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Mountain animals

Mountain animals use mountain forests, high grasslands, rocky slopes or alpine tundra. Some live above the treeline, while others stay in mountain forests. Terrain, altitude and climate create different habitats.

Examples from different regions

  • European mountains: chamois, marmots and some brown bear or lynx populations.
  • Asian mountains: snow leopards, red pandas and giant pandas occupy different habitats.
  • The Andes: llamas and alpacas are domestic animals raised in highland regions.
  • Northern regions: some reindeer populations use mountain tundra.

Adaptations may include insulating fur, feet suited to difficult terrain or seasonal movements between elevations.

Mountains and neighbouring habitats

Some animals use both mountains and neighbouring lowlands. Marmots, for example, include species adapted to mountains and others that occupy lower-elevation habitats.

Mountain wildlife differs between regions; animals of the Andes, Himalayas and Romania’s Carpathians face different local conditions.