3. Animals on Kamchatka
Arctic ground
squirrel (Spermophilus parryii)
Photo by Brude Hayward,
from "Some Mammals of the World", University of Alaska
Museum of the North
Arctic
ground squirrel (Spermophilus parryii)
The
arctic ground squirrel was named "tsik-tsik" by the Inupiat
Eskimos on account of a call
this little rodent makes when it is alarmed? Tsik-tsiks are found
in both arctic and alpine tundra.
They fatten themselves on seeds, mushrooms and berries—almost
doubling their body weight
over the summer—in preparation for fall hibernation.
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Their ears pricked, eyes bright, an arctic ground squirrel stands
watch by its burrow.
It whistles an alarm as a peregrine swoops, then dives to safety
below ground.
The Arctic Ground Squirrel's main habitat is the Arctic tundra.
They prefer areas that are
preferably not too wet with plenty of vegetation. These squirrels
live in very open areas.
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The Arctic Ground Squirrel has
definite amenities, that make it easy to distinguish it from its
relatives. The coat is beige and tan, with white spots on its back
side. This squirrel has a
rounded face, little ears, a dark bushy tail and white imprinting
around its eyes. Both sexes
attain an average length of about 15 to 16 inches long and the males
usually outweigh the
female squirrels. Small and chunky, the Arctic Ground Squirrel is
built for life close to the
ground. Its hot dog shaped body, short legs, and powerful claws
help them dig their burrows.
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The habitat of the Squirrels is an extremely cold environment. They
survive through the severe
winters by bringing hibernation into their life cycles. The Arctic
Ground Squirrels lie asleep for
about seven months each year. They move into their hibernating berths
around the beginning
of September and wake up in late April. Most females and juveniles
lose about 35 percent
of their body weight during hibernation.
Part
of text above from
Arctic Wildlife, By Fred J. Kane
Copyright:
dinets.travel.ru/chukotka.htm
Brown or Siberian lemming, Lemmus
sibericus
They like to eat mostly arctic grasses and
moss. At the start of the winter lemmings grow to
very large claws on their front feet to help them dig a hole through
the snow to reach their
grass nests. They don't hibernate and have to spend the winter looking
for food and moving
to keep warm.
Lemmings
give birth in both summer and winter and most lemmings manage to
live less than
a year. Their population numbers go up and down a lot and there
are tons of lemmings about
every four years. Lemmings are really important food for snowy owls,
falcons, weasels and
other animals in the Arctic.
Photo: Kamchatka
Travel Group
Kamchatka Marmot, Marmota kamtschatica
Black-capped
marmots live in the cold and somewhat hostile alpine areas of eastern
Siberia
and Kamtchatica. Their closest relatives are probably the Alaska
marmot, found in the
Brooks Range. Black-capped marmots currently live in three very
isolated and spatially
distinct populations. A common feature in all habitats is the plethora
of rocks and dirth of
vegetation.
They are only active about three and a half months each year and
they mature slowly.
Dispersers wait for at least three years before they leave their
natal group. Average litter
sizes are around four, and sex ratios are a bit male-biased. Black-capped
marmots and hoary marmots are the only two species occasionally
found on cliff bands above
the sea.
Text from Marmotburrow,
UCLA
The
Wolverine ranges from northern Europe and Siberia through northern
North America,
and since that includes Kamchatka, here it is:
Wolverine,
Gulo gulo, summer and winter
Photo: Swedish
Centre for School Biology and Biotechnology and Mont
St-Hilaire Nature Center
Wolverine, Gulo gulo
The
Wolverine ranges from northern Europe and Siberia through northern
North America,
and since that includes Kamchatka, here it is:
One of the largest extant mustelids, Gulo gulo 's head and body
length is 65-105 cm and tail
length is 17-26 cm. Their weight is between 7 and 32 kgs. Females
are at least ten percent
smaller than males in linear measurements and 30 percent less in
weight. Gulo gulo is
reminiscent of a large marten with a heavy build, large head, relatively
small and rounded ears,
a short tail, and massive limbs.
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Wolverines have long, dense fur which is generally blackish brown
with a light brown band extending along each side of the body from
shoulder to rump and joining over the base of the
tail. Gulo gulo has keen senses of smell and hearing but fairly
poor eyesight. Wolverines are
extremely strong and aggressive for their size, and they have been
reported to drive bears,
cougars, and even packs of wolves from their kills.
Text from "The
Gulo Project"
Kamchatka
snow sheep, Ovis nivicola nivicola
Photo: Victoria
Travel Co. Ltd
Kamchatka
snow sheep, Ovis nivicola nivicola
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Usually darker
in color than the other snow sheep and lacking a white (or light)
forehead patch. Horns on average have heavier bases than the mainland
snow sheep which has caused some to call this subspecies the Kamchatka
bighorn. This is incorrect because they are still a thinhorn species
with horns similar (or identical) to the Dall or Stone Sheep of
North America.
Text from:
http://www.wildsheep.org
filin.km.ru/mammels/cunitsa1.htm and from
Laura Leighty's
Sable page
Sabel, Martes zibellina
There is sexual dimorphism between
males and females. Males have a body length which is
longer than females and they also weigh more than females. Males
weigh between 880-1800
grams while females weigh between 700 and 1560 grams. The winter
pelage is longer and
more luxurious than the summer coat. Fur color ranges from light
to dark brown. The color of
their fur is usually lighter on their belly and darker on their
back and legs. Individuals also
display a light patch of fur on their throat which may be gray,
white, or a pale yellow.
The Sable
exhibits delayed implantation. They mate during the spring and implantation
occurs
eight months later in the female. Where individuals are scarce;
males exhibit courtship rituals
such as: jumping, running, and "cat - like rumbling."
Violent competition occurs in areas
abundant with males. The females have a gestation period of 250
- 300 days and give birth
to 1 - 7 altricial young. The young are weaned at 7 weeks and reach
sexual maturity at 2 - 3
years. In most cases paternal care has been observed. The male protects
the territory and
has even been seen bringing food to the female and her young. more
to follow
A complete fur coat is currently being sold for US $36,000, so why
shouldn't you go hunting?
However, if you don't know why you should NOT, I can't help you.
From Laura
Leighty's Sable page
Photo:
© http://www.naturschule.com
Euro-asian otter, Lutra lutra
The Euro-asian otter, (Lutra lutra),
has the widest distribution of all otter species.
Its range covers parts of three continents: Europe, Asia and Africa.
Otters spend most of their lives in freshwater. They inhabits rivers,
lakes, streams, ponds
and along rocky coasts. It uses a variety of shelters, such as,
crevices in rocks and under the
roots of trees but it mainly uses dens called "holts"
where the females give birth and bring up
their young. The holt has a chamber above the level of the water
and an exit under the water.
There is also a air shaft connecting the chamber to the surface
which opens out into the
thick thorny bushes or brambles.
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The diet of the Euro-asian otter is varied. It feeds upon fish,
eels, insects, aquatic birds, frogs,
small mammals and crustaceans. Euro-asian otters found living along
coastal waters have
been found to feed mostly on crabs and dogfish. The
hunts mostly at night, cornering their prey
in weeds and catching them in their mouths.
Text above from Wendy
Anderson's Lutra lutra page
Now
you may also join us up north to the Chukotka-peninsula
and there will be lots of rare animals.
Click here
(Texts will be in norweigan, but with link on each page to an english
version)
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Text
and pictures on this page, if nothing else mentioned:
Courtesy:
http://www.kamchatka.org.ru,
and from the book "The
Russian Far East"
