Threatened Mammals Of Greenland

Polar bears are a threatened species in Greenland.
Polar bears are a threatened species in Greenland.

Greenland is a country in North America situated between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans on the eastern side of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago though it has always been associated with Europe. It is the world’s largest island with an area coverage of 836,109 square miles and a population of 56,483 making it the least densely populated country in the world. Ice sheet from Antarctica covers More than 75% of the entire land area. It is home to the largest national park in the world and is a biodiverse country with 700 insect species, fish, invertebrates, and a few land mammals.

Threatened Mammals Of Greenland

Polar Bear

The polar bear, scientifically known as Ursus maritimus, is a large carnivorous bear mainly found in the Arctic Circle, Arctic Ocean. An adult male bear is known as the boar and weighs up to 700 kg while an adult female known as the sow is smaller and on most occasions half the male’s size. On most occasions, the bear is born on the land but spends most of its time on the sea ice hunting for seals as its body is adapted to cold temperatures.

Hooded Seal

The hooded seal, scientifically known as Cystophora cristata, is an earless seal from the family of Phocidae mainly found in the central and western North Atlantic. The adult males are always larger and heavier than the females. The male is 8.6 feet long with a body weight of up to 400 kg while the female is 6.8 inches long and weighs up to 300kg. This species mainly lives on drifting pack of ice or in the deep water of the Arctic Ocean and primarily feed on small aquatic animals like fish, amphipods, and squid.

Blue Whale

The blue whale is a marine mammal from the family of Balaenopteridae scientifically known as Balaenoptera musculus. It is the largest animal known to have ever existed as it is 98 feet long with a general body weight of up to 181,000 kg with a blue body. This species is divided into three subspecies depending on the location of its habitat as they are found in almost all oceans of the world.

Fin whale

The fin whale also known as the finback whale is a marine mammal scientifically known as Balaenoptera physalus. It grows to a length of approximately 89 feet and a weight of up to 74,000 kg making it the second largest animal. It has a brown-gray, long, and the slender body found in all the key oceans ranging from the polar to tropical waters but is majorly found in temperate waters. Its diet is mainly composed of fish and squid,

Threats To The Mammals Of Greenland

The population of the Fin whale has reduced due to continual hunting for their meat and oil just like the blue whale. The blue whale has been on constant decline due to hunting for its meat, oil, blubber, and extensive research. The population of Polar Bear is on the decline due to climate change and it as been classified as endangered species

Threatened Mammals Of Greenland

Threatened Mammals of GreenlandScientific Name
Polar Bear
Ursus maritimus
Hooded SealCystophora cristata
North Atlantic Right Whale
Eubalaena glacialis
Blue Whale
Balaenoptera musculus
Fin Whale
Balaenoptera physalus
Sperm Whale
Physeter macrocephalus
Narwhal
Monodon monoceros
Beluga
Delphinapterus leucas
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