Ecological Biome & Habitat

❄️ Polar & Tundra Wildlife (Glacial Ice & Arctic Tundra)

Sub-zero ice shelves, permafrost tundra, and frigid glacial seas home to blubber-insulated species. Showing 46 cataloged species thriving in this biome.

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AvesLC

Adelie Penguin

Pygoscelis adeliae

Diet: Marine carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–20 years; exceptional birds may live longer

AvesCR

African Penguin

Spheniscus demersus

Diet: Carnivore: mainly anchovy, sardine and other small fish, plus squid and crustaceans
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years, with some individuals surviving longer

AvesAnimal group

Alpine Birds

Aves of alpine ecosystems

Diet: Species-specific: plants, seeds, insects, other animals, carrion, or mixed foods
Wild lifespan: No group-wide lifespan; it differs by species

InsectaLC

American Copper

Lycaena phlaeas

Diet: Herbivore as a caterpillar; nectar feeder as an adult
Wild lifespan: Adults generally live a few weeks; the full cycle may span months when dormant overwintering is included

AvesLC

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

Diet: Omnivore: earthworms, insects, snails and many fruits
Wild lifespan: Most live only a few years; the oldest recorded wild bird reached nearly 14 years

MammaliaLC

Arctic Fox

Vulpes lagopus

Diet: Omnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 3–6 years in the wild; exceptional individuals live longer

ReptiliaNT

Armadillo Girdled Lizard

Ouroborus cataphractus

Diet: Specialized insectivore
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly quantified; cordylids can be long-lived for their size

ReptiliaNT

Armadillo Lizard

Ouroborus cataphractus

Diet: Specialized insectivore
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly quantified; cordylids can be long-lived for their size

ReptiliaAnimal group

Australian Gecko

Gekkota of Australia

Diet: Insectivore
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly known for many species; captive records cannot represent the whole group

AvesLC

Barn Owl

Tyto alba

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 4–8 years in the wild, with some much older

ReptiliaLC

Black Mamba

Dendroaspis polylepis

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Possibly 10–15 years in the wild

ReptiliaAnimal group

Blind Snake

Scolecophidia

Diet: Insectivore
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly known for most species

MammaliaEN

Blue Whale

Balaenoptera musculus

Diet: Baleen-filtering carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often estimated at 70–90 years; some live longer

MammaliaVU

Caribou

Rangifer tarandus

Diet: Herbivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years in the wild; some may exceed 20

ReptiliaNE

Central Ranges Taipan

Oxyuranus temporalis

Diet: Carnivore; small mammals strongly suspected
Wild lifespan: Unknown

AvesLC

Chinstrap Penguin

Pygoscelis antarcticus

Diet: Marine carnivore, strongly dependent on Antarctic krill
Wild lifespan: Commonly estimated at 15–20 years

ArachnidaNE

Deathstalker Scorpion

Leiurus quinquestriatus

Diet: Invertebrate predator
Wild lifespan: Exact wild lifespan is poorly documented

AvesAnimal group

Eagle

Accipitridae

Diet: Carnivore and scavenger; prey differs by species
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; many large eagles can live for decades

AvesLC

Elf Owl

Micrathene whitneyi

Diet: Mostly insects and other arthropods
Wild lifespan: Oldest known wild record at least 5 years 10 months

AvesNT

Emperor Penguin

Aptenodytes forsteri

Diet: Marine carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 15–20 years in the wild

AvesAnimal group

Goose

Anserini

Diet: Primarily herbivorous waterfowl
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; banding records show some wild geese surviving more than 20 years

MammaliaLC

Gray Wolf

Canis lupus

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Often 6–8 years in the wild; some exceed 13 years

MammaliaLC

Humpback Whale

Megaptera novaeangliae

Diet: Carnivore and filter feeder
Wild lifespan: Commonly estimated at 45–80 years

AvesAnimal group

Jacana

Jacanidae

Diet: Mostly aquatic invertebrates plus seeds and plant material
Wild lifespan: Species-specific; no reliable family-wide figure

ReptiliaLC

Japanese Rat Snake

Elaphe climacophora

Diet: Carnivorous constrictor of small vertebrates
Wild lifespan: Often 10–15 years in the wild; managed individuals may exceed 20 years

ReptiliaAnimal group

Keelback

Rhabdophis

Diet: Carnivore, often specializing on amphibians
Wild lifespan: Not reliably quantified across the genus

MammaliaDD

Killer Whale

Orcinus orca

Diet: Carnivore
Wild lifespan: Females may live 50–80 years or more; males often 30–60 years

ReptiliaLC

Leopard Gecko

Eublepharis macularius

Diet: Insectivore
Wild lifespan: Often 10–20 years in managed care

MammaliaLC

Leopard Seal

Hydrurga leptonyx

Diet: Carnivore with both filter-feeding and active predation
Wild lifespan: At least 26 years in the wild

AvesLC

Little Penguin

Eudyptula minor

Diet: Carnivore; pursuit-diving seabird
Wild lifespan: Commonly six to seven years, although banded individuals can live much longer

ReptiliaLC

Mossy Leaf-Tailed Gecko

Uroplatus sikorae

Diet: Nocturnal predator of small forest animals
Wild lifespan: Wild longevity is poorly measured; well-managed captive individuals may live for a decade or more