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.