Fauna of the Laptev Sea

It is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean located off the northeastern coast of Asia. It is bordered by the Severnaya Zemlya archipelago, the Taimyr Peninsula, the Siberian coast, and the Novosibirsk Islands. It is connected to the Kara Sea to the west and the East Siberian Sea to the east via straits. The sea covers an area of 662 thousand km² and has a volume of 353 thousand km³. Its greatest depth is 3,385 meters (79°35′ N, 124°40′ E). The sea's strongly indented shores form many bays, coves, and peninsulas. Its waters are also home to many large and small islands. Many small rivers and several large ones flow into the sea, significantly impacting the hydrological regime of this shallow body of water.

The climate is Arctic maritime, with signs of a continental climate in the southern coastal areas. Its high latitude, proximity to the mainland, and isolation from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans determine the severity of the climate. The polar night lasts from three to five months. In winter, south and southwest winds prevail at speeds of 8-10 m/s. The air is strongly chilled, and the temperature drops to -34 °C in January. The absolute minimum was -61 °C. In summer, northerly winds (3-4 m/s) prevail, and temperatures range from 0 °C at the northern borders to 4 °C at the southern coasts in July. In small, well-protected bays, the air temperature can reach 12-15 °C in summer, with maximum temperatures of 22-24 °C and minimum temperatures of -4 °C.

Flora and Fauna of the Laptev Sea

The flora and fauna in these areas are scarce due to the harsh climate. The sea's vegetation is mainly Diatoms, of which there are more than 100 species. There are about 10 species of green algae, blue-green algae, and flagellates. Phytoplankton are characteristic of brackish waters, with a total concentration of approximately 0.2 mg/L. There are approximately 30 species of zooplankton, concentrated at about 0.467 mg/L. A nature reserve has been established in the Lena River delta. The reserve is home to 32 species of fish and 33 species of mammals.

Fish in the Laptev Sea

There are 39 species of fish in the sea, most of which are typical of brackish habitats. The most notable species are the least cisco (Coregonus sardinella), the rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax), the saffron cod (Eleginus gracilis), the polar cod (Boreogadus saida), the Arctic flounder (Liopsetta glacialis), the Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), and the nelma (Stenodus nelma). Fishing in the Laptev Sea is relatively small-scale and concentrated primarily in river deltas. Common commercial fish species in the area include rainbow sardines (Dussumieria acuta), Arctic ciscos (Coregonus autumnalis), Bering ciscos (Coregonus lavaretus), broad whitefish (Coregonus nasus), and muksun (Coregonus muksun).

Mammals of the Laptev Sea

The following permanent mammal species inhabit the sea: ringed seal (Phoca hispida), bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus), harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus), and walrus (Odobenus rosmarus). The walruses of the Laptev Sea are sometimes identified as a separate subspecies, Odobenus rosmarus laptevi. The beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) visits this region seasonally. Only local residents hunt marine mammals. Walruses may only be hunted for scientific research or for subsistence by local tribes.


Arctic cisco

Arctic cisco

Latin nameCoregonus autumnalisOther nameArctic omulIdentificationThe back of the Arctic cisco is rat..

Arctic flounder

Arctic flounder

Latin nameLiopsetta glacialisOther nameChristmas flounder, eelback flounder and Polar plaice.Identif..

Bering cisco

Bering cisco

Latin nameCoregonus laurettaeOther nameLauretta whitefishIdentificationThe Bering cisco has an elong..

Boreogadus saida

Boreogadus saida

Boreogadus saida is a marine fish of the cod family. The eyes are large. There is a very short anten..

Broad whitefish

Broad whitefish

The broad whitefish (Coregonus nasus) is a lake and river fish of the genus Coregonus. The body is l..

Charr, Arctic

Charr, Arctic

Latin name  Salvelinus alpinus Other names Seagoing fish: char, red charr; Cree: awanans; Da..

Least cisco

Least cisco

Latin nameCoregonus sardinellaOther nameSardine cisco, Siberian cisco.IdentificationThe body of the ..

Muksun

Muksun

Muksun (Coregonus muksun) is a large semi-passable fish of the whitefish genus. Body length up to 70..

Nelma

Nelma

Nelma (Stenodus leucichthys nelma) is a Siberian subspecies of the genus Nelma in the whitefish fami..

Nelma

Nelma

Latin nameStenodus nelmaOther nameSheefish, siifish, inconnu, connie, stenodus nelma, salmo nelma, s..

Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton

From the Greek φυτóν - plant and πλανκτον - wandering, wandering.Phytoplankton - microscopic plant o..

Polar cod

Polar cod

Latin nameBoreogadus saidaOther nameArctic cod, gadus saida, merlangus polaris, boreogadus polaris, ..

Rainbow sardine

Rainbow sardine

Latin nameDussumieria acutaOther nameCommon sprat, dwarf round herring, rainbow herring, and sharpno..

Saffron cod

Saffron cod

Latin nameEleginus gracilisOther namesWachna cod, Pacific navaga.IdentificationThe lower jaw is shor..

Smelt, Rainbow

Smelt, Rainbow

Latin name Osmerus mordax Other names American smelt, frostfish, leefish, toothed smelt, freshwat..

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