Peary Caribou (Rangifer tarandus pearyi): The Peary caribou, the smallest and palest caribou subspecies, inhabits Canada’s High Arctic islands, enduring some of the coldest conditions for ungulates. Its short legs and compact body reduce heat loss, while dense, hollow fur traps air for insulation. It digs through snow with its hooves to reach lichens and mosses. Its dark muzzle helps absorb solar heat, and its nasal passages warm incoming air. Unlike other caribou, it migrates short distances, conserving energy. Highly sensitive to ice crusts that block food access, its survival depends on stable winter conditions. This rare caribou’s adaptations highlight the extreme limits of mammalian cold resistance in isolated polar ecosystems.
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