The following is a near complete list of native land mammalian carnivores found in the East Atlantic Arctic. They belong to the order Carnivora. Carnivora is an order of mammals that are specialized in mostly eating other animals, like tigers, hyenas, dogs, ferrets, and bears. Carnivorans can also be omnivores (meaning they eat other animals as well plants) like the brown bear for example. Four families of land mammals of the order carnivora are native to the East Atlantic Arctic. They are classified by family, which are genetic groups that highlight a common ancestor. Family describes a closer genetic closeness than order.
Sizes are given from nose to tail, and males are usually larger than females.
HB: Head and body length
T: Tail length
SH: Shoulder height
W: Weight
Sizes are given from nose to tail, and males are usually larger than females.
HB: Head and body length
T: Tail length
SH: Shoulder height
W: Weight
Mustelidae is the family that ferrets, minks, badgers, and otters belong to, for example. Six species of the family mustelidae are common in the East Atlantic Arctic.
- The American mink Neogale vison. This American species is introduced and invasive in Europe. It was introduced to Iceland and to the Arctic regions of continental Europe and Asia for the purpose of fur farming, and formed feral populations around the 1930's. In the East Atlantic Arctic, it is present in Iceland, southern Finland, and throughout Sweden and Norway except the northernmost regions. In Iceland, the population has declined by more than 60% since 2003. This is possibly caused by the decline in prey populations, for example sea birds, caused by climate change. Size: HB: 32-45cm, T: 13-23cm, W: 600-1200g.
- The Eurasian otter Lutra lutra. This species is not actually a land mammal, but a semiaquatic mammal, meaning they live the a large part of their life in water. Eurasian otters are found in freshwater. Their range extends accross Eurasia, including Finland, Sweden, and Norway. They are a quite large with a long conical tail. Size: HB: 60-90cm, T: 35-45cm, SH: 30cm, W: 7-17kg.
- The Wolverine Gulo gulo, also sometimes called glutton. It found in the Arctic regions of Asia, Europe, and North America. In the East Atlantic Arctic, it is present throughout Norway, some fragmented areas in Sweden, and large areas of Finland. It is not found in Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, or the Faroe Islands. This species has a low population density, and it is hard to estimate population, but It is considered vulnerable in Europe. The wolverine is the largest and heaviest member of the mustelidae family, although it is not the longest from head to tail. Size: HB: 75-100cm, T: 12-15cm, SH: 40-45cm, W: 16-30kg.
- The Least weasel Mustela nivalis. This tiny predator has an extremely large range across North America and Eurasia, including throughout Fennoscandia. There are multiple subspecies. The subspecies found in the European Arctic is completely white in winter, and generally smaller than other subspecies. In summer, the coat is similar to the stoat, but lacks the black tip on the tail. Size: HB: 16-21cm, T: 2-4cm, W: 30-55g. The male may be almost two times heavier than the female.
- The Stoat Mustela erminea, also called ermine. This mammal has a similar range to its smaller cousin the least weasel, but it is also present around Greenland in addition to North America and Eurasia. It is found throughout Fennoscandia. In winter, the coat is white with a black tail tip. In summer, it is red on the upper parts and white on the underparts, keeping the black tail tip. Size: HB: 13-30cm, T: 7-10cm, W: 30-170g. The male may be more than two times heavier than the female.
- The European pine marten Martes martes. Larger than the mink, these animals can also be recognized by the lighter hair on their chest and neck. They are found throughout most of the European continent, including Fennoscandia, but prefer forests and wooded areas. Size: HB: 90-150cm, T: 30-50cm, SH: 65-80cm, W: 30-80kg.
Ursidae is the family that includes all bears, from the giant panda to the polar bear. The Brown bear Ursus arctos is the only European land bear, as the polar bear is considered to be a marine mammal. The brown bear is found in the Arctic regions of Asia, Europe, and North America, including throughout Finland, Sweden except for the south, and fragmented populations in Norway. The brown bear is absent from Svalbard, Greenland, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. It has been known to breed with polar bears, although it is rare. Size: HB: 90-150cm, T: 30-50cm, SH: 65-80cm, W: 30-80kg. |
Felidae is the cat family, which includes for example the tiger, the lion, and the house cat. In the East Atlantic Arctic, the only wild cat species is the Eurasian Lynx Lynx lynx. This large cat is shy and difficult to observe in the wild. It is found throughout the temperate and Low Arctic regions of Eurasia. This includes most of Norway, Sweden and Finland, with less than 5000 animals in these regions in 2016. The populations of Sweden and Norway appear to be in decline. Size: HB: 90-150cm, T: 30-50cm, SH: 65-80cm, W: 30-80kg. |
Canidae is the carnivora family that includes all canine species, such as wolves, foxes, dogs, jackals, and many more. Three species of canines are native to the Arctic: two fox species, and one wolf species.
- The Arctic fox Vulpes lagopus. The arctic fox is found in all Arctic regions of Asia, Europe, and North America. This includes most of Norway, the extreme north of Sweden and Finland, Iceland, around Greenland, and Svalbard. Some arctic foxes become white in winter, and are called white morph. Some Arctic foxes can be brown all year, and are called blue morph. Globally, most Arctic foxes belong to the white morph. They are smaller than the red fox, with denser hair. Size: HB: 55-75cm, T: 25-45cm, SH: 25-35cm, W: 3-9kg.
- The Red fox Vulpes vulpes is native to Canada, Alaska, and Europe. It is present throughout Fennoscandia. Because of climate change, it is extending its range further into the arctic, meaning it is starting to compete for food and territory with the arctic fox. The red fox is larger than the Arctic fox, and it does not change color in winter. Size: HB: 55-90cm, T: 30-48cm, SH: 35-40cm, W: 4-10kg.
- The Gray wolf Canis lupus is found in the Arctic regions of Asia, Europe, and North America including some parts of Greenland, but not in Svalbard, Iceland, or the Faroe Islands. In Fennoscandia, two distinct populations are present: one between southern Norway and Sweden, and one in southern Finland. As of 2016, less than 700 wolves belonged to these populations, but the population trends were stable or increasing. Gray wolves usually have gray fur, as their name suggests, but the color vary from dark grey to white. Size: HB: 90-150cm, T: 30-50cm, SH: 65-80cm, W: 30-80kg.
Pictures
- "Eurasian lynx, stalking a scrap of meat" by dogrando is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0.
- "American Mink / Vison d'Amérique" by Eric Bégin is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
- "Boommarter (European Pine Marter) 1730" by BZD1 is marked with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
- "old world otter eating a fish" by Cloudtail the Snow Leopard is marked with CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.
- "Hermelin am Weg/ stoat" by hardi_630 is marked with CC PDM 1.0.
- "Weasel (Mustela nivalis)" by susie2778 is marked with CC BY-NC 2.0.
- "Wolverine on a quest" by Tambako the Jaguar is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
- "File:Kamchatka Brown Bear near Dvuhyurtochnoe on 2015-07-23.jpg" by Robert F. Tobler is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
- "Eurasian Lynx" by The Wasp Factory is marked with CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
- "Young Arctic Fox" by Infomastern is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
- "Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)" by Billy Lindblom is licensed under CC BY 2.0
- "Black and grey wolf (female from Druid pack,'Half Black') walking in road near Lamar River bridge" by YellowstoneNPS is marked with CC PDM 1.0
- "American Mink, Centre Island, Toronto, ON" by tsaiproject is licensed under CC BY 2.0
- "Arctic fox in snow" by USFWS Headquarters is licensed under CC BY 2.0
- "PEI-00282 - Red Fox" by archer10 (Dennis) is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
References
- American Mink. (n.d.). The Mammal Society. Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://www.mammal.org.uk/species-hub/full-species-hub/discover-mammals/species-american-mink/
- Couzens, D., Swash, A., Still, R., & Dunn, J. (2021). Britain’s Mammals Updated Edition A Field Guide to the Mammals of Great Britain and Ireland (Revised). Princeton University Press.
- Elmhagen, B., Berteaux, D., Burgess, R. M., Ehrich, D., Gallant, D., Henttonen, H., Ims, R. A., Killengreen, S. T., Niemimaa, J., Norén, K., Ollila, T., Rodnikova, A., Sokolov, A. A., Sokolova, N. A., Stickney, A. A., & Angerbjörn, A. (2017). Homage to Hersteinsson and Macdonald: climate warming and resource subsidies cause red fox range expansion and Arctic fox decline. In Polar Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/17518369.2017.1319109
- Kaczensky, P., Chapron, G., von Arx, M., Huber, D., Andrén, H., Linnell, J. (2012). Status, management and distribution of large carnivores-bear, lynx, wolf & wolverine in Europe. European Commission. https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/species/carnivores/pdf/task_1_part1_statusoflcineurope.pdf
- Reid, D. G., Berteaux, D., & Laidre, K. L. (2013). Mammals. In Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (pp. 78–141). https://www.caff.is/assessment-series/arctic-biodiversity-assessment/208-arctic-biodiversity-assessment-2013-chapter-3-mammals
- Sale, R. (2006). A complete guide to Arctic wildlife. Christopher Helm.
- Stefansson, R. A., von Schmalensee, M., & Skorupski, J. (2016). A tale of conquest and crisis: invasion history and status of the American mink (Neovison vison) in Iceland. Acta Biologica, 23, 87–100. https://doi.org/10.18276/AB.2016.23-08