Arctic Animals
A List of Arctic Wildlife
Antarctic
animals here - south polar
The North Pole is in the middle of the Arctic Ocean which is surrounded by the land masses of North America, Europe and Asia so there is a land connection to the south meaning that land animals can more easily reach the Arctic unlike Antarctica where animals must be able to swim or fly across hundreds of miles of frigid and storm-prone ocean even at the narrowest point.
Land Mammals
![arctic fox](arctic-fox-Algkalv---CC3sm.jpg)
Arctic Fox - Vulpes lagopus
![arctic hare](Arctic_Hare-sm.jpg)
Arctic Hare - Lepus arcticus
![arctic wolf](arctic-wolf-tsaiproject-cc2_sm.jpg)
Arctic Wolf - Canis lupus arctos
![caribou, reindeer](reindeer.jpg)
Caribou / Reindeer - Rangifer tarandus
![moose, elk](moose-sm.jpg)
Moose - Alces alces
![musk ox](053_sm.jpg)
Musk Ox - Ovibos moschatus
![polar bear](023_sm.jpg)
Polar Bear - Ursus maritimus
![wolverine animal](Wolverine.jpg)
Wolverine - Gulo gulo
![dall sheep](Dalls_sheep_National-Park-Service,-Alaska-Region-CC2sm.jpg)
Dall Sheep - Ovis dalli
![ermine](ermine_4028mdk09CC3_sm.jpg)
Ermine - Mustela erminea
![lemming](Lemming_Sander-van-der-Wel_CC2_sm.jpg)
Lemming - Lemmus lemmus
![sea otter](sea_otters_sm.jpg)
Sea Otter - Enhydra lutris
![snowshoe hare](Snowshoe_Hare-Denali-National-Park-and-Preserve_CC2Sm.jpg)
Snowshoe Hare / Snowshoe Rabbit
Lepus americanus
Birds
![snowy owl](A_Snowy_Owl_in_Flight-NaturesPhotoAdventures-CC-BY-SA-3-sm.jpg)
Snowy Owl - Bubo scandiacus
![arctic tern](tern.jpg)
Arctic Tern - Sterna paradisaea
![arctic skua](Arctic_Skua_Donald-Macauley_CC2sm.jpg)
Arctic Skua - Stercorarius parasiticus
![bald eagle](bald_eagle-Ron-Holmes-of-U.S.-Fish-and-Wildlife-Service-Northeast-RegionCC2_sm.jpg)
Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus
![canada goose](canada_goose-sm.jpg)
Canada Goose - Branta canadensis
![guillemot](IMGP5120.jpg)
Brunnich's Guillemots - Uria lomvia
![ptarmigan](rock_ptarmigan-free_sm.jpg)
Ptarmigan - Lagopus muta
![puffin](puffins_U.S.-Fish-and-Wildlife-Service-Headquarters-CC2sm.jpg)
Puffin - Fratercula arctica
![snow goose](Snow_goose_U.S.Fish_Wildlife_Service_Headquarters-CC2sm.jpg)
Snow Goose - Chen caerulescens
Other Animals
![Arctic Woolly Bear Moth caterpillar](Gynaephora_groenlandica--Mike-Beauregard_CC2sm.jpg)
Arctic Woolly Bear Moth (caterpillar)
Gynaephora groenlandica
![beluga whale](Beluga_premier_gov_ru-cc3sm.jpg)
Beluga Whale - Delphinapterus leucas
![greenland shark](greenland_shark_ugluoverload.com-CC2_sm.jpg)
Greenland Shark
Somniosus microcephalus
![narwhal](Narwhals_sm.jpg)
Narwhal - Monodon monoceros
![orca - killer whale](orca_sm.jpg)
Orca - Orcinus orca
![bearded seal](Bearded_Seal-free_sm.jpg)
Bearded Seal - Erignathus barbatus
![harp seal](Harp_Seal_colony_~Dawn~-from-Saratoga,-California,-USA-CC2_sm.jpg)
Harp Seal - Pagophilus groenlandicus
![hooded seal](Hooded_seal-free_sm.jpg)
Hooded Seal - Cystophora cristata
![ribbon seal](ribbon_seal_free_sm.jpg)
Ribbon Seal - Histriophoca fasciata
![ringed seal](ringed_seal_Alexander-Butakov_CC3_sm.jpg)
Ringed Seal - Pusa hispida
![spotted seal](Spotted_SealTomomori-CC2_sm.jpg)
Spotted Seal - Phoca largha
![walrus](029_sm.jpg)
Walrus - Odobenus rosmarus
Picture credits:
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license: Arctic Skua - Donald Macauley, Arctic Wolf - tsaiproject, Bald Eagle - Ron Holmes of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Dalls Sheep - National Park Service Alaska Region, Greenland Shark - Uglyoverload.com, Arctic Woolly Bear Moth - Mike Beauregard, Harp Seal colony ~Dawn~ from Saratoga California USA, Lemming - Sander van der Wel, Puffins - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Snow Goose - U.S. Fish Wildlife Service Headquarters, Snowshoe Hare - Denali National Park and Preserve, Spotted Seal - Tomomori.
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license - Arctic Fox - Algkalv, Beluga - Premier gov ru, Ermine - 4028mdk09, Ringed Seal - Alexander Butakov, Snowy owl - Natures Photo Adventures-CC-BY-SA-3
All other images are copyright of CoolAntarctica.com or are in the public domain.