Fantastic Beasts & Where to find them - Home | …web.gps.caltech.edu/~clay/Iceland/Talks/Fantastic_Beasts.pdf · • Can be multiple colors (black, brown, white) • Bred for meat,

FANTASTIC BEASTS&

WHERE TO FINDTHEM(IN ICELAND)

LAND ANIMALS:DOMESTICATED

ICELANDIC HORSE

• Weighs about 750-850 lb

• Stands 52-56 inches tall

• Many different breeds and

colors of coat

• Grows a heavier winter

coat for extra warmth

• Imports/exports

ICELANDICSHEEPDOG

• Weighs about 20-30 lb

• Stands 12-16 inches tall

• Originated from the first

dogs brought by Vikings

• Commonly used to herd

sheep and horses, but

also works as a watch dog

ICELANDIC SHEEP

• Can be multiple colors

(black, brown, white)

• Bred for meat, sheepskin,

wool, and milk

• Lamb meat is very

popular; at 4 months they

weigh 70-90 lb

ICELANDIC CATTLE

• Can be multiple colors

(mostly brown, white)

• Bred for milk primarily, but

also beef

• Milk from Icelandic cows

is used to make skyr

ICELANDIC CHICKEN

• Can be multiple colors

(dark brown, white)

• Only a few thousand

purebred chickens left

due to importation of

commercial strains in the

1950s

ICELANDIC GOAT

• Can be multiple colors (mostly black, white)

• Nearly went extinct during late 19th century

• As of 2010, only 535 left• Mainly pets, annual grant

from government to help it survive longer term

LAND ANIMALS:WILD

ARCTIC FOX

• Weighs about 7-15 lb

• Stands 10-12 inches tall

• Only native mammal

before humans arrived

• Changes color depending

on season (grey to white)

REINDEER

• Imported from Norway in

the 18th century

• Primarily in eastern

Iceland, around 3000

• Population controlled

• Reindeer meat is

considered a delicacy

OTHERS

• Mink

• Rabbits

• Rodents

• Polar bears?

LAND ANIMALS:BIRDS

PUFFINS

• Weighs about 0.8 lb

• Stands 8 inches tall

• Iceland is only country in

the world where puffin

hunting is allowed

• Overhunting has led to

depopulation in some

regions

OTHERS

• Arctic Tern

OTHERS

• Arctic Tern

• Rock Ptarmigan

OTHERS

• Arctic Tern

• Rock Ptarmigan

• Common Snipe

OTHERS

• Arctic Tern

• Rock Ptarmigan

• Common Snipe

• Golden Plover

OTHERS

• Arctic Tern

• Rock Ptarmigan

• Common Snipe

• Golden Plover

• Raven

SEA ANIMALS

WHALES

• At least 12 species

regularly frequent

Icelandic waters

• Whale watching is a large

industry

• Commercial whaling

SEALS/WALRUS

• 7 species of pinnipedia

regularly seen near

Iceland

• Common seal, grey seal,

ringed seal, harp seal,

bearded seal, hooded

seal, and walrus

FISH

• Salmon is most sought

after freshwater fish

• Other major fishing:

• Cod, whiting, haddock,

halibut, sole, flounder,

herring and mackerel