Apr 28, 2025
Surviving in extreme cold is a remarkable feat. These ten cold-blooded animals have adapted incredible strategies to endure freezing temperatures, thriving in icy environments where few others can survive.
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Living in freezing Arctic waters, the Arctic cod produces special antifreeze proteins that prevent its blood from freezing.
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This frog can survive being frozen during winter. It stops breathing and its heart stops beating, only to thaw and "come back to life" in spring.
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This fish has antifreeze glycoproteins in its blood, allowing it to swim in the icy Southern Ocean without freezing.
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Young painted turtles can survive in frozen ponds by slowing their metabolism and switching to anaerobic respiration.
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Found in Antarctic waters, icefish have no red blood cells and use antifreeze proteins to survive extreme cold.
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While not technically cold-blooded, the Weddell seal’s ability to regulate its body temperature in subzero Antarctic waters is remarkable.
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These tiny, insect-like creatures have antifreeze compounds in their bodies, allowing them to survive the icy conditions of Antarctica.
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This slow-moving shark thrives in Arctic waters, often under ice, with a lifespan that can stretch over 400 years.
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A fish native to the Antarctic Ocean, it produces antifreeze proteins to survive in temperatures that would freeze most other fish solid.
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This cold-blooded snake hibernates underground during the freezing winter months, emerging when temperatures rise.
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