FANTASTIC BEASTS

&
WHERE TO FIND
THEM
(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
 ICELANDIC
SHEEPDOG
• 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