POLAR LION

-Belongs to the cat (felidae) family
-Lives in the arctic circle
-Omnivore
-live in groups called prides

ADAPTATIONS

• Fur loss/ fur gain
• Gills for swimming underwater
• Improved eye site(extra layer) for vision underwater

PREY UPON:

• Vegetation
• Ringed seals (blubber & skin)
• Bird eggs
• Small mammals occasionally
• Beached whales

TO CATCH PREY:

• Sleep during the day due to seals being more active at night
• Use sharp claws to pierce prey
• Bite neck to snap it

INTERACTIONS

• Competition- arctic fox, wolves, scavengers.
• The arctic fox relies on polar lions for survival
• Communication- uses head nods and growls
• Not very prone to disease, most common parasite is Trichinella

DENNING

• Pregnant females den in the fall, after feeding in August and September
• Den in snowdrifts, hills, banks of snow
• Mother waits for entrance to close with snow before giving birth

CUBS

• Rely on mother for 20 months feeding on her milk
• Mother doesn't eat or drink while denning, relies on fat reserves
• Stay with mom till they are 2.5 years old
• Learn to hunt and survive from their mother
• Emerge in March or April when the Cubs are strong enough to make it to the sea ice