Page 42 - World of Animals - Issue #41

Top 10 Extreme Animal Survivors

Polar bear

Arctic survivors that embrace the cold
The Arctic is one of Earth’s most longer guard hairs to prevent ice and
famously hostile environments, so it’s water from reaching their skin. Beneath
fitting that its most famous inhabitant is their coats, polar bears have a thick

an animal built for survival. Polar bears layer of body fat, which serves as extra
are the biggest bears in the world, and insulation and an energy reserve for
the only ones capable of surviving in long periods without food. This means
the Arctic’s icy climes. Temperatures polar bears are very good at fasting –
here can drop to -50 degrees Celsius they can survive for an incredible ten
(-58 degrees Fahrenheit) in winter. months without food.
To cope with such frosty weather, Despite their survival skills, climate
the polar bear is equipped with two change remains a constant threat; polar

layers of fur: a thick thermal undercoat bears are classified as Vulnerable on the
of dense hair, and an outer coat of IUCN Red List.

Guard hairs
Undercoat
Skin

Fat layer
Polar bear insulation

POLAR BEAR
Ursus maritimus
Class Mammalia

Territory Arctic circle
Diet Seals and small whales
Lifespan 25-30 years
Adult weight 544kg (1,200lb)
Conservation status

VULNERABLE

Emperor penguin
Emperor penguins
form huge colonies and
work together to ensure These blubbery birds team up to tackle life in Antarctica
survival and protect Emperor penguins rule the vast wilderness of Antarctica. Like other
their young
birds, penguins have densely packed feathers to keep them warm.
However, the best defence emperor penguins have against the cold is
a thick layer of fat under their skin.
This is particularly useful when braving the icy water. While other
sea birds can only remain submerged for short periods, emperor
penguins can stay in the bitterly cold Antarctic water for 20 minutes.
They can also dive deeper than any other bird, reaching depths of 565
metres (1,850 feet).
EMPEROR PENGUIN There’s safety in numbers,
Aptenodytes forsteri as well as warmth. With little
Class Aves
shelter from the elements, these
penguins huddle together in their
thousands to conserve heat.
This technique is vital in the
Territory Antarctica middle of winter, as the males
Diet Fish

Lifespan 15-20 years are leƒ to incubate their eggs
Adult weight 40kg (88lb) through snowstorms and subzero
Conservation status temperatures. Without huddling,
a single emperor penguin would
burn through twice the amount of
NEAR THREATENED
body fat to stay warm.
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