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Jan 19, 2021 · Examples of animals that migrate include the gray whale, caribou, monarch butterfly, Arctic tern, bar-tailed godwit, Canada goose, Chinook salmon, leatherback sea turtle and blue wildebeest. The best-known and most visible migratory animals are birds, but mammals, reptiles and even insects and amphibians all have migratory species.
- Wildebeest. Perhaps one of the most famous migrations is the Great Migration in the Serengeti Plains. Wildebeests are famous for making the great trek across this savanna region in Africa from Tanzania to Kenya.
- Caribou. Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) take part in one of the longest terrestrial animal migrations in the world. Caribou make a long round-trip migration over 745 miles (1,199 km) each year.
- Burchell’s Zebra. The Burchell’s zebra is native to East Africa and South Africa. Burchell’s zebras participate in a large, 300-mile migration between the floodplains of the Chobe River in Namibia to Botswana.
- American Bison. The American bison is a migratory mammal that was once very abundant throughout most of North America. There were about 30-60 million American bison living across the continent, mainly in the Great Plains, prior to the mid-1800s.
- Plankton. One of the most significant animal migrations is also one of the smallest in terms of individual animals, yet the largest in number. Every single day, literally billions of zooplankton traverse between the cold depths of the ocean and its warmer shallow, photic layers.
- Trekbokken. Before we get to the most significant animal migration of all, it’s important to mention one that has recently disappeared entirely. Records from the mid-1800s tell of staggering herds of Springboks in South Africa, which led to them being picked as the national animal.
- Great White Shark. Just as the caribou covers vast distances on land, one of the most iconic fish species matches this migration in the water. Great whites are one of a handful of shark species that spend most of their time in the open ocean, and this amounts to some serious mileage throughout their lifetimes.
- Reindeer. Reindeer, or ‘caribou’ migrations are perhaps the longest of all land mammals, covering a remarkable distance of up to 4,300 km (2,700 miles) in a year.
- Monarch Butterflies. One of the most poetic examples of animals that migrate is the monarch butterfly. Known for their striking orange and black wings, these migratory animals undertake an astonishing long-distance journey each year, covering thousands of miles.
- Arctic Terns. Arctic terns set the record for the longest journey of any animal that migrates. These seabirds travel an awe-inspiring 25,000 miles annually from their Arctic breeding grounds to the Antarctic and back.
- Wildebeests. The great migration of wildebeests in the Serengeti is one of the most spectacular wildlife events on the planet. Each year, over a million wildebeests, accompanied by zebras and gazelles, travel in a large loop across the Serengeti in Tanzania and into the Maasai Mara in Kenya.
- Humpback Whales. Humpback whales are renowned for their epic migrations, one of the longest in the animal kingdom. These ocean giants travel up to 5,000 miles annually, moving between their feeding grounds in polar waters and breeding grounds in tropical or subtropical seas.
Apr 11, 2024 · Migration is a natural phenomenon observed in species across the animal kingdom, from the tiniest insects to the gargantuan blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus). Every year, millions of animals set out on an epic journey in search of food, shelter, and mating opportunities.
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Learn about animals that undergo migration. Know why they migrate, the distances covered while migrating, and examples of animals that migrate.