ADAPTATIONS OF ANIMALS
Obviously, due to the harsh conditions and climate of the tundra, plants and animals can't immediately thrive in the biome. Thus, in order to survive, the plants and animals adapt. An adaptaion is any physical change an organism goes through, in order to live in certain environments.
ADAPTATIONS TO ENVIRONMENT
These examples of animals that live in the tundra each have their own designated adaptations to the environments.
CARIBOU - Caribou have adapted to the tundra's environment by changing their appearance, their diet, and their lifestyle. One adaptation is their hooves. The hooves are great for treading in the usual layer of snow on the ground, along with swimming during the summer, when the permafrost melts and the ground becomes marshy/boggy. Caribou can also go into semi-hibernation when it gets too cold, and when there is no plants around to eat, the caribou survives by eating the abundant lichens underneath the snow. Caribou are also very social animals, which comes in handy during mating season.
ERMINE - The ermine's adaptations to the environment are very simple, but interesting ones. For starters, the ermine has very large claws that enable to dig under the ground and create habitats for themselves. Their coats also change color with each season, and the colors usually camouflages with the environment. Ermines also have very flexible spines, which is great since they spend so much time wiggling and digging in the ground.
HARLEQUIN DUCK - Harlequin ducks have adapted by gaining very buoyant, compact bodies, along with webbed feet and a very fast wing speed when flying.
ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE
Other examples of animals living in the tundra include oxen, wolves, arctic foxes, grizzly bears, polar bears, and snowy owls, and all of these animals have adapted to the harsh climate of the tundra by gaing thick coats or coverings on their bodies. This thus isolates body heat, and keeps warm all winter long.