Below you can find a complete list of Arctic Ocean animals. We currently track 32 animals in Arctic and are adding more every day!
While many think of the Arctic as a desolate wild location, over 5,500 animals live in this icy region. Most of them, like the Arctic fox and walrus, are active throughout the year. Others, like bears, hibernate during the winter.
The Official National Animal of the Arctic
There is no official wild animal of this region since the region covers eight different countries. The national animal of Greenland is the polar bear while the national animal of Iceland is the gyrfalcon.
Where To Find The Top Wildlife in this region
It can be difficult to see Arctic animals in their natural habitat because much of the region is wilderness. If you want to see them, go to the:
- Northwest Passageway – This area is home to whales, narwhals, Arctic foxes, walruses, and seals.
- East Greenland – See muskox, Arctic foxes, polar bears, caribou, lemmings, and ptarmigans.
- Spitsbergen – Polar bears, Arctic foxes, and walruses live on this island, the northernmost one on earth.
The Most Dangerous Animals In the Arctic Today
While many animals that live here are non-threatening, there are some dangerous Arctic animals. More people are not hurt each year because very few venture above the Arctic Circle. These dangerous animals include:
- Polar bears – Between 1870 and 2014, 73 people were attacked by polar bears, with 20 dying.
- Moose – Two or three people are killed annually by moose.
- Grizzly bears – These very territorial native animals kill two or three people annually.
Endangered Animals
Sadly, there are many endangered animals in this region. These endangered animals include:
- Narwhals
- Bowhead whales
- Beluga whales
- Polar bears
- Caribou
Arctic Ocean Animals
Bird
Not all birds are able to fly!
Blue Whale
The largest animal on Earth
Codfish
They eat other fish
Colossal Squid
Can survive eating a single fish for months
Crab
There are 93 different crab groups
Cuttlefish
Found throughout the world's oceans!
Fin Whale
Found throughout ocean waters worldwide!
Fish
Respire through the gills on their heads!
Fly
There are more than 240,000 different species!
Fur Seal
Found only in the Northern Hemisphere!
Humpback Whale
There are thought to be 80,000 left in the wild!
Insects
There are an estimated 30 million species!
Jellyfish
Have tentacles around their mouths!
Killer Whale
Typically consumes over 200 kg of food a day!
King Crab
Can have a leg span of nearly 2 meters!
Krill
The krill is perhaps the most important animal in the marine ecosystem!
Lobster
Have been known to reach 100 years old!
Polar Bear
Could be extinct within the next 30 years!
Puffin
Can remain in the water for up to 2 minutes!
Reindeer
Also known as the Caribou
Seal
There are 30 different species worldwide!
Shark
No shark species has any bones in their bodies
Shrimp
There are 2,000 different species worldwide!
Snail
There are nearly 1,000 different species!
Snowy Owl
One of the largest owl species in the world!
Sponge
There are more than 9,000 known species!
Squid
Some species are known to have 10 arms!
Steller’s Sea Cow
Hunted to extinction in 17 years!
Walrus
Inhabits the freezing waters of the Arctic Circle!
Wandering Albatross
Featured in “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”
Woolly Mammoth
Tusks grew to 16ft long!
Arctic Ocean Animals List
Animals in Arctic FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What type of animals are in the Arctic?
About 67 species of terrestrial native mammals and 35 species of marine mammals live in the Arctic. Over 200 bird species spend at least part of the year in this region. Additionally, five amphibians and one reptile live in the tundra. Some of these animals may go extinct.
Why are some Artic animals going extinct?
There are many reasons that native Artic animals are going extinct. For example, overhunting has lowered the number of Arctic foxes while climate change has dramatically reduced reindeer numbers. Ingesting animals who had consumed DDT-containing prey reduced the number of Arctic peregrine falcons. Loss of habitat due to oil and gas exploration threatens caribou.
