Which animal is well adapted to cold climates?

• A. Penguin
• B. Camel
• C. Elephant
• D. Polar bear

Answer: (D)

Staying warm in freezing climates hinges on good insulation, energy reserves, and body design that minimizes heat loss. The polar bear exemplifies this: it has a thick, two-layer coat—dense underfur plus longer guard hairs—that traps air and reduces heat loss. Beneath the skin lies a substantial layer of fat that acts as insulation and a stored energy supply. Its large body size helps minimize heat loss relative to body mass, and the dark skin (hidden under the fur) absorbs some sunlight to help with warmth. The big paws aid in walking on ice and swimming, making it adept at using the cold Arctic environment to hunt and travel. While penguins are also adapted to cold, their features are tailored more toward a life spent in water and on ice rather than enduring extreme land-based cold in a terrestrial sense. Camels and elephants are adapted to warmer climates or a broader range of conditions, not the extreme Arctic cold.