Polar Wonders: How Animals Adapt to the Extreme Conditions of the Arctic and Antarctic

Another outstanding example of adaptation is the Arctic fox. These animals have seasonal color changes: in winter their fur becomes white, which provides excellent camouflage against the background of snow, and in summer it turns brown, which helps to hide among vegetation. Arctic foxes also have thick fur and tiny ears, which minimize heat loss.

Antarctica, with its extremely low temperatures and almost complete absence of land vegetation, is home to unique species such as emperor penguins. These birds survive the winter by gathering in large colonies and huddling together to stay warm. Their thick layer of fat and dense plumage protect them from the cold, and special blood circulation in their paws prevents frostbite.