Greenland is the world’s largest island, dominated by an ice sheet that covers over 80% of its surface. The remaining coastal regions and ice-free land are subject to one of the planet’s most intense climates, defined by extreme cold and long periods of darkness. Despite the formidable Arctic environment, a complex fauna thrives in the air, on the land, and within the nutrient-rich waters surrounding the island. These animals have developed adaptations allowing them to endure the severe conditions of this unique polar ecosystem.
Marine Life of the Arctic Waters
The icy waters surrounding Greenland support a rich food web of marine mammals and fish. Iconic whale species traverse these cold seas, including the Bowhead whale, which can live for over a century and uses its skull to break through sea ice. The Narwhal, often called the “unicorn of the sea,” is known for its long, spiraled tusk—an elongated canine tooth that can grow up to ten feet in males. Humpback and Fin whales migrate to feed in the summer months, while smaller toothed whales like Belugas and Orcas are also present.
The Harp seal is the most common seal, often seen in large groups along the coastlines of Southern Greenland. The Ringed seal is the primary prey of the Polar bear, maintaining breathing holes in the dense sea ice throughout the winter. Walruses use their tusks to haul themselves onto ice floes and to forage for clams and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates. The marine food chain relies heavily on schooling fish like Capelin and Arctic cod, which provide the high-fat diet necessary for the survival of seals and whales. Changes in ocean currents and temperatures have begun to shift the distribution of these fish, impacting the Arctic marine mammals that depend on them.
Large Land Mammals of the Tundra
The ice-free coastal tundra supports Greenland’s largest terrestrial animals, displaying adaptations to the cold and sparse vegetation. The Musk Ox is the largest land mammal, distinguished by a shaggy, dark-brown outer coat that conceals an insulating underwool called qiviut. This underlayer is renowned for its warmth, allowing the animal to survive temperatures that drop far below freezing. When threatened, Musk Oxen instinctively form a defensive circle with their horns facing outward, protecting the calves in the center.
Barren-ground Caribou roam the tundra of West Greenland, where they graze on lichens, mosses, and low-growing shrubs. Their seasonal movements are driven by the search for forage. The timing of their migration is closely tied to the emergence of spring plants, a relationship increasingly disturbed by the effects of climate change.
The Polar bear is the apex predator of the Arctic, primarily found along the coastlines and on the sea ice, which serves as its hunting platform. Their diet consists of seals, particularly Ringed seals, which they ambush near breathing holes or as they rest on the ice. A genetically distinct subpopulation in Southeast Greenland has adapted to hunt using glacial ice when sea ice is unavailable. The Greenlandic Polar bear population is divided into four or five subpopulations, some of which are shared along the border with Canada.
Arctic Birds and Smaller Land Dwellers
Greenland’s smaller terrestrial mammals and diverse birdlife contribute to the Arctic food web, relying on camouflage and seasonal migration for survival. The Arctic Fox is a predator that exhibits seasonal color change, turning its coat from brown or gray in summer to white pelage in winter to blend with the snow. This fox preys on small animals and eggs, often relying on the fluctuating populations of Collared Lemmings. The Arctic Hare shares a similar adaptation, with its thick fur and compact body minimizing heat loss, and it can reach speeds up to 40 miles per hour when escaping danger.
The avian population is dominated by migratory seabirds that arrive in large numbers to breed during the short summer. Species like Brünnich’s Guillemots, Atlantic Puffins, and Little Auks form colonies on coastal cliffs, utilizing marine resources to raise their young. The Arctic Tern undertakes the longest migration of any animal, traveling between the Arctic and Antarctic regions annually. Resident birds that remain year-round include the Rock Ptarmigan, which changes its plumage to white, and the Gyrfalcon, a predator adapted to survive the dark, cold winter.