Dessert, Sweet

Akutaq

Alaskan ice cream (also known as alaskan indian ice cream, inuit ice cream, indian ice cream or native ice cream, and inuit-yupik varieties of which are known as akutaq or akutuq) is a dessert made by alaskan athabaskans and other alaska natives. it is traditionally made of whipped fat or tallow (e.g. caribou, moose, or walrus tallow, or seal oil) and meat (such as dried fish, especially pike, sheefish or inconnu, whitefish or cisco, or freshwater whitefishes, or dried moose or caribou) mixed with berries (especially cowberry, bilberry, vaccinium oxycoccos or other cranberries, bearberry, crowberry, salmonberry, cloudberry or low-bush salmonberry, raspberry, blueberry, or prickly rose) or mild sweeteners such as roots of indian potato or wild carrot, mixed and whipped with a whisk. it may also include tundra greens. there is also a kind of akutaq which is called snow akutaq. the most common recipes for indian ice cream consist of dried and pulverized moose or caribou tenderloin that is blended with moose fat (traditionally in a birch bark container) until the mixture is light and fluffy. it may be eaten unfrozen or frozen, and in the latter case it somewhat resembles commercial ice cream.it is not to be confused with canadian indian ice cream (or sxusem) of first nations in british columbia, nor with kulfi (indian ice cream) from the indian subcontinent. "ice cream songs" used to be sung during the preparation of alaskan athabascan indian ice cream.recent additions include sugar, milk, and vegetable shortening.

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Arctic hare

The arctic hare (lepus arcticus) is a species of hare highly adapted to living in the arctic tundra and other icy biomes. the arctic hare survives with shortened ears and limbs, a small nose, fat that makes up close to 20% of its body, and a thick coat of fur. it usually digs holes in the ground or under the snow to keep warm and to sleep. arctic hares look like rabbits but have shorter ears, are taller when standing, and, unlike rabbits, can thrive in extreme cold. they can travel together with many other hares, sometimes huddling with dozens or more, but are usually found alone, sometimes taking more than one partner. the arctic hare can run up to 60 kilometres per hour (40 mph).

Drink

Ayuq tea

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Beach asparagus

Salicornia is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. salicornia species are native to north america, europe, south africa, and south asia. common names for the genus include glasswort, pickleweed, picklegrass, and marsh samphire; these common names are also used for some species not in salicornia. to french speakers in atlantic canada, they are known, colloquially, as "titines de souris" (mouse tits). the main european species is often eaten, called marsh samphire in britain, and the main north american species is occasionally sold in grocery stores or appears on restaurant menus, usually as 'sea beans' or samphire greens or sea asparagus.

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Bear

Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family ursidae. they are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the northern hemisphere and partially in the southern hemisphere. bears are found on the continents of north america, south america, europe, and asia. common characteristics of modern bears include large bodies with stocky legs, long snouts, small rounded ears, shaggy hair, plantigrade paws with five nonretractile claws, and short tails. while the polar bear is mostly carnivorous, and the giant panda feeds almost entirely on bamboo, the remaining six species are omnivorous with varied diets. with the exception of courting individuals and mothers with their young, bears are typically solitary animals. they may be diurnal or nocturnal and have an excellent sense of smell. despite their heavy build and awkward gait, they are adept runners, climbers, and swimmers. bears use shelters, such as caves and logs, as their dens; most species occupy their dens during the winter for a long period of hibernation, up to 100 days. bears have been hunted since prehistoric times for their meat and fur; they have been used for bear-baiting and other forms of entertainment, such as being made to dance. with their powerful physical presence, they play a prominent role in the arts, mythology, and other cultural aspects of various human societies. in modern times, bears have come under pressure through encroachment on their habitats and illegal trade in bear parts, including the asian bile bear market. the iucn lists six bear species as vulnerable or endangered, and even least concern species, such as the brown bear, are at risk of extirpation in certain countries. the poaching and international trade of these most threatened populations are prohibited, but still ongoing.

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Beaver

Beavers are large, semiaquatic rodents in the genus castor native to the temperate northern hemisphere. there are two extant species: the north american beaver (castor canadensis) and the eurasian beaver (c. fiber). beavers are the second-largest living rodents after the capybaras. they have stout bodies with large heads, long chisel-like incisors, brown or gray fur, hand-like front feet, webbed back feet and flat, scaly tails. the eurasian beaver has a more elongated skull with a more triangular nasal bone opening, lighter fur color and a narrower tail. the animals can be found in a number of freshwater habitats, such as rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. they are herbivorous, consuming tree bark, aquatic plants, grasses and sedges. beavers build dams and lodges using tree branches, vegetation, rocks and mud; they chew down trees for building material. dams impound water and lodges serve as shelters. their infrastructure creates wetlands used by many other species, and because of their effect on other organisms in the ecosystem, they are considered a keystone species. adult males and females live in monogamous pairs with their offspring. when they are old enough, the young will help their parents repair dams and lodges and may also help raise newly born offspring. beavers hold territories and mark them using scent mounds made of mud, debris and castoreum, a urine-based substance excreted through the beaver's castor sacs. beavers can also recognize their kin by their anal gland secretions and are more likely to tolerate them as neighbors. historically, beavers have been hunted for their fur, meat and castoreum. castoreum has been used in medicine, perfume and food flavoring, while beaver pelts have been a major driver of the fur trade. before protections began in the 19th and early 20th centuries, overhunting had nearly exterminated both species. their populations have rebounded, and they are both listed as least concern by the iucn red list of mammals. in human culture, the beaver symbolizes industriousness and is the national animal of canada.

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Berries

A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. common examples are strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, red currants, white currants and blackcurrants. in britain, soft fruit is a horticultural term for such fruits.in common usage, the term "berry" differs from the scientific or botanical definition of a fruit produced from the ovary of a single flower in which the outer layer of the ovary wall develops into an edible fleshy portion (pericarp). the botanical definition includes many fruits that are not commonly known or referred to as berries, such as grapes, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplants, bananas, and chili peppers. fruits commonly considered berries but excluded by the botanical definition include strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, which are aggregate fruits and mulberries, which are multiple fruits. watermelons and pumpkins are giant berries that fall into the category "pepos". a plant bearing berries is said to be bacciferous or baccate. berries are eaten worldwide and often used in jams, preserves, cakes, or pies. some berries are commercially important. the berry industry varies from country to country as do types of berries cultivated or growing in the wild. some berries such as raspberries and strawberries have been bred for hundreds of years and are distinct from their wild counterparts, while other berries, such as lingonberries and cloudberries, grow almost exclusively in the wild. while many berries are edible, some are poisonous to humans, such as deadly nightshade and pokeweed. others, such as the white mulberry, red mulberry, and elderberry, are poisonous when unripe, but are edible when ripe.

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Bighorn sheep

The bighorn sheep (ovis canadensis) is a species of sheep native to north america. it is named for its large horns. a pair of horns might weigh up to 14 kg (30 lb); the sheep typically weigh up to 143 kg (315 lb). recent genetic testing indicates three distinct subspecies of ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: o. c. sierrae. sheep originally crossed to north america over the bering land bridge from siberia; the population in north america peaked in the millions, and the bighorn sheep entered into the mythology of native americans. by 1900, the population had crashed to several thousand, due to diseases introduced through european livestock and overhunting.

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Birch tree bark

The inner bark is considered edible as an emergency food, even when raw. it can be dried and ground into flour, as was done by native americans and early settlers. it can also be cut into strips and cooked like noodles.

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Crab

Crabs are decapod crustaceans of the infraorder brachyura, which typically have a very short projecting "tail" (abdomen) (greek: βραχύς, romanized: brachys = short, οὐρά / οura = tail), usually hidden entirely under the thorax. they live in all the world's oceans, in fresh water, and on land, are generally covered with a thick exoskeleton, and have a single pair of pincers. they first appeared during the jurassic period.

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Edible roots

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Eskimo potato

The eskimo potato is a type of edible plant that grows in the northern areas of canada and alaska. the plant's scientific name is variously attributed as either claytonia tuberosa (inuit: oatkuk) or hedysarum alpinum (inuit: mashu). both species have a range in the northern area of north america, have edible roots, and have been documented to have been used as a food source by inuit. due to its nutritional qualities, the eskimo potato is one of many edible foods listed in survival guides, such as the us army's field manual survival, and is used in modern times to subsist in nature. christopher mccandless used the plant as a food source in the alaska wilderness.

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Fish

Many species of fish are caught by humans and consumed as food in virtually all regions around the world. fish has been an important dietary source of protein and other nutrients throughout human history. the english language does not have a special culinary name for food prepared from fish like with other animals (as with pig vs. pork), or as in other languages (such as spanish pescado vs. pez). in culinary and fishery contexts, fish may include so-called shellfish such as molluscs, crustaceans and echinoderms; more expansively, seafood covers both fish and other marine life used as food.since 1961, the average annual increase in global apparent food fish consumption (3.2 percent) has outpaced population growth (1.6 percent) and exceeded consumption of meat from all terrestrial animals, combined (2.8 percent) and individually (bovine, ovine, porcine, etc.), except poultry (4.9 percent). in per capita terms, food fish consumption has grown from 9.0 kg (19.8 lb) in 1961 to 20.2 kg (45 lb) in 2015, at an average rate of about 1.5 percent per year. the expansion in consumption has been driven not only by increased production, but also by a combination of many other factors, including reduced wastage, better utilization, improved distribution channels and growing consumer demand, linked with population growth, rising disposable incomes and urbanization.europe, japan and the united states of america together accounted for 47 percent of the world's total food fish consumption in 1961, but only about 20 percent in 2015. of the global total of 149 million tonnes in 2015, asia consumed more than two-thirds (106 million tonnes at 24.0 kg per capita). oceania and africa consumed the lowest share. the shift is the result of structural changes in the sector and in particular the growing role of asian countries in fish production, as well as a significant gap between the economic growth rates of the world's more mature fish markets and those of many increasingly important emerging markets around the world, particularly in asia.

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Fowl

Fowl are birds belonging to one of two biological orders, namely the gamefowl or landfowl (galliformes) and the waterfowl (anseriformes). anatomical and molecular similarities suggest these two groups are close evolutionary relatives; together, they form the fowl clade which is scientifically known as galloanserae (initially termed galloanseri) (latin gallus (“rooster”) + ānser (“goose”)). this clade is also supported by morphological and dna sequence data as well as retrotransposon presence/absence data.

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Fox

Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family canidae. they have a flattened skull, upright triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or brush). twelve species belong to the monophyletic "true foxes" group of genus vulpes. approximately another 25 current or extinct species are always or sometimes called foxes; these foxes are either part of the paraphyletic group of the south american foxes, or of the outlying group, which consists of the bat-eared fox, gray fox, and island fox.foxes live on every continent except antarctica. the most common and widespread species of fox is the red fox (vulpes vulpes) with about 47 recognized subspecies. the global distribution of foxes, together with their widespread reputation for cunning, has contributed to their prominence in popular culture and folklore in many societies around the world. the hunting of foxes with packs of hounds, long an established pursuit in europe, especially in the british isles, was exported by european settlers to various parts of the new world.

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Greens

Leaf vegetables, also called leafy greens, salad greens, pot herbs, vegetable greens, or simply greens, are plant leaves eaten as a vegetable, sometimes accompanied by tender petioles and shoots. although they come from a very wide variety of plants, most share a great deal with other leaf vegetables in nutrition and cooking methods. nearly one thousand species of plants with edible leaves are known. leaf vegetables most often come from short-lived herbaceous plants, such as lettuce and spinach. woody plants of various species also provide edible leaves. the leaves of many fodder crops are also edible for humans, but are usually only eaten under famine conditions. examples include alfalfa, clover, most grasses, including wheat and barley. these plants are often much more prolific than traditional leaf vegetables, but exploitation of their rich nutrition is difficult, due to their high fiber content. this can be overcome by further processing such as drying and grinding into powder or pulping and pressing for juice. leaf vegetables contain many typical plant nutrients, but since they are photosynthetic tissues, their vitamin k levels are particularly notable. phylloquinone, the most common form of the vitamin, is directly involved in photosynthesis.

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Herbs

In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. culinary use typically distinguishes herbs from spices. herbs generally refers to the leafy green or flowering parts of a plant (either fresh or dried), while spices are usually dried and produced from other parts of the plant, including seeds, bark, roots and fruits. herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, aromatic and in some cases, spiritual. general usage of the term "herb" differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs; in medicinal or spiritual use, any parts of the plant might be considered as "herbs", including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, root bark, inner bark (and cambium), resin and pericarp. the word "herb" is pronounced in commonwealth english, but is common among north american english speakers and those from other regions where h-dropping occurs. in botany, the noun "herb" refers to a "plant that does not produce a woody stem", and the adjective "herbaceous" means "herb-like", referring to parts of the plant that are green and soft in texture".

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Iitat

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Leaves

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Marallat

Marallat are boiled until they are soft

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Moose

The moose (in north america) or elk (in eurasia) (alces alces) is a member of the new world deer subfamily and is the largest and heaviest extant species in the deer family. most adult male moose have distinctive broad, palmate ("open-hand shaped") antlers; most other members of the deer family have antlers with a dendritic ("twig-like") configuration. moose typically inhabit boreal forests and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests of the northern hemisphere in temperate to subarctic climates. hunting and other human activities have caused a reduction in the size of the moose's range over time. it has been reintroduced to some of its former habitats. currently, most moose occur in canada, alaska, new england (with maine having the most of the lower 48 states), new york state, fennoscandia, the baltic states, poland, kazakhstan, and russia. its diet consists of both terrestrial and aquatic vegetation. predators of moose include wolves, bears, humans and (rarely) wolverines. unlike most other deer species, moose do not form herds and are solitary animals, aside from calves who remain with their mother until the cow begins estrus (typically at 18 months after birth of the calf), at which point the cow chases them away. although generally slow-moving and sedentary, moose can become aggressive, and move quickly if angered or startled. their mating season in the autumn features energetic fights between males competing for a female.

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Mousefood

Mousefood, melqurat, maqaruaruat or anlleq is a native food and medicine highly prized by yupik people on the yukon-kuskokwim delta. mousefood consists of the roots of various tundra plants which are cached by mice in burrows. people eat the food that the mice have harvested and stored. the roots of tall cottongrass, white cottongrass and russett cottongrass are less than an inch long. they are eaten or used medicinally with seal oil or put in soup. eskimo sweet potatoes are the roots of hedysarum alpinum. as the name suggests, these roots are somewhat sweet and are used in akutaq. elders teach that when collecting mousefood, one should always leave half of the cache for the "mouse." they also recommend leaving a gift – something that the mouse can eat – for the mouse.

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Muktuk

Muktuk (transliterated in various ways, see below) is a traditional food of the peoples of the arctic, consisting of whale skin and blubber. it is most often made from the bowhead whale, although the beluga and the narwhal are also used. it is usually consumed raw, but can also be eaten frozen, cooked, or pickled.

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Muskrat

The muskrat (ondatra zibethicus) is a medium-sized semiaquatic rodent native to north america and an introduced species in parts of europe, asia, and south america. the muskrat is found in wetlands over a wide range of climates and habitats. it has important effects on the ecology of wetlands, and is a resource of food and fur for humans. adult muskrats weigh 0.6–2 kg (1.3–4.4 lb), with a body length of 20–35 cm (8–10 in). they are covered with short, thick fur of medium to dark brown color. their long tails, covered with scales rather than hair, are their main means of propulsion. muskrats spend most of their time in the water, and can swim under water for 12 to 17 minutes. they live in families, consisting of a male and female pair and their young. to protect themselves from the cold and from predators, they build nests that are often burrowed into the bank with an underwater entrance. muskrats feed mostly on cattail and other aquatic vegetation, but also eat small animals. ondatra zibethicus is the only species in the genus ondatra and tribe ondatrini. it is the largest species in the subfamily arvicolinae, which includes 142 other species of rodents, mostly voles and lemmings. muskrats are referred to as "rats" in a general sense because they are medium-sized rodents with an adaptable lifestyle and an omnivorous diet. they are not, however, members of the genus rattus. they are not closely related to beavers, with which they share habitat and general appearance.

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Negaasget

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Octopus

People of some cultures eat octopus. the arms and sometimes other body parts are prepared in various ways, often varying by species and/or geography. octopuses are sometimes eaten or prepared alive, a practice that is controversial due to scientific evidence that octopuses experience pain.

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Pemmican

Pemmican (also pemican in older sources) is a mixture of tallow, dried meat, and sometimes dried berries. a calorie-rich food, it can be used as a key component in prepared meals or eaten raw. historically, it was an important part of indigenous cuisine in certain parts of north america and it is still prepared today. the word comes from the cree word ᐱᒦᐦᑳᓐ (pimîhkân), which is derived from the word ᐱᒥᕀ (pimî), "fat, grease". the lakota (or sioux) word is wasná, originally meaning "grease derived from marrow bones", with the wa- creating a noun, and sná referring to small pieces that adhere to something. it was invented by the indigenous peoples of north america.pemmican was widely adopted as a high-energy food by europeans involved in the fur trade and later by arctic and antarctic explorers, such as captain robert bartlett, ernest shackleton, richard e. byrd, fridtjof nansen, robert falcon scott, george w. delong, and roald amundsen.

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Polar bear

The polar bear (ursus maritimus) is a hypercarnivorous bear whose native range lies largely within the arctic circle, encompassing the arctic ocean, its surrounding seas and surrounding land masses. it is the largest extant bear species, as well as the largest extant land carnivore. a boar (adult male) weighs around 350–700 kg (770–1,540 lb), while a sow (adult female) is about half that size. although it is the sister species of the brown bear, it has evolved to occupy a narrower ecological niche, with many body characteristics adapted for cold temperatures, for moving across snow, ice and open water, and for hunting seals, which make up most of its diet. although most polar bears are born on land, they spend most of their time on the sea ice. their scientific name means "maritime bear" and derives from this fact. polar bears hunt their preferred food of seals from the edge of sea ice, often living off fat reserves when no sea ice is present. because of their dependence on the sea ice, polar bears are classified as marine mammals.because of expected habitat loss caused by climate change, the polar bear is classified as a vulnerable species. for decades, large-scale hunting raised international concern for the future of the species, but populations rebounded after controls and quotas began to take effect. for thousands of years, the polar bear has been a key figure in the material, spiritual, and cultural life of circumpolar peoples, and polar bears remain important in their cultures. historically, the polar bear has also been known as the "white bear". it is sometimes referred to as the "nanook", based on the inuit term nanuq.

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Porpoise

Porpoises are a group of fully aquatic marine mammals, similar in appearance to a dolphin, all of which are classified under the family phocoenidae, parvorder odontoceti (toothed whales). they are, however, more closely related to narwhals and belugas than to the true dolphins. there are eight extant species of porpoise, all among the smallest of the toothed whales. porpoises are distinguished from dolphins by their flattened, spade-shaped teeth distinct from the conical teeth of dolphins, and lack of a pronounced beak, although some dolphins (e.g. hector's dolphin) also lack a pronounced beak. porpoises, and other cetaceans, belong to the clade cetartiodactyla with even-toed ungulates. the cetaceans' closest living relatives are the hippopotamuses, having diverged from them about 40 million years ago. porpoises range in size from the vaquita, at 1.4 metres (4 feet 7 inches) in length and 54 kilograms (119 pounds) in weight, to the dall's porpoise, at 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) and 220 kg (490 lb). several species exhibit sexual dimorphism in that the females are larger than males. they have streamlined bodies and two limbs that are modified into flippers. porpoises use echolocation as their primary sensory system. some species are well adapted for diving to great depths. as all cetaceans, they have a layer of fat, or blubber, under the skin to keep them warm in cold water. porpoises are abundant and found in a multitude of environments, including rivers (finless porpoise), coastal and shelf waters (harbour porpoise, vaquita) and open ocean (dall's porpoise and spectacled porpoise), covering all water temperatures from tropical (sea of cortez, vaquita) to polar (greenland, harbour porpoise). porpoises feed largely on fish and squid, much like the rest of the odontocetes. little is known about reproductive behaviour. females may get one calf every year under favourable conditions. calves are typically born in the spring and summer months and remain dependent on the female until the following spring. porpoises produce ultrasonic clicks, which are used for both navigation (echolocation) and social communication. in contrast to many dolphin species, porpoises do not form large social groups. porpoises were, and still are, hunted by some countries by means of drive hunting. larger threats to porpoises include extensive bycatch in gill nets, competition for food from fisheries, and marine pollution, in particular heavy metals and organochlorides. the vaquita is nearly extinct due to bycatch in gill nets, with a predicted population of fewer than a dozen individuals. since the extinction of the baiji, the vaquita is considered the most endangered cetacean. some species of porpoises have been and are kept in captivity and trained for research, education and public display.

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Reindeer

The reindeer (rangifer tarandus), also known as the caribou in north america, is a species of deer with circumpolar distribution, native to arctic, subarctic, tundra, boreal, and mountainous regions of northern europe, siberia, and north america. this includes both sedentary and migratory populations. it is the only representative of the genus rangifer. herd size varies greatly in different geographic regions. r. tarandus varies in size and colour from the smallest subspecies, the svalbard reindeer, to the largest, the boreal woodland caribou. the north american range of caribou extends from alaska through the yukon, the northwest territories and nunavut into the boreal forest and south through the canadian rockies. the barren-ground caribou, porcupine caribou, and peary caribou live in the tundra, while the shy boreal woodland caribou prefer the boreal forest. the porcupine caribou and the barren-ground caribou form large herds and undertake lengthy seasonal migrations from birthing grounds to summer and winter feeding grounds in the tundra and taiga. the migrations of porcupine caribou herds are among the longest of any mammal. barren-ground caribou are also found in kitaa in greenland, but the larger herds are in alaska, the northwest territories, and nunavut.the taimyr herd of migrating siberian tundra reindeer (r. t. sibiricus) in russia is the largest wild reindeer herd in the world, varying between 400,000 and 1,000,000. what was once the second largest herd is the migratory boreal woodland caribou (r. t. caribou) george river herd in canada, with former variations between 28,000 and 385,000. as of january 2018, there are fewer than 9,000 animals estimated to be left in the george river herd, as reported by the canadian broadcasting corporation. the new york times reported in april 2018 of the disappearance of the only herd of southern mountain woodland caribou in the contiguous united states with an expert calling it "functionally extinct" after the herd's size dwindled to a mere three animals. after the last individual, a female, was translocated to a wildlife rehabilitation centre in canada, the woodland caribou was considered extirpated from the contiguous united states.some subspecies are rare and two have already become extinct: the queen charlotte islands caribou of canada and the east greenland caribou from east greenland. historically, the range of the sedentary boreal woodland caribou covered more than half of canada and into the northern states of the contiguous united states. woodland caribou have disappeared from most of their original southern range and were designated as threatened in 2002 by the committee on the status of endangered wildlife in canada (cosewic). environment canada reported in 2011 that there were approximately 34,000 boreal woodland caribou in 51 ranges remaining in canada (environment canada, 2011b). siberian tundra reindeer herds are also in decline, and rangifer tarandus is considered to be vulnerable by the iucn. arctic peoples have depended on caribou for food, clothing, and shelter, such as the caribou inuit, the inland-dwelling inuit of the kivalliq region in northern canada, the caribou clan in the yukon, the iñupiat, the inuvialuit, the hän, the northern tutchone, and the gwichʼin (who followed the porcupine caribou for millennia). hunting wild reindeer and herding of semi-domesticated reindeer are important to several arctic and subarctic peoples such as the duhalar for meat, hides, antlers, milk, and transportation. the sámi people (sápmi) have also depended on reindeer herding and fishing for centuries.: iv : 16 : iv  in sápmi, reindeer are used to pull a pulk, a nordic sled. male ("bulls") and female ("cows") reindeer can grow antlers annually, although the proportion of females that grow antlers varies greatly between population and season. antlers are typically larger on males. in traditional united states christmas legend, santa claus's reindeer pull a sleigh through the night sky to help santa claus deliver gifts to good children on christmas eve.

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Seal

Pinnipeds (pronounced ), commonly known as seals, are a widely distributed and diverse clade of carnivorous, fin-footed, semiaquatic, mostly marine mammals in the clade pinnipedia. they comprise the extant families odobenidae (whose only living member is the walrus), otariidae (the eared seals: sea lions and fur seals), and phocidae (the earless seals, or true seals). there are 34 extant species of pinnipeds, and more than 50 extinct species have been described from fossils. while seals were historically thought to have descended from two ancestral lines, molecular evidence supports them as a monophyletic lineage (descended from one ancestral line). pinnipeds belong to the order carnivora; their closest living relatives are musteloids (weasels, raccoons, skunks, and red pandas), having diverged about 50 million years ago. seals range in size from the 1 m (3 ft 3 in) and 45 kg (99 lb) baikal seal to the 5 m (16 ft) and 3,200 kg (7,100 lb) southern elephant seal male, which is also the largest member of the order carnivora. several species exhibit sexual dimorphism. they have streamlined bodies and four limbs that are modified into flippers. though not as fast in the water as dolphins, seals are more flexible and agile. otariids use their front limbs primarily to propel themselves through the water, while phocids and walruses use their hind limbs. otariids and walruses have hind limbs that can be pulled under the body and used as legs on land. by comparison, terrestrial locomotion by phocids is more cumbersome. otariids have visible external ears, while phocids and walruses lack these. pinnipeds have well-developed senses—their eyesight and hearing are adapted for both air and water, and they have an advanced tactile system in their whiskers or vibrissae. some species are well adapted for diving to great depths. they have a layer of fat, or blubber, under the skin to keep warm in the cold water, and, other than the walrus, all species are covered in fur. although pinnipeds are widespread, most species prefer the colder waters of the northern and southern hemispheres. they spend most of their lives in the water, but come ashore to mate, give birth, molt or escape from predators, such as sharks and orcas. seals mainly live in marine environments but can also be found in freshwater. they feed largely on fish and marine invertebrates; a few, such as the leopard seal, feed on large vertebrates, such as penguins and other seals. walruses are specialized for feeding on bottom-dwelling mollusks. male pinnipeds typically mate with more than one female (polygyny), although the degree of polygyny varies with the species. the males of land-breeding species tend to mate with a greater number of females than those of ice breeding species. male pinniped strategies for reproductive success vary between defending females, defending territories that attract females and performing ritual displays or lek mating. pups are typically born in the spring and summer months and females bear almost all the responsibility for raising them. mothers of some species fast and nurse their young for a relatively short period of time while others take foraging trips at sea between nursing bouts. walruses are known to nurse their young while at sea. seals produce a number of vocalizations, notably the barks of california sea lions, the gong-like calls of walruses and the complex songs of weddell seals. the meat, blubber and fur coats of pinnipeds have traditionally been used by indigenous peoples of the arctic. seals have been depicted in various cultures worldwide. they are commonly kept in captivity and are even sometimes trained to perform tricks and tasks. once relentlessly hunted by commercial industries for their products, seals and walruses are now protected by international law. the japanese sea lion and the caribbean monk seal have become extinct in the past century, while the mediterranean monk seal and hawaiian monk seal are ranked endangered by the international union for conservation of nature. besides hunting, pinnipeds also face threats from accidental trapping, marine pollution, and conflicts with local people.

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Sea otter

The sea otter (enhydra lutris) is a marine mammal native to the coasts of the northern and eastern north pacific ocean. adult sea otters typically weigh between 14 and 45 kg (30 and 100 lb), making them the heaviest members of the weasel family, but among the smallest marine mammals. unlike most marine mammals, the sea otter's primary form of insulation is an exceptionally thick coat of fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. although it can walk on land, the sea otter is capable of living exclusively in the ocean. the sea otter inhabits nearshore environments, where it dives to the sea floor to forage. it preys mostly on marine invertebrates such as sea urchins, various mollusks and crustaceans, and some species of fish. its foraging and eating habits are noteworthy in several respects. its use of rocks to dislodge prey and to open shells makes it one of the few mammal species to use tools. in most of its range, it is a keystone species, controlling sea urchin populations which would otherwise inflict extensive damage to kelp forest ecosystems. its diet includes prey species that are also valued by humans as food, leading to conflicts between sea otters and fisheries. sea otters, whose numbers were once estimated at 150,000–300,000, were hunted extensively for their fur between 1741 and 1911, and the world population fell to 1,000–2,000 individuals living in a fraction of their historic range. a subsequent international ban on hunting, sea otter conservation efforts, and reintroduction programs into previously populated areas have contributed to numbers rebounding, and the species occupies about two-thirds of its former range. the recovery of the sea otter is considered an important success in marine conservation, although populations in the aleutian islands and california have recently declined or have plateaued at depressed levels. for these reasons, the sea otter remains classified as an endangered species.

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Seaweed

Edible seaweed, or sea vegetables, are seaweeds that can be eaten and used for culinary purposes. they typically contain high amounts of fiber. they may belong to one of several groups of multicellular algae: the red algae, green algae, and brown algae.seaweeds are also harvested or cultivated for the extraction of polysaccharides such as alginate, agar and carrageenan, gelatinous substances collectively known as hydrocolloids or phycocolloids. hydrocolloids have attained commercial significance, especially in food production as food additives. the food industry exploits the gelling, water-retention, emulsifying and other physical properties of these hydrocolloids.most edible seaweeds are marine algae whereas most freshwater algae are toxic. some marine algae contain acids that irritate the digestion canal, while some others can have a laxative and electrolyte-balancing effect. most marine macroalgae are nontoxic in normal quantities, but members of the genus lyngbya are potentially lethal. typically poisoning is caused by eating fish which have fed on lyngbya or on other fish which have done so. this is called ciguatera poisoning. handling lyngbya majuscula can also cause seaweed dermatitis. some species of desmarestia are highly acidic, with vacuoles of sulfuric acid that can cause severe gastrointestinal problems.the dish often served in western chinese restaurants as 'crispy seaweed' is not seaweed but cabbage that has been dried and then fried.

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Shellfish

Shellfish is a colloquial and fisheries term for exoskeleton-bearing aquatic invertebrates used as food, including various species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms. although most kinds of shellfish are harvested from saltwater environments, some are found in freshwater. in addition, a few species of land crabs are eaten, for example cardisoma guanhumi in the caribbean. shellfish are among the most common food allergens.despite the name, shellfish are not fish. most shellfish are low on the food chain and eat a diet composed primarily of phytoplankton and zooplankton. many varieties of shellfish, and crustaceans in particular, are actually closely related to insects and arachnids; crustaceans make up one of the main subphyla of the phylum arthropoda. molluscs include cephalopods (squids, octopuses, cuttlefish) and bivalves (clams, oysters), as well as gastropods (aquatic species such as whelks and winkles; land species such as snails and slugs). molluscs used as a food source by humans include many species of clams, mussels, oysters, winkles, and scallops. some crustaceans that are commonly eaten are shrimp, lobsters, crayfish, crabs and barnacles. echinoderms are not as frequently harvested for food as molluscs and crustaceans; however, sea urchin roe is quite popular in many parts of the world, where the live delicacy is harder to transport.though some shellfish harvesting has been unsustainable, and shrimp farming has been destructive in some parts of the world, shellfish farming can be important to environmental restoration, by developing reefs, filtering water and eating biomass.

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Stinkheads and stinkeggs

Preserved salmon heads and roe, wrapped in grass and buried

Side, Snack, Appetizer

Uutngungsaat

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Walrus

The walrus (odobenus rosmarus) is a large flippered marine mammal with a discontinuous distribution about the north pole in the arctic ocean and subarctic seas of the northern hemisphere. the walrus is the only living species in the family odobenidae and genus odobenus. this species is subdivided into two subspecies: the atlantic walrus (o. r. rosmarus), which lives in the atlantic ocean, and the pacific walrus (o. r. divergens), which lives in the pacific ocean. adult walrus are characterised by prominent tusks and whiskers, and their considerable bulk: adult males in the pacific can weigh more than 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds) and, among pinnipeds, are exceeded in size only by the two species of elephant seals. walruses live mostly in shallow waters above the continental shelves, spending significant amounts of their lives on the sea ice looking for benthic bivalve mollusks to eat. walruses are relatively long-lived, social animals, and they are considered to be a "keystone species" in the arctic marine regions. the walrus has played a prominent role in the cultures of many indigenous arctic peoples, who have hunted the walrus for its meat, fat, skin, tusks, and bone. during the 19th century and the early 20th century, walruses were widely hunted and killed for their blubber, walrus ivory, and meat. the population of walruses dropped rapidly all around the arctic region. their population has rebounded somewhat since then, though the populations of atlantic and laptev walruses remain fragmented and at low levels compared with the time before human interference.

Main

Whale

Whale meat, broadly speaking, may include all cetaceans (whales, dolphins, porpoises) and all parts of the animal: muscle (meat), organs (offal), skin (muktuk), and fat (blubber). there is relatively little demand for whale meat, compared to farmed livestock. commercial whaling, which has faced opposition for decades, continues today in very few countries (mainly iceland, japan and norway), despite whale meat being eaten across western europe and colonial america previously. however, in areas where dolphin drive hunting and aboriginal whaling exist, marine mammals are eaten locally as part of a subsistence economy: the faroe islands, the circumpolar arctic (the inuit in canada and greenland, related peoples in alaska, the chukchi people of siberia), other indigenous peoples of the united states (including the makah people of the pacific northwest), st. vincent and the grenadines (mainly on the island of bequia), some of villages in indonesia and in certain south pacific islands. like horse meat, for some cultures whale meat is taboo, or a food of last resort, e.g. in times of war, whereas in others it is a delicacy and a culinary centrepiece. indigenous groups contend that whale meat represents their cultural survival. its consumption has been denounced by detractors on wildlife conservation, toxicity (especially mercury), and animal rights grounds. whale meat can be prepared in various ways, including salt-curing, which means that consumption is not necessarily restricted to coastal communities.