The White Sea is an inland sea in northern Russia, which belongs to the Arctic Ocean basin. This is the warmest sea in this basin. Nevertheless, most of the year it is under a layer of ice. Despite the fact that most of the water area lies beyond the Arctic Circle, it has a southern location and proximity to land, the inhabitants of the White Sea are not very diverse here. This is due to its isolation from the ocean. Photos and names of the inhabitants of the White Sea will help you get an idea of life in it.
Harp seals
They stand out among the mammals of the White Sea.
There are three populations of seals in the Arctic Ocean. One of them is in the White Sea. In recent decades, this population has begun to decrease. The reason for this is excessive mining and meltingice. In this regard, fishing restrictions were introduced, which stabilized the number of inhabitants of the White Sea - harp seals - at the level of one million individuals. Every year, at the end of winter or at the beginning of spring, a litter of seals appears in the White Sea, which amounts to up to 350 pups. Small puppies are called "whites", as they have a white color that is visually indistinguishable from the color of ice.
Male seals have a coloration that distinguishes them from other species: silver wool, a black head and a black line that runs from the shoulders to the sides. The color of females consists of a similar pattern, but it is paler and sometimes turns into spots. The length of these animals is 170-180 centimeters, the weight varies from 120 to 140 kilograms.
Belugas
This is a species of toothed whales, they are mammals living in the White Sea. These dolphins are born blue and dark blue in color, by the year they become bluish-gray, and by 3-5 years these individuals become snow-white. That is why they are called white whales. Large males grow up to six meters long and weigh up to two tons. Beluga females are smaller. These dolphins have a small head without a beak. At the neck, the vertebrae separate so they can turn their heads. This species is distinguished by small oval pectoral fins and the absence of a dorsal fin. For this feature, he received the name "wingless dolphin".
Belugas feed mainly on schooling fish, sucking in prey. During the day, an adult dolphin absorbs about 15 kilograms of food. These individuals are characterized by seasonal migration. In winter they live near the edgeice field, but sometimes fall into glaciated zones. Beluga whales maintain polynyas in which they breathe, keeping them warm. By summer, they move to coastal areas, where water temperatures are higher and food is plentiful.
Belugas are social, as they can make more than 50 sounds, and they also use tail slaps in the water when communicating.
Fish World
Representation of marine inhabitants of the White Sea, unlike the neighboring Barents Sea, is more meager. Although here you can select about seventy species of fish. They live at depths of up to 30 meters where food is available.
The fishery of cod, herring, salmon, flounder, sea bass is widely developed here. Fishing for smelt from the ice is very popular among the inhabitants of the White Sea coast.
Pacific herring is the most common commercial schooling fish in this area. Navaga and polar cod enter the waters of the White Sea in winter to lay their eggs. Cod representatives: polar cod, saffron cod and pollock winter here. There are two types of flounder in the White Sea. One of them - sea flounder - comes here from the Barents Sea for fattening. Another species is the polar flounder. She lives in the White Sea permanently.
Sharks
Katran and polar shark are cold-resistant permanent inhabitants of the White Sea. They pose no danger to humans. But sometimes herring sharks from the Barents Sea come here. They are quite aggressive and dangerous.
The polar shark lives in almost all northern seas. It grows up to six meters. Such sharksthey feed on carrion, as they live at a depth of 500-1000 meters. But sometimes they prey on fish, walruses, seals and even polar bears. These individuals never attack humans. The shark is edible, which is why fishermen in the twentieth century fished for it.
Katran is a small spiny shark. Its length is no more than 120 centimeters. Katran is a commercial species, it does not pose a danger to people at all.
Jellyfish
These creatures, representing a jelly-like dome that moves in the water by contractions, can be found in every sea. But completely unusual jellyfish live in the depths of the White Sea. Outwardly, they look like aliens. One of the largest representatives of this species is the lion's mane jellyfish. Outwardly, it resembles the mane of this king of beasts. These individuals have a purple or crimson color. Smaller specimens are golden or orange. In the center of the dome are tentacles of rich color. These are giant jellyfish. Usually their body reaches a diameter of 2 meters, and tentacles can grow up to 30 meters. Weight - up to 300 kilograms.
An eared jellyfish, known as Aurelia, also lives in the White Sea. Outwardly, this jellyfish resembles a transparent umbrella. She is constantly moving, and her translucent body becomes a trap for small marine inhabitants that stick to the mucus on her body, after which they are sent to the stomach. Digestion of food is very slow. The process of food movement through the transparent body of the jellyfish can be traced.
Seastars
There is not a wide variety of stars in the White Sea. This is because the sea is sufficiently desalinated by the rivers flowing into it, and the s alt content in it is much lower than in the ocean. Therefore, only a few species have adapted to life in the White Sea. Asterias rubens is considered the most common. It is also found on algae, and on the sandy bottom, and on stones. Its dimensions range from the smallest to 30 centimeters in diameter. Bright colors can be orange, red and yellow.
Soluster is a predatory starfish. She is constantly on the move, crawling along the bottom in search of food - bivalve mollusks.
Crossater is a sea sun star with a furry surface due to the large number of calcareous needles. These multi-beam stars have a very bright color, consisting of several shades of red. The vascular system of these individuals drives the legs, which help them move and open the shells of bivalves.
Journeys to the White Sea - real and virtual
For lovers of travel, special tours are organized, in which acquaintance with the amazing flora and fauna of the White Sea will become a reality. A variety of excursions to interesting places, sea fishing, collecting mussels and seaweed, cooking various seafood dishes are just some of the possible entertainments.
For children, the inhabitants of the White Sea are presented in aquariums. Detail with each of the inhabitants of this water area babycan be found in children's encyclopedias.
