What are the animals of antarctica? Although Antarctica, the driest, windiest, and coldest continent on Earth, is not particularly friendly to human life, the amazing powers of adaptation have allowed it to be the home of 235 different animal species in its waters and on its land. Here we are going to discuss the animals of antarctica.
Creatures that manage to survive in this apparently lifeless environment fascinate us because they are physical manifestations of the Earth’s incredible tenacity and adaptability. Also, they are really photogenic, so have your camera handy.
You may also want to read about the remora fish.
Here is a list of 8 animals of antarctica:
- Antarctic Petrel
Petrels are extremely hardy, spending their entire lives at sea despite the freezing conditions that can be seen in Antarctica. Nesting season is the only time they’ll venture inland. In the months of November, December, and January, brown colonies lying on icebergs are easy to spot.
- Orca
Although sometimes referred to as a “killer whale,” this species is actually a dolphin. This creature is hard to overlook due to its distinctive glossy black back and vivid white belly. Males can attain a maximum length of 9.5 meters (31 ft), but females max out at 7 meters (23 ft).
- Wandering Albatross
One of the world’s largest seabirds, the albatross spends most of its time up in the air and can be spotted easily thanks to its long wings. They love to glide behind big ships, so when you’re standing out on deck, look up at the skies and you may spot these graceful birds.
- Crabeater Seal
There are an estimated 15 million crabeaters in the world. Both sexes are around the same size, and both the male and female have whitish fur and a pointed face. Don’t worry about how frequent they are; you won’t care once you see them.
- Blue Whale
The biggest creature to ever roam Earth. Please take a moment to let that sink in. Do you want to hear more? To put that in context, an adult male African elephant weighs about 6 tons, while the heaviest blue whale on record weighed about 200 tons. These gorgeous blue-grey creatures are hard to find but leave an indelible impression when seen.
- Emperor Penguin
Emperor penguins are the largest and heaviest species of penguins, reaching heights of 1.2 meters (4 feet) and weights of 45 kilograms (99 pounds) (100 lbs). They cluster together in large numbers to keep warm and are found exclusively in the most remote regions of Antarctica.
- Leopard Seal
The lonesome leopard seal is the only species of seal that hunts and kills other mammals for sustenance, and it will travel great distances in pursuit of prey. They have lengthy, spotted bodies (thus the name) and razor-sharp canine fangs. Spotting one is a special delight because of how shy they are.
- King Penguin
The king penguin, the second-largest species of penguin after the emperor, is a handsome bunch thanks to its bright golden crown and dark grey body. Male king penguins incubate their eggs by carrying them about on their feet and covering them with a warm pouch.
