) for losing heat.
A thick “scarf” fur around an Amur tiger’s neck helps keep in heat at this crucial area of the body. Thicker fur covers their ears, feet, and tails. All aiding in winter survival in similar ways to our own coats, gloves, and scarves do. Coats of Amur tigers are also significantly paler than that of their more southern relatives. This paler coat allows them to better blend in with the paler environment of snow covered hills and forests.
In much the same way as Amur tigers, Amur leopards feature a significantly paler coat than that of their southern relatives – the Asian and African Leopards. The latter two species are often found in bright yet dry environments where a bright colour leads to better camouflage. The Amur leopard exists in a drastically different environment than this, one often covered in snow. A paler coat, in this situation, leads to better chances of successfully stalking or ambushing prey.
The white fur of Arctic wolves is one of the most easily recognized adaptations for them in the winter. But, there’s something else right in front of our noses…. their noses! Arctic wolves’ muzzles are shorter than that of warmer weather species. Their ears and legs are also smaller and shorter. All of these physical adaptations help Arctic wolves reduce heat loss and decrease their risk of frostbite.
One famous feature of marine mammals is the thick blubber than gives them their characteristic appearance. Southern elephant seals in particular display large instances of blubber, especially in the winter months.This species can often be found in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters so staying warm is vital to survival. Blubber helps marine mammals stay warm in colder water through insulation. This insulation works in much the same way as a wetsuit except, instead of being a quarter-inch thick on average, can often be upwards of six inches thick.
Santa’s reindeer have a few tricks up their sleeve when it comes to navigating their Arctic homes. Not only do caribou have two layers of insulating fur but the fur itself is completely hollow. This allows the fur to reflect back the light of the sun and lead to increased heat absorption. Their hooves also act like snow shoes. How? The toes of caribou spread out wide when walking – distributing the animal’s weight so that it can “float” over snow and soft ice without sinking in.
Snow is no match for the snow leopard. In fact, they are so well adapted for snowy environments scientists put snow in their name! This big cat, whose closest living relative is the tiger, has an enlarged nasal cavity which allows them to warm the cold air they breathe in before it moves to their lungs. Snow leopards also feature a dense, wooly undercoat and an incredibly thick tail that can be wrapped around their bodies.
Winter adaptations vary from species to species but, one thing is for sure – nature is truly amazing. From tails that act like scarves to hooves that act like snow shoes, the winter animals of Zoolife are thriving in some unique ways. You can observe every species mentioned here through unfiltered, interactive cameras by heading over to Zoolife.tv now.