How long do caribou live

Caribou Habitat Restoration. CWF's The Caribou. Bergerud, A. Schmidt and D. Gilbert, editors. Big game of North America: ecology and management.

Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Kelsall, J. The migratory barren-ground caribou of Canada. Monograph No. Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa. Kofinas, G. North America. Ulvevadet and K. Klokov, editors. Arctic Council Report. Miller, F. Chapman and G. Feldhamer, editors. Wild animals of North America: biology, management and economics. Russell, D. The winter ecology of caribou Rangifer tarandus.

Olson, F. Geddes, and R. Hastings, editors. Northern Ecology and Resource Management. University of Alberta Press, Edmonton. All rights reserved. Miller, ; M. Rothfels and D. Mahoney; B. Aniskowicz-Fowler; Canadian Wildlife Service. The Northern Leopard Frog Lithobates pipiens is named for its leopard-like spots across its back and sides. Historically, these frogs were harvested for food frog legs and are still used today for dissection practice in biology class.

Northern Leopard Frogs are about the size of a plum, ranging from 7 to 12 centimetres. They have a variety of unique colour morphs, or genetic colour variations. They can be different shades of green and brown with rounded black spots across its back and legs and can even appear with no spots at all known as a burnsi morph. They have white bellies and two light coloured dorsal back ridges. Another pale line travels underneath the nostril, eye and tympanum, ending at the shoulder.

The tympanum is an external hearing structure just behind and below the eye that looks like a small disk. Black pupils and golden irises make up their eyes. They are often confused with Pickerel Frogs Lithobates palustris ; whose spots are more squared then rounded and have a yellowish underbelly.

Male frogs are typically smaller than the females. Their average life span is two to four years in the wild, but up to nine years in captivity. Tadpoles are dark brown with tan tails. Lampreys are an amazing group of ancient fish species which first appeared around million years ago. This means they evolved millions of years before the dinosaurs roamed the earth.

There are about 39 species of lamprey currently described plus some additional landlocked populations and varieties. In general, lamprey are one of three different life history types and are a combination of non-parasitic and parasitic species. Non-parasitic lamprey feed on organic material and detritus in the water column. Parasitic lamprey attach to other fish species to feed on their blood and tissues. Most, 22 of the 39 species, are non-parasitic and spend their entire lives in freshwater.

The remainder are either parasitic spending their whole life in freshwater or, parasitic and anadromous. Anadromous parasitic lampreys grow in freshwater before migrating to the sea where they feed parasitically and then migrate back to freshwater to spawn. The Cowichan Lake lamprey Entosphenus macrostomus is a freshwater parasitic lamprey species.

It has a worm or eel-like shape with two distinct dorsal fins and a small tail. It is a slender fish reaching a maximum length of about mm.

When they are getting ready to spawn they shrink in length and their dorsal fins overlap. Unlike many other fish species, when lampreys are getting ready to spawn you can tell the difference between males and females. Females develop fleshy folds on either side of their cloaca and an upturned tail. The males have a downturned tail and no fleshy folds. These seven gill pores are located one after another behind the eye. There are several characteristics which are normally used to identify lamprey.

Many of these are based on morphometrics or measurements, of or between various body parts like width of the eye or, distance between the eye and the snout. Other identifying characteristics include body colour and the number and type of teeth. Some distinguishing characteristics of this species are the large mouth, called and oral disc and a large eye.

This species also has unique dentition. For example, these teeth are called inner laterals. Each lateral tooth has cusps and together they always occur in a cusp pattern. At the same time, the Sea Otter is the largest member of its family, the mustelids, which includes River Otters, weasels, badgers, wolverines and martens.

It may come to land to flee from predators if needed, but the rest of its time is spent in the ocean. It varies in colour from rust to black. Unlike seals and sea lions, the Sea Otter has little body fat to help it survive in the cold ocean water. Instead, it has both guard hairs and a warm undercoat that trap bubbles of air to help insulate it. The otter is often seen at the surface grooming; in fact, it is pushing air to the roots of its fur. Mollusks are invertebrates, meaning they have no bones.

They are cold-blooded, like all invertebrates, and have blue, copper-based blood. The octopus is soft-bodied, but it has a very small shell made of two plates in its head and a powerful, parrot-like beak. The Giant Pacific Octopus is the largest species of octopus in the world. Specimens have weighed as much as kg and measured 9. Studies determined, though, that they are indeed different.

While the Western Chorus Frog might have slightly shorter legs than the Boreal Chorus Frog, and that their respective calls have different structures, genetics have proven this.

Chorus Frogs are about the size of large grape, about 2. They are pear-shaped, with a large body compared to their pointed snout.

Their smooth although a bit granular skin varies in colour from green-grey to brownish. They are two of our smallest frogs, but best ways to tell them apart from other frogs is by the three dark stripes down their backs, which can be broken into blotches, by their white upper lip, and by the dark line that runs through each eye.

Their belly is generally yellow-white to light green. Males are slightly smaller than females, but the surest way to tell sexes apart is by the fact that only males call and can inflate their yellow vocal sacs.

Adults tend to live only for one year, but some have lived as many as three years. Their tadpoles the life stage between the egg and the adult are grey or brown. Their body is round with a clear tail. The Common Raven Corvus corax is one of the heaviest passerine birds and the largest of all the songbirds.

It is easily recognizable because of its size between 54 and 67 centimetres long, with a wingspan of to cm, and weighing between 0. It has a ruff of feathers on the throat, which are called 'hackles', and a wide, robust bill. When in flight, it has a wedge-shaped tail, with longer feathers in the middle. While females may be a bit smaller, both sexes are very similar. The size of an adult raven may also vary according to its habitat, as subspecies from colder areas are often larger. A raven may live up to 21 years in the wild, making it one of the species with the longest lifespan in all passerine birds.

Both birds are from the same genus order of passerine birds, corvid family —like jays, magpies and nutcrackers, Corvus genus and have a similar colouring. But the American Crow is smaller with a wingspan of about 75 cm and has a fan-shaped tail when in flight with no longer feathers. Their cries are different: the raven produces a low croaking sound, while the crow has a higher pitched cawing cry.

While adult ravens tend to live alone or in pairs, crows are more often observed in larger groups. The Atlantic Cod Gadus morhua is a medium to large saltwater fish: generally averaging two to three kilograms in weight and about 65 to centimetres in length, the largest cod on record weighed about kg and was more than cm long!

Individuals living closer to shore tend to be smaller than their offshore relatives, but male and female cod are not different in size, wherever they live.

The Atlantic Cod shares some of its physical features with the two other species of its genus, or group of species, named Gadus. The Pacific Cod and Alaska Pollock also have three rounded dorsal fins and two anal fins.

They also have small pelvic fins right under their gills, and barbels or whiskers on their chins. Both Pacific and Atlantic Cod have a white line on each side of their bodies from the gills to their tails, or pectoral fins. This line is actually a sensory organ that helps fish detect vibrations in the water. The colour of an Atlantic Cod is often darker on its top than on its belly, which is silver, white or cream-coloured.

In rocky areas, a cod may be a darker brown colour. Cod are often mottled, or have a lot of darker blotches or spots. It can weigh up to 63, kilograms and measure up to 16 metres. Females tend to be a bit larger than males — measuring, on average, one metre longer. Its head makes up about a fourth of its body length, and its mouth is characterized by its arched, or highly curved, jaw. Its skin is otherwise smooth and black, but some individuals have white patches on their bellies and chin. It has large, triangular flippers, or pectoral fins.

Its tail, also called flukes or caudal fins, is broad six m wide from tip to tip! Unlike most other large whales, it has no dorsal fin. For a variety of reasons, including its rarity, scientists know very little about this rather large animal. For example, there is little data on the longevity of Right Whales, but photo identification on living whales and the analysis of ear bones and eyes on dead individuals can be used to estimate age.

It is believed that they live at least 70 years, maybe even over years, since closely related species can live as long. Unique characteristics. The Right Whale has a bit of an unusual name. Its name in French is more straightforward; baleine noire, the black whale. The American Eel Anguilla rostrata is a fascinating migratory fish with a very complex life cycle. Like salmon, it lives both in freshwater and saltwater. It is born in saltwater and migrating to freshwater to grow and mature before returning to saltwater to spawn and die.

The American Eel can live as long as 50 years. It is a long, slender fish that can grow longer than one metre in length and 7. Males tend to be smaller than females, reaching a size of about 0. With its small pectoral fins right behind its gills, absence of pelvic fins, long dorsal and ventral fins and the thin coat of mucus on its tiny scales, the adult eel slightly resembles a slimy snake but are in fact true fish.

Adult eels vary in coloration, from olive green and brown to greenish-yellow, with a light gray or white belly. Females are lighter in colour than males. Large females turn dark grey or silver when they mature. The American Eel is the only representative of its genus or group of related species in North America, but it does have a close relative which shares the same spawning area: the European Eel.

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Some years, insect harassment interferes with caribou foraging, which also decreases survival. If it rains during the winter, ice can prevent caribou from getting their food. They may starve when this happens. Wolf populations in caribou winter ranges can increase in response to higher levels of other prey such as moose. When caribou return to the winter range they are preyed on more heavily by the increased number of wolves.

On the other hand, when arctic foxes reach a high in their population cycle, they sometimes spread rabies to neighboring wolves. This results in reduced wolf predation on caribou. How long do caribou live? Top Male caribou live about seven to eight years.

Females live slightly longer, to 10 or more years. These are very general numbers. Every animal faces its own set of situations that lead to a shorter or longer life. If a caribou lives in a herd that is declining, it probably will have a shorter life than a caribou in a healthy or expanding herd.

Also, many caribou die within the first year after they are born, so never reach adult age. Are orphan caribou calves "adopted"? Top Orphan caribou calves are not adopted by other caribou mothers. If the mother dies, or the calf becomes permanently separated from its mother, the calf will not survive. What are caribous' natural predators?

Top Several species are known to prey on caribou. Wolves prey on caribou throughout the year, but most frequently in the winter. Bears prey on caribou during spring, summer and fall. Golden eagles take young calves during the early summer, and lynx are able to kill calves in the fall when caribou migrate into forested areas.

When snow is deep, wolverines are sometimes able to kill caribou. Humans have hunted caribou for many thousands of years. Do female caribou pick males with large antlers to breed with? Top The female doesn't actually pick males with large antlers, but the females do often end up breeding with males that have large antlers.

This is because the mature males those with the largest antlers work hard to keep younger males with smaller antlers away from the females during breeding time. The males with the largest antlers are in the best health, and they have been good at finding food all their lives so their bodies can grow these large antlers. When these animals do most of the breeding, their genes are passed on to new generations, and this ensures that the herd remains healthy.

Are caribou and elk related? Top Both caribou and elk are hoofed mammals of the deer family. Caribou males weigh about pounds are generally smaller than elk males weigh about pounds.

Caribou often occur in large herds which migrate over long distances. Elk generally occur in smaller herds, and migrate over relatively short distances. They usually migrate between summer ranges at higher elevations, and winter ranges in mountain valleys.

Are caribou and reindeer related? Top Caribou and reindeer are the same species Rangifer tarandus. Reindeer are a domesticated variety of caribou that are herded by humans and used for pulling sleds. Most reindeer occur in Scandinavia and Siberia.

They generally are smaller and have shorter legs than their wild relatives. In Siberia, caribou are referred to as "wild" reindeer. A number of reindeer have been imported to Alaska, primarily to the Seward Peninsula. These herds are owned by Alaska Natives. How do Wildlife Refuges protect caribou? Top In the U. There are currently over different wildlife refuges. Refuge lands are legally protected from activities and developments which are harmful to wildlife or their habitat.

Human activities which are compatible with refuge purposes are allowed on wildlife refuges. In Alaska, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge protects the primary calving grounds and some of the wintering areas of the Porcupine caribou herd, one of the major caribou herds in North America. How can caribou travel in the cold and on ice? Top Caribou are well equipped to survive in cold, snowy places. In winter, their hair is about three inches long.

This winter hair is hollow inside, to trap air and keep warmth near their bodies. This hollow hair also helps the caribou to cross rivers and lakes after spring thaws, because it acts like a life jacket full of air, and helps them to float.

Caribou have four hoofed "toes" on each foot. They usually walk on the two larger ones, like a cow does. When they are in snow, however, these four "toes" spread out wide to act like snow-shoes, which help the caribou walk on deep snow. Caribou can walk on bumpy ice without slipping, but if they get onto shiny, smooth ice, their hooves slide out from under them and they may fall. Sometimes they even break their legs this way.

How big does a refuge need to be for caribou? Top The answer depends on whether the caribou are wild, or if they are captive animals being cared for by people. Wild caribou need areas that are large enough for them to find food and shelter, and avoid predators during every month of the year. If summer food is far from safe winter areas, they need a very large area. For example, the Porcupine caribou herd now has about , animals and travels over about 96, square miles of land.

Captive animals do not need room to run away from predators, and they don't have to find their own food. If people keep caribou pens clean, the animals can live in quite small areas, just as a horse can.

Do mosquitoes play a role in caribou behavior? Top Mosquitoes do play an important role in caribou behavior. Mosquitoes appear in early summer, just as the caribou are shedding their long winter hair. The insects can easily draw blood from the caribou at this time, and seriously torment the animals. The problem is worst when the weather is warm, winds are calm, and the caribou are in damp tundra areas where the mosquitoes breed. The running, blood loss, and inability to spend time eating cause caribou to lose weight during a time of year when they need to be getting fat for the coming winter.

Mosquitoes are therefore a major influence in the lives of caribou. Are calving grounds essential for caribou survival? Top Yes. Each spring, pregnant female caribou begin long migrations towards their traditional calving grounds.

Their instinct to reach these areas is very strong, and enables them to travel through deep snow and storms, and to cross rivers flooding with icebergs to reach the calving grounds at just the right time. Soon after they arrive on the calving grounds, the calves are born. Studies have shown that predators are less abundant on the calving grounds, so the young calves are safer at a time when they are too weak to escape from wolves and bears.

This is very important as it allows the calves to grow rapidly so that they can escape from predators and harassing insects, and keep up with the herd as it migrates to the winter range.