Antarctica is a continent with harsh climatic conditions. Temperatures on most of the continent never rise above freezing, and the entire continent is covered in ice. However, the Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica is one of the most amazing ecosystems on Earth and is home to many incredible creatures.
Most animals are migratory, as the continent’s climate is too challenging for permanent residence and wintering.
At the same time, many species are only found in Antarctica (animals that only live in one area are called endemic) and have managed to adapt perfectly to the harsh environment. Since Antarctica was only discovered 200 years ago, the local species are not used to human company, which leads to one of the most amazing features of Antarctica’s wildlife: humans are as interesting to them as they are to people. For visitors, this means that most of the animals can be approached and will not run away, and for researchers, it is an opportunity to better study Antarctica’s fauna. However, you need to consider the fact that Antarctic treaties prohibit touching wild animals!
Whales
Whales are some of the most mysterious and amazing creatures on Earth. The blue whale is the largest animal that has ever lived on the planet, with a weight of over 100 tons, they easily outweigh the heaviest dinosaurs. Even an “ordinary” whale is enormous in size and is considered a truly impressive creation of nature. Whales are huge but elusive mammals and are difficult to study. They are highly intelligent, with complex social lives and complete freedom of movement.
Whales belong to a group of mammals called cetaceans, along with dolphins and porpoises. They are as much mammals as humans, dogs, cats, elephants, and others. That is, they cannot be called fish. Whales breathe air and therefore must rise to the surface at regular intervals to take a breath. They give birth to live calves that stay with the mother for a year and feed on her milk. Whales are warm-blooded and have a similar skeleton to humans (although highly modified).
Kerguelen harbor seal
The Kerguelen harbor seal belongs to the family known as the long-eared seals (Otariidae), which includes harbor seals and sea lions.
In appearance and manner, these mammals resemble a large dog. They are able to tuck their hind flippers under their bodies and lift their weight with their front flippers, so are much more flexible on land compared to other pinnipeds.
Males reach a mass of 200 kg and are 4-times larger than females. They are restricted mainly to the sub-Antarctic islands, with 95% of the population on South Georgia Island.
Sea leopard
Named the sea leopard because of the spots across its body, it is one of the largest predators in Antarctica. Males weigh up to 300 kg and females weigh 260-500 kg. The body length of males varies between 2.8-3.3 meters and females 2.9-3.8 meters.
The diet of sea leopards is very diverse. They can eat any animal they are capable of killing. The diet consists of fish, squid, penguins, birds and baby seals.
Crab-eating seal
Crab-eating seals are believed to be the most numerous large mammals on the continent. Adults weigh 200-300 kg and have a body length of about 2.6 meters. Sexual dimorphism in these seals is not pronounced. They are rather solitary animals, but can lie in small groups, which gives the impression of a social family. Real bonding is possible between mothers and their pups.
They do not feed on crabs, despite their name. Their diet consists of 95% Antarctic krill, with squid and fish making up the rest. They are well adapted to catching krill thanks to their teeth, which form a sieve to catch prey out of the water.
Weddell seal
Weddell seals are mammals that live on the ice. The weight of adults varies between 400-450 kg, and the body length is 2.9 m (males) and 3.3 m (females).
They feed mainly on fish, but also on squid and invertebrates in much smaller quantities. Weddell seals are excellent divers, they are able to dive to a depth of 600 meters and spend up to 82 minutes underwater.
The population size of these animals is difficult to estimate, as they live near the Arctic Circle and on drifting ice.
Southern sea elephant
Southern elephant seals are the largest of all seals and show marked sexual dimorphism. Males range in weight from 1,500-3,700 kg and females from 350-800 kg. The body length of males is 4.5-5.8 m and females 2.8 m.
The diet consists mainly of squid, but fish is also present (about 75% squid and up to 25% fish). Males tend to move farther south in pursuit of their prey.
The Antarctic Tern is a typical representative of the tern family. It is a small bird 31-38 cm long, weighing 95-120 g, with a wingspan of 66-77 cm. Its beak is usually dark red or blackish. The plumage is mostly light gray or white, with a black “cap” on the head. The wing tips of this tern are grayish-black.
Antarctic blue-eyed cormorant
The Antarctic blue-eyed cormorant is the only member of the cormorant family found in Antarctica. They inhabit along the South Antillean Ridge and the Antarctic Peninsula, moving deeper to the south. These cormorants are characterized by brightly colored eyes and an orange-yellow outgrowth at the base of the beak, which becomes especially large and bright during the breeding season. Body weight ranges from 1.8-3.5 kg, with males slightly heavier than females. Body length ranges from 68 to 76 cm, and wingspan is about 1.1 m.
White plover
The white plover is one of two species of the genus Chionidae. It prefers a terrestrial lifestyle. When walking, it nods its head like a pigeon. Its body weight ranges from 460 to 780 g, its body length is 34-41 cm, and its wingspan is 75-80 cm.
The white plover has no webbed feet, so it finds its food on the ground. It is omnivorous and characterized by kleptoparasitism (steals krill and fish from penguins, and sometimes eats eggs and chicks). It also feeds on carrion and animal feces, and where possible, human waste.
Cape pigeon
The cape dove belongs to the petrel family. It weighs up to 430 g, with a body length of 39 cm and a wingspan of 86 cm. The color of the feathers of this bird is black and white.
The Cape pigeon feeds on krill, fish, squid, carrion and waste from ships, if available. They usually catch prey on the surface of the water, but sometimes dive shallowly.
Snow petrel
Snow petrels are white birds with black beaks and eyes. They are about the size of a pigeon, and are probably the most beautiful of all Antarctic birds. Their body length is 30-40 cm, wingspan 75-95 cm, and weight 240-460 g.
They feed mainly on krill and must always be close to the sea to have access to food. They are found along the coast of Antarctica, and are known to nest far inland (up to 325 km from the coast), in mountains that protrude above the surrounding ice.
Wandering albatross
The wandering albatross is the bird with the longest wingspan (3.1 to 3.5 meters). This bird can make long flights of 10 to 20 days, up to 10,000 km, using barely more energy than when sitting on the nest.
Average weight ranges from 5.9 to 12.7 kg, males being about 20% heavier than females. Body length varies from 107 to 135 cm.
The diet is based on fish, squid and crustaceans. The bird hunts at night on the surface of the water or by shallow diving. Wandering albatrosses follow boats and vessels of any type where food is dropped. This is especially true of fishing vessels that dump fish waste overboard.
South Polar Skua
The South Polar Skua is a fairly large-sized bird. The average weight of males is 900-1600 g, and they tend to be slightly smaller and lighter than females. Average length: 50-55 cm, and wingspan 130-140 cm. They nest in continental Antarctica and breed far to the south. These birds have been recorded at the South Pole.
They feed mainly on fish and krill, although penguin eggs, chicks and carrion may also be included in the diet, depending on the habitat. South polar skuas have been observed stealing fish from other bird species.
Southern Giant Petrel
The southern giant petrel is a bird of prey in the petrel family. Their weight is 5 kg and their body length is 87 cm. The wingspan varies between 180 and 205 cm.
The diet consists of dead seal and penguin carcasses, carrion, squid, krill, crustaceans, and waste from ships or fishing boats.
These birds are most often found on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands. They nest on open ground in the Falkland Islands.
Emperor penguin
Emperor penguins are the largest penguins in the world, with an average weight of about 30 kg, (but can reach up to 40 kg), and a height of 1.15 m. Males and females have similar coloration and body size. The back and head are black, the belly is white, the breast is pale yellow, and there are patches of bright yellow in the ear area. Like all penguins, it is wingless, with a streamlined body, and wings flattened into flippers for its marine habitat.
Its diet consists mainly of fish, but may also include crustaceans and cephalopod molluscs. When hunting, these birds can stay underwater for up to 18 minutes and dive to depths of 535 meters. It has some adaptations for this, including unusually structured hemoglobin, hard bones, and the possibility of a lower metabolism.
Royal penguin
The king penguin is the second, largest, species of penguin after emperor penguins. It ranges in height from 70 to 100 cm and weighs between 9.3 and 18 kg. Males are slightly larger than females. The plumage of king penguins, is much brighter than that of their close relative the emperor species, but otherwise similar.
King penguins eat small fish and squid. They can dive to depths of 100 meters, but have also been seen at depths of over 300 meters. Fish makes up 80-100% of their diet, except during the winter months of the year.
Antarctic krill
The Antarctic krill is a member of the Eufausiaceae order, common in the Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean. It is a small crustacean that lives in large groups, sometimes reaching densities of 10000-30000 individuals per cubic meter. Krill feeds on phytoplankton. It grows to a length of 6 cm, weighs up to 2 g, and can live for about six years. Krill are a key species in the Antarctic ecosystem and, in terms of biomass, probably the most abundant animal species on the planet (about 500 million tons, corresponding to 300-400 trillion individuals).
Belgica antarctica
Belgica antarctica is the Latin name of the only species of flightless insects endemic to Antarctica. Its length is 2-6 mm.
This insect has a black coloration, thanks to which it is able to absorb heat for survival. It can also adapt to changes in salinity and pH, and can survive without oxygen for 2-4 weeks.