Animals: Animals of Antarctica. Antarctica - the continent of mysteries and paradoxes 7 amazing animals of Antarctica

Antarctica is the coldest continent. However, the animal and plant world, although scarce, is represented and has its own magical beauty! So what animals live in Antarctica?

Features of the animal world of Antarctica

Due to the harsh living conditions on the mainland, there are not so many representatives of wildlife. Most of them are migratory, that is, when cold weather sets in, they move to a warmer area. The living world is connected with the oceans and only very little with the coast. Completely land dwellers cannot be found here. The waters are rich in plankton - a food source for cetaceans (blue whale, fin whale, sperm whale, killer whale), pinnipeds (seals, elephant seals), fish, birds.

Mammals of Antarctica

The order of mammals includes cetaceans, which include whales, porpoises, dolphins. Yes, yes, whales are not fish at all, but representatives of mammals, like humans. They feed their baby with milk for more than six months.

The most famous representative of cetaceans in Antarctica is the blue whale. This animal, which lives in the waters of the Southern Ocean (the southern borders of the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean), is the largest inhabitant on Earth. The length of his body averages 25 meters, but can reach 40 meters. The weight of this giant ranges from 100 to 120 tons.

Rice. 1. Blue whale in Antarctica.

The fin whale also belongs to cetaceans. This large animal of Antarctica ranks second after the blue whale in terms of its dimensions. Its weight can reach 70 tons.

Birds of Antarctica

The most important bird of Antarctica, which is associated with this mainland, is the penguin. Several varieties of this interesting bird live in Antarctica. The largest representative of birds on planet Earth is the emperor penguin. its height can reach 122 cm. Their habitat is cliffs and rocks, where they live in large colonies.

The emperor penguin is endemic to Antarctica, that is, these animals live exclusively in the South Pole and are not found anywhere else.

Rice. 2. Emperor penguin.

The king penguin also lives in Antarctica. This is also a rather large species, but inferior in size to the emperor penguin. His maximum height is 100 cm and weight 18 kg. from the emperor penguin, in addition to the dimensions of these penguins, they are distinguished by bright and colorful plumage. The main food is fish and squid.

The subantarctic penguin is another inhabitant of the natural world of the “cold mainland”. Its second name is gentoo penguin. These birds are easily distinguished from other penguin species by their orange-red beak. in addition, the gentoo penguin has the longest tail compared to other penguins.

The snow petrel is a bird of extraordinary beauty that lives on the continent. This bird has white plumage with a black beak and black eyes. It feeds on crustaceans, Antarctic krill, squid. They prefer to build nests on rocky mountains.

The giant petrel is a bird that does not resemble the snow petrel in its appearance. Her plumage is gray, she eats fish, and sometimes she can even hunt penguins.

Among the birds, one can also distinguish the Antarctic blue-eyed cormorant, white plover, wandering albatross.

Other animals

Antarctic krill are widely distributed in the Southern Ocean. It is a tiny crustacean that is the main food for most of the mammals, fish and birds of Antarctica. Its length is 6 cm, weight - 2 grams, and life expectancy - up to 6 years.

Rice. 3. Antarctic krill.

There is only one species of flightless insects in Antarctica. This is Belgica Antarctica, which is a black insect. The black color helps to accumulate heat, and thus survive in sub-zero temperatures. The maximum temperature that the insect can withstand is -15 degrees.

What have we learned?

The list of fauna of Antarctica includes mammals, birds, marine life and even insects. The article gives brief information about the most common animals of the continent. This material can be used when writing a report for children for grade 1.

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The amazing ecosystem of the continent, which is almost entirely covered with ice, is fraught with many mysteries. The climate of Antarctica is very harsh, even at the North Pole it is much milder. The summer temperature here is minus 50-55°C, in the winter months - 60-80°C.

Only the ocean coast is warmer - minus 20-30°С. Severe cold, very dry air of the mainland, many months of darkness - these are the conditions where living organisms also live.

fauna features

Animal world of Antarctica has its own ancient history. In the distant past, even dinosaurs lived on the mainland. But today there are not even insects due to strong cold winds.

Today Antarctica does not belong to any country in the world. The world of nature is inviolable here! Animals here are not afraid of people, they are interested in them, because they did not know the danger from a person who discovered this wonderful world only a couple of centuries ago.

Many animals of Antarctica migratory - not everyone is able to stay in such a harsh environment. There are no terrestrial four-legged predators on the continent. Marine mammals, pinnipeds, huge birds - here animals of Antarctica. Video reflects how the life of all inhabitants is connected with the coast of the ocean and the water basins of the mainland.

Zooplankton, which is abundant in the waters around the mainland, is the main food for many inhabitants from penguins, the indigenous inhabitants of Antarctica to whales and seals.

Mammals of Antarctica

whales

Representatives of the largest and most mysterious animals on the planet. Despite their huge size, they are elusive to study. Complex social life, freedom of movement, living in harsh conditions reflect their powerful natural intelligence and capabilities.

Whales of Antarctica are represented by two species: baleen and toothed. The former are better studied, since they were commercial objects. These include humpback whales, fin whales, real whales. They all breathe air, so they periodically rise to the surface to replenish their air reserves.

Whales give birth to young, feed them with milk for up to a year. The female feeds the cubs in such a way that only in a day they increase 100 kg of live weight.

Blue, or blue, whale (vomited)

The largest animal weighing an average of 100-150 tons, body length up to 35 meters. The total weight is approximately 16 tons. Giants feed on small crustaceans, which are very abundant in the oceanic icy water. A whale eats up to 4 million shrimp per day alone.

The basis of the diet is most often plankton. The filtering apparatus formed by the whalebone plates helps to sift food. The blue whale also feeds on cephalopods and small fish, krill, and large crustaceans. The stomach of a whale takes food up to 2 tons.

The lower part of the head, throat and belly in the folds of the skin, which stretches when swallowing food with water, enhances the hydrodynamic properties of the whale.

Vision, smell, taste buds are weak. But hearing and touch are especially developed. Whales keep alone. Sometimes in places rich in food, groups of 3-4 giants appear, but the animals behave separately.

Deep dives at 200-500 m alternate with short dives. The speed of movement is approximately 35-45 km / h. It would seem that a giant cannot have enemies. But the attacks of a flock of killer whales are detrimental to individual individuals.

humpback whale (humpback whale)

The size is two times smaller than the blue whale, but its active disposition poses a great threat to those who are close to a dangerous animal. Gorbach attacks even small ships. The weight of one individual is approximately 35-45 tons.

The name was given for a strongly arched back in swimming. Humpbacks live in packs, within which groups of 4-5 individuals are formed. The color of animals from black and white tones. The back is dark, the belly with white spots. Each individual has a unique pattern.

The whale stays mainly in coastal waters, leaving for the ocean only during migrations. The speed of the swimmer is up to about 30 km/h. Dives to a depth of up to 300 m alternate with the appearance on the surface, where the animal releases water when breathing in a fountain up to 3 m. Jumping over water, flips, sudden movements are often aimed at getting rid of pests that are located on its skin.

A humpback whale can eat more than a ton of krill in a day

Seiwal (Ivas whale)

A large minke whale from baleen whales up to 17-20 m long, weighing up to 30 tons. The back is dark, the sides are in small spots of light color, a whitish belly. A quarter of the length of the animal is the head. The diet is mainly pollock, cephalopods, black-eyed crustaceans.

After the decline in the production of the blue whale, the sei whale became for some time the leading commercial species. Now hunting for sei whales is prohibited. Animals live alone, sometimes in pairs. Among the whales, they develop the highest speed up to 55 km / h, which allows them to avoid the attacks of killer whales.

fin whale

The second largest whale, which is called the centenarian. Mammals live up to 90-95 years. The whale is about 25 m long and weighs up to 70 tons. The skin is dark gray, but the belly is light. On the body, like other whales, there are many furrows, which make it possible to open the throat strongly when capturing prey.

Fin whales reach speeds of up to 45 km/h, dive up to 250 m, but stay at a depth of no more than 15 minutes. Their fountains rise up to 6 m when the giants emerge.

Whales live in groups of 6-10 individuals. The abundance of food increases the number of animals in the herd. In the diet of herring, sardines, capelin, pollock. Small fish they round up and swallow with water. Up to 2 tons of living creatures are absorbed per day. Communication between whales occurs with the help of low-frequency sounds. They can hear each other hundreds of kilometers away.

Toothed whales of the ice kingdom of Antarctica are the most dangerous predators with sharp fins.

killer whales

Large mammals suffer from irrepressible inhabitants with powerful cutting scythes: whales, seals, fur seals, even sperm whales. The name arose on the basis of a comparison of a high fin with a sharp edge and a cutting tool.

Carnivorous dolphins differ from relatives in black and white color. The back and sides are dark, and the throat is white, there is a stripe on the belly, a white spot above the eyes. The head is flattened from above, the teeth are adapted for tearing prey. In length, individuals reach 9-10 m.

The food spectrum of killer whales is wide. Often they can be observed near the rookeries of seals and fur seals. Killer whales are very voracious. The daily need for food is up to 150 kg. They are very inventive in hunting: they hide behind ledges, turn over ice floes with penguins to throw them into the water.

Large animals are attacked by the whole flock. Whales are not allowed to rise to the surface, and sperm whales are not allowed to dive to the depths. In their flock, killer whales are surprisingly friendly and caring towards sick or old relatives.

Killer whales use their tail to stun fish when hunting.

sperm whales

Huge animals up to 20 m, in which the head is a third of the body. The unique appearance will not allow you to confuse the sperm whale with anyone else. The weight is approximately 50 tons. Among the toothed whales, the sperm whale is the largest in size.

For prey, which it searches for with the help of echolocation, it dives up to 2 km. It feeds on octopuses, fish, squid. Stays underwater for up to an hour and a half. Has excellent hearing.

Sperm whales live in large herds of hundreds of heads. They have practically no enemies, only killer whales attack young or females. The sperm whale is very dangerous in an aggressive state. There were examples when ferocious animals sank whaling ships and killed sailors.

flat-nosed bottlenose

Massive whales with a large forehead and a conical beak. They dive deep into the water and can stay up to 1 hour. They make sounds characteristic of whales: whistling, grunting. Tail slapping on the water transmits signals to relatives.

They live in packs of 5-6 individuals, among which males dominate. The length of individuals reaches 9 m, the average weight is 7-8 tons. The main food of bottlenose is cephalopods, squids, fish.

seals

The indigenous inhabitants of Antarctica are perfectly adapted to the cold seas. A layer of fat, coarse hair on the body, like a shell, protects animals. There are no auricles at all, but seals are not deaf, they hear well in the water.

Mammals in their structure and habits are like an intermediate link between land and sea animals. Fingers are visible on the fins, which have membranes. And they give birth to their babies on land and learn to swim!

Animals of Antarctica on the a photo often captured in moments when they bask in the sun, lie on the shore or drift on an ice floe. On the ground, seals move by crawling, pulling their bodies up with their fins. They eat fish and octopuses. Seals include a number of marine mammals.

Sea Elephant

A very large animal, up to 5 m long, weighing 2.5 tons. There is a remarkable fold on the muzzle, similar to an elephant's trunk, which determined the name of the mammal. He has more fat under his skin than meat. During movement, the body shakes like a jelly.

Good divers - dive up to 500 m for 20-30 minutes. Elephant seals are known for tough mating games in which they hurt each other. They eat squid, shrimps, fish.

Sea leopard

Among the good-natured seals, this is a special species. The name is associated with the spotted color of the body and the nature of a large predator. The head is like a snake. Weight 300-400 kg, body length about 3-4 m. Animals dive for about 15 minutes, so they do not go under the ice for a long time.

They swim at a speed of 40 km / h, like a fast killer whale. Developed muscles and a thin layer of fat make the sea leopard mobile, so as not to freeze in harsh conditions. It has great strength and agility.

It hunts seals, penguins, large fish, squids. Sharp fangs tear the skins of victims, and powerful jaws grind bones like millstones.

Weddell seal

A calm animal with surprisingly kind eyes. It lives on the coast of Antarctica. Represents one of the most numerous species of seals. He spends a lot of time in the water, and breathes through air holes - holes in the ice.

A good diver who dives to 800 m and stays there for more than an hour. A thick layer of fat up to 7 cm warms the animal, accounting for almost a third of the total weight. The total weight of an individual is on average 400 kg, and the length is approximately 3 m. The hard coat is gray-brown in color with silvery oval spots.

Weddell seals are not at all afraid of humans, they let them very close. When approached, they raise their heads and whistle.

Weddell can stay underwater for a long time, for example, waiting out a strong storm

crabeater seal

Among the seals, this species is the most numerous. Big travelers. In winter, they swim on ice floes towards the north, in summer they return to the shores of Antarctica. The large body up to 4 m in length seems to be elongated, the muzzle has an elongated shape.

They live alone, only on a drifting ice floe they can be seen in groups. Contrary to the name, it feeds on krill, not crabs. Teeth form like a mesh through which water is filtered, prey is delayed. The natural enemies of crabeaters are killer whales, from which they deftly jump onto high ice floes.

Ross seal

Finding an animal is not easy. He retires to hard-to-reach places and keeps alone, although he is not afraid of people, he lets a person close to him. The sizes among relatives are the most modest: weight up to 200 kg, body length is about 2 m.

There are many folds on the neck, into which the seal draws its head and becomes like a round barrel. The color of the coat is dark brown with a leaden sheen. The belly is light. The fat and clumsy beast sings loudly. Makes melodic sounds. The diet includes octopuses, squids, and other cephalopods.

Kerguelen fur seal

It lives along the perimeter of Antarctica, on the nearest islands. In the summer months, they arrange rookeries for them, in winter they move to the warm northern regions. The animals are called eared seals.

They are a bit like big dogs. They are able to rise on their front flippers, show greater flexibility than other seals. The mass of an individual is about 150 kg, body length is up to 190 cm. Males are decorated with a black mane with gray hair.

Industrial capture almost led to the loss of the species, but thanks to conservation laws, the number of fur seals has increased, the threat of extinction has receded.

Birds

The bird world of Antarctica is exceptionally peculiar. Most notable are penguins, flightless birds with flipper-like wings. Animals walk upright on short legs, clumsily moving through the snow, or ride on their belly, pushing off with their limbs. From a distance, they resemble little men in black tailcoats. In the water, they feel more confident, spend 2/3 of their lives there. Adults only eat there.

Dominant animals of north antarctica- penguins. It is they who are able to endure the harsh conditions of polar nights with frosts of minus 60-70 ° C, breed chicks and take care of relatives.

emperor penguin

The most respectable representative in the penguin family. The height of the bird is approximately 120 cm, weight 40-45 kg. The plumage of the back is always black, and the chest is white, this color in the water helps to mask. On the neck and cheeks of the emperor penguin are yellow-orange feathers. Such elegant penguins do not immediately become. The chicks are first covered with gray or whitish down.

Penguins hunt in groups, attacking a school of fish and grabbing everything that comes in front. Large prey is butchered on the shore, small ones are eaten in the water. In search of food, they travel considerable distances, dive up to 500 m.

The dive site should be lit, as it is more important for birds to see than to hear. The speed of movement is approximately 3-6 km / h. They can stay under water without air for up to 15 minutes.

Penguins live in colonies of up to 10,000 individuals. They keep warm in dense groups, inside which the temperature rises to plus 35°C, while the outside temperature rises to minus 20°C.

They monitor the constant movements of relatives from the edge of the group to the middle so that no one freezes. The natural enemies of penguins are killer whales, sea leopards. Bird eggs are often stolen by giant petrels or skuas.

Emperor penguins surround chicks to survive the cold and wind

king penguin

The appearance is similar to the imperial relative, but the size is smaller, the color is brighter. On the head on the sides, on the chest there are orange spots of a saturated color. The belly is white. The back and wings are black. The chicks are brown. They nest on hard ground, often among windswept rocks.

Adélie penguins

The average size of birds is 60-80 cm, weight is about 6 kg. Black upper back, white belly. There is a white rim around the eyes. Numerous colonies unite up to half a million birds.

The nature of penguins is distinguished by curiosity, mobility, fussiness. This is especially evident in the construction of nests, when neighbors constantly steal valuable stones. Bird fights are full of noise. Unlike shy relatives of other species, Adele is a trusting bird. Krill is the basis of nutrition. Up to 2 kg of food is required per day.

Adélie penguins return every year to the same nesting site and to the same partner

Golden-haired penguin (penguin-dandy)

The name is based on a conspicuous bunch of bright yellow feathers on the head above the eyes. The crest makes it easy to identify the dandy. Growth is approximately 70-80 cm. Colonies collect up to 60,000 individuals.

Shouting and sign language helps to communicate. The dandy penguin lives throughout Antarctica, where there is access to water.

giant petrel

A flying predator that feeds not only on fish, but also on penguins. Does not refuse carrion if it finds carcasses of seals or other mammals. Breeds on islands near Antarctica.

The large wingspan of slate-gray birds, almost 3 m, gives out strong travelers. They unmistakably find their native nesting place thousands of kilometers away! They know how to use wind energy and are able to fly around the globe.

Sailors nicknamed the birds "stinkers" for an unpleasant smell, a kind of protection from the enemy. Even a chick in the nest can release a stream of liquid with a pungent odor if it senses danger. Strength, aggression, mobility are bestowed upon them from birth.

Albatrosses

Giant birds with a wingspan of 4 m, a body length of about 130 cm. In flight, they resemble white swans. They feel great in different elements: air and water. They move uncertainly on the ground, and take off from the slopes or the crest of the wave. Known to sailors as escorts of ships - there is something to feed on from the garbage.

Albatrosses are called eternal wanderers because they constantly surf the ocean, looking for prey. For fish they can dive to a depth of 5 m. They nest on rocky islands. They create couples for life, and they have a long life, up to 50 years.

great skua

An Antarctic bird related to the seagull. The wing is up to 40 cm long. It flies beautifully, technically speeding up or slowing down the flight. It can linger in place, fluttering its wings, quickly turn around, quickly attack prey.

Moves well on the ground. It feeds on small birds, alien chicks, animals, does not disdain garbage. Robbery, taking fish from other birds, not too quick. Hardy and hardy in low temperatures.

Skua wingspan reaches 140 cm

white plover

A small bird with white plumage. Small wings, short legs. When moving quickly on land, like doves, they shake their heads. Plover nests on rocky shores, among penguin colonies.

Omnivorous. They trade by stealing fish from large birds, stealing eggs and chicks. Do not disdain waste and waste. Even from their own chicks they leave one, they eat the others.

Wilson's storm-petrel

A small gray-black bird, which is called the sea swallow for its similar size and flight characteristics. The body length is about 15-19 cm, the wingspan is up to 40 cm. Their turns, maneuvers in the air are fast, sharp, and light.

Sometimes they seem to sit down on the water, dancing with their long legs on the surface. The fingers seem to be bound by a yellow membrane. So they collect small prey, diving shallowly, by 15-20 cm. They gather in colonies on the rocks, and nest there.

Everyone understands what animals live in Antarctica,- Only the strongest can live on a continent with permafrost and bask in the Arctic Ocean. The natural world here eliminates the weak.

But surprising facts indicate that many animals within their species are friendly and caring to relatives. The external environment unites them. Only with their warmth and numerous flocks do they save life in the harsh and mysterious Antarctica.

What animals live in Antarctica, if you are interested in this question, then in the next article, you will certainly find all the necessary and useful information.

What is Antarctica? Where is Antarctica located?

Antarctica - the continent, which is located in the southern hemisphere around the geographic south pole, is washed by the Southern Ocean, covers approximately 12% of the Earth's land mass. The continent contains 90% of the world's ice reserves, which contain 70% of the fresh water on Earth.

What animals live in Antarctica?

Animals that live in Antarctica are migratory because the climate of the continent is too difficult.

Mammals of Antarctica

Kerguelen fur seal
sea leopard
crabeater seal
Weddell seal
southern elephant seal

Flying birds of Antarctica

Antarctic tern
Antarctic blue-eyed cormorant
white plover
Pintado
snow petrel
wandering albatross
south polar skua
giant petrel

Penguins of Antarctica

emperor penguin
king penguin
subantarctic penguin

Other animals

Antarctic krill
Belgica antarctica

Blue whales. They are one of the most mysterious and strange creatures on Earth. The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet, weighing over 100 tons, they easily outweigh the heavy dinosaurs. Even the "ordinary" whale is huge and is considered truly impressive creations of nature. Whales are huge but elusive mammals and difficult to study. They are highly intelligent, with complex social lives and complete freedom of movement.

Fur seal. In appearance and manner, these mammals resemble a large dog. They are able to pull their rear flippers under their body and lift their weight with their front flippers, so they are much more flexible on land than other pinnipeds. Males reach a mass of 200 kg and 4 times more than females. They are limited mainly to the subantarctic islands, with 95% of the population on South Georgia Island.

Sea leopard. Called the "leopard seal" due to the spots on its body, it is one of the largest predators in Antarctica. The weight of males is up to 300 kg, and females - 260-500 kg. The body length of males varies between 2.8-3.3 m, and females 2.9-3.8 m.

The diet of sea leopards is very diverse. They can eat any animal they can kill. The diet consists of fish, squid, penguins, birds and seal pups.

Antarctic tern. A typical representative of the tern family. It is a small bird 31-38 cm long, weighing 95-120 g, and with a wingspan of 66-77 cm. Its beak is usually dark red or blackish. The plumage is mostly light gray or white, there is a black “cap” on the head. The wingtips of this tern are greyish-black.

They feed on fish and krill, especially when they are in Antarctica. Terns notice their prey from the air, and then dive into the water after it.

We hope the information in this article was useful to you and now you know the answer to the question "What animals live in Antarctica?".

Antarctica is not like other continents. This is one of the coldest parts of the world where the temperature is extremely low. Is the air here very dry, cold? and, except for penguins and seals, other land animals in this area are almost impossible to see. On the islands you can find several varieties of worms, butterflies without wings (flightless) and crayfish. Of the birds, the plover and the plover are considered the most famous.

In summer, the following birds fly here:

albatrosses;
seagulls;
petrels and others.

All other inhabitants of Antarctica live in the ocean. This area is distinguished by a huge number of predators, which, despite the snow cover, survive perfectly, hunt and get their own food. Various mammals live here, there are practically no poachers on the territory, and those who live here are old, not new residents. Seals are predatory animals from the pinniped family. A thick layer of fat helps them withstand the severe frosts of this region. Many species of seals live in the waters of Antarctica:

wedella;
rossa;
crabeater;
southern elephant seal.

Weddell seal

One of the residents of this glacial continent is the Weddell seal. James Wedella is the commander of an industrial expedition, as well as a resident of this continent, after whom this animal was named. This beast has a very pleasant smiling face, but it is not so attractive with its slanting cat eyes and smile, but with the strong cries that it emits from the bottom of the sea during the mating season.

Females and males are the same size and, of course, they are the kind of seals that can give birth to two at once. Their embryos are born in three weeks and after a month and a half they weigh one hundred kilograms. Puppies are born on the coast, the mother comes ashore shortly before giving birth and after birth, until the end of the lactation period, remains with the newly appeared puppy on the coast, but after the completion of feeding with milk, the female releases her embryo for an independent life.

This type of mammal due to lack of air, it gnaws through glaciers, their teeth lose their sharpness and break. Thus, animals lose the ability to eat normally and have a life expectancy of no more than twenty years. The sea becomes their most secure place of permanent residence, seals expose only their nostrils from the water. I would like to note that, despite this fact, Wedell seals do not like land, their enemies are leopard seals, which catch them and kill them at the very bottom.

It seems that seals see much worse on the shore than under water, are very friendly with the people they meet, as well as with the animals living with them in the neighborhood. People are noticed in the case of very close communication, lie down on the ground and greet people, as if saying "salute". In winter, they do not come to the surface of the ice, which is associated with severe frosts that prevail in this area. Seals talk to each other, grunting and yelping.

Ross seal

Ross is from the family of mammals and is one of the true seals. It is named after the American explorer Ross. In size, it is from the family of the smallest Antarctic seals. Their body length reaches two meters in size. These animals have a large amount of fat and hide their heads in this thick layer of fat in order to be able to protect themselves from severe frosts. The seals are very good divers and swim at high speeds and hunt for small fish. This type of seal lives, like the previous one, for about twenty years.

They do not live in groups, but, on the contrary, prefer to live alone. He is fat and barrel-shaped, and lives in places that are inaccessible to humans. This predator sings melodicly. His language is incomprehensible to many, but well known to his kindred. Likes to eat octopuses and other mammals.

crabeater seal

crabeater - one of the most common types in the world and belongs to the family of true seals. They are slender, their muzzles are slightly elongated and thin. They are brown in color, but after molting they become creamy white. Crab-eaters are four times the weight of all other seals. Although the name contains the word crab, they do not use them at all in their food, these animals of Antarctica tend to eat fish.

Their cubs are born in autumn and by the end of feeding with milk, their weight reaches up to 110 kilograms. While feeding the puppy, the male sits on the surface of the ice and does not allow him to approach the female until the end of feeding. They are fed for two or three weeks, in weight they add four kilos a day. Seals jump from ice floes very dexterously and dive well into the water. Scientists suggest that this dexterity is due to the fact that crabeaters protect themselves from predators attacking them. Carry their children for about nine months.

They die and live on the bottom of the ocean, like previous predators, for about twenty years.

Sea Elephant

There are two types of elephant seals: northern and southern. The northern one differs from the southern one in a narrower and southern trunk. Due to the large number hunters at one time, the northern type almost disappeared from the face of the earth. The ban on fishing in this area helped restore the number of these elephants. The southern variety was also heavily hunted: they were mercilessly killed. But now they are protected.

Sea elephants, due to the presence of a process similar to the trunk of an elephant, which begins to grow in them by the age of eight, got their name. Their body is thick, the head is small compared to the body, they have flippers instead of limbs. They live on land, but because of the obesity of their body, it is very difficult to move around and prefer to sleep more. They sleep very soundly and during sleep they emit strong snores. They sleep under the sun and do not like to be awakened. In the event of an attempt to wake them from sleep, they can kick hard or hit with a stone.

This kind of predator It spends most of its life in the water and only comes to land to mate. At this time, they gather in groups, and the rest of the time they prefer to live alone. Elephant seals, due to the gravity of their weight for food, can dive to a depth of 1400 meters and remain under water for a long time. They eat fish, they have nuts in the stomach for digestion. They have thick skin and short hair. Females and males of this species differ greatly in size and are the largest among pinnipeds and among seals. This type of animal gives birth to one cub.

Describing some facts from the life of pinnipeds, we can draw the following conclusions: despite tangible differences in size, everyone lives by the same rules for life. They are all stacked the same, with the exception of the elephant seal, whose head is smaller than the body.

Pinnipeds spend some of their time on land, but they are essentially marine because they feed in the water. This is where elephants find food:

shellfish;
crustaceans.

All elephant seals are more adapted to life in water than on land, they are excellent swimmers, as a rule, they swim with their front limbs. The most terrestrial among all is the crabeater seal, which goes out onto the ice floe and loves to sit on it. He moves so deftly on the ice that not everyone could catch him. This species feels confident on land, because killer whales often come here.

Animals of this series have poor eyesight because they spend most of their lives at sea, they have a good sense of smell due to vibrissae, which all pinnipeds possess.

penguins

Penguins are a breed of bird living in Antarctica. These are the most common and popular of all flying people living in Antarctica. Penguins, like other terrestrial ones that live on glaciers, get their food in the water, dive perfectly to the very depths and eat small fish and krill.

Consider and compare emperor penguins and adele.

Adélie is a variety that has both the back and the head and neck in black. They breed on land and spend the rest of their time in the water. The males prepare the mating grounds, after which the females incubate their eggs. During the incubation period of the female do not eat and lose half the weight.

The largest in size are the imperial ones. This type of penguin is very clumsy in movement and maintains balance with the help of their flippers - wings. Their paws help them move on land.

But in the water they are excellent divers and find their food very cleverly. On land, you can meet them on a walk alone, but most often in pairs. When you see them on the shore, you can compare them to people walking and discussing very important issues. Summer is spent at sea, and in winter acquire offspring.

When choosing a pair, emperor penguins are monogamous and among a large number of females, males come up with cries and choose a mate for themselves, but after choosing they never change them. The eggs are first incubated by the males, and then by the females. Imperial females, like Adele, do not eat themselves during feeding and also lose a lot of weight.

From the vast majority of birds they are distinguished by the fact that when walking they keep their posture very even and seem important and well-dressed people. They walk slowly, clumsily and, surprisingly, fly very smoothly over water.

Penguins belong to the group of those animals whose lives are constantly threatened due to the abundance of enemies. They are primarily people who often destroy them, and some predators like petrels. Embryos often die due to insufficient food.

Penguins are intelligent animals with short legs, very long necks, and feathers with scales. They have a large beak and a rather small head.

Penguins are at the stage of extinction, their population has declined sharply due to the melting of the ice, because their habitats are being destroyed, and food resources are becoming less and less.

Antarctica is the land of eternal cold, frost, strong wind, ice and snow. And the creatures living on its territory are very unusual due to the harsh climatic conditions.

People do not live permanently in Antarctica; by status, it does not belong to any state. Scientists from all over the world come here for research, and only in this case the silence of the mainland is broken. It is the coldest corner of the world and the continent of the Earth, the lowest temperature is recorded on it.

This part of the world is a place of survival. The animals of Antarctica are very strong and formidable, but despite this, living here means fighting and surviving. The predators who live here fight fierce battles with their enemies, but in their places of residence they are friendly and very caring. This area serves as a habitat for many animals. It is magnificent and beautiful, despite all the difficulties of living conditions.

This is one of the most mysterious and little-studied continents on our planet. Antarctica was discovered by two brave explorers - M. Lazarev and F. Bellingshausen. Their expedition confirmed the presence of Antarctica in the south of the globe. It happened in 1820.

Climatic conditions

The nature of Antarctica has the coldest climate on earth. In 1983, the absolute minimum was officially registered - minus 89.2 degrees. In winter, the temperature is kept at around -60 to -75 degrees. In summer it rises to -50. And only on the coast the climate is milder: the average temperature ranges from 0 to -20 degrees.

Precipitation is possible only in the form of snow, which is compressed under its own weight, forming new layers of ice.

However, there are rivers and lakes in Antarctica. They appear in the summer, and in the winter they are again covered with an ice crust. Today, scientists have discovered 140 subglacial lakes. Of these, only one does not freeze - the East.

Flora of Antarctica

The flora of the continent is extremely poor. The natural features of Antarctica are explained by its harsh climate. Most of all, algae grow here - about 700 species. The ice-free plains and the coast of the mainland are covered with lichens and mosses. There are only two flowering plants on this harsh land - colobantus kito and antarctic meadow grass.

Colobanthus kito is a short, cushion-shaped herbaceous plant with small, pale yellow and white flowers. The height of an adult plant does not exceed five to five centimeters.

Antarctic meadow grass belongs to cereals. Grows only in areas of land illuminated by the sun. These inconspicuous bushes grow up to 20 centimeters. The plant tolerates frost well. Even during flowering, frost does not harm him.

The flora of Antarctica, represented by a few plants, has adapted to the eternal cold. Their cells contain little water, all processes are slow.

Animals

Features of the nature of Antarctica left their mark on the fauna of the continent. The animals of this icy country live only where there is vegetation. Despite the harsh climate, dinosaurs lived in Antarctica in ancient times.

Antarctic animals can be conditionally divided into two independent groups - aquatic and terrestrial. It should be noted that there are no animals permanently living on land in Antarctica.

The waters surrounding the mainland are rich in zooplankton, which is the main food for seals, whales, penguins and fur seals. Ice fish live here - amazing creatures that have adapted to existence in icy water.

The large animals of Antarctica include which are attracted here by a large number of shrimp.

Blue-green algae and roundworms settle in fresh lakes, crustaceans and daphnia are found.

Birds

For penguins, arctic terns and skuas, Antarctica is their home. The nature of the mainland does not allow more birds to live here. Four species of penguins live in Antarctica. The largest population is imperial. Occasionally petrels fly to the southern mainland.

mammals

Antarctica, whose nature is too harsh for animals to live, can only boast of those species that can live both on land and in water. First of all, these are seals. In addition, sea leopards live on the coast and there are small sand or black-and-white dolphins, which whalers call

Predators of Antarctica

A wide variety of predators live on this continent. Their diet mainly consists of planktonic crustaceans. Of these, it is necessary to highlight the sea leopard - the largest seal that feeds on krill. It lives at shallow depths. At the same time, he also has the glory of a predator, which is able to hunt large animals. Such hunting, however, is only seasonal and is designed to diversify the diet, consisting of squid and fish, but it is based on krill. A small number of these marine predators stay close to rookeries and penguin colonies. In most cases, these giants drift on ice floes along the peninsula and, by the beginning of winter, gather in large numbers at South Georgia.

Sea leopards are real giants. The officially registered length is 3.8 meters, but larger animals have been encountered.

By autumn, the leopards change their way of life and come close to the shore, along which inexperienced young fur seals and penguins descend.

Invertebrates

To whom the nature of Antarctica is completely suitable, it is invertebrate arthropods. Antarctica is home to 67 species of ticks and four species of lice. There are lice, fleas and, of course, mosquitoes. It should be noted that wingless ringing mosquitoes, which have a jet black color, live only on the icy continent. These insects are endemic, belonging to completely land animals.

The bulk of invertebrates and insects are brought to the southern continent by birds.

Tourism

Despite the harsh climate, about six thousand tourists come to Antarctica every year. Most of them go to the Antarctic Peninsula, where there is an airfield and a tourist base. In the 1990s, tourists began to visit the Ross Sea.