Wildlife in Antarctica
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The wildlife of Antarctica are extremophiles, having to adapt to the dryness, low temperatures, and high exposure common in Antarctica. The extreme weather of the interior contrasts to the relatively mild conditions on the Antarctic Peninsula and the subantarctic islands, which have warmer temperatures and more liquid water. Much of the ocean around the mainland is covered by sea ice. The oceans themselves are a more stable environment for life, both in the water column and on the seabed.
There is relatively little diversity in Antarctica compared to much of the rest of the world. Terrestrial life is concentrated in areas near the coast. Flying birds nest on the milder shores of the Peninsula and the subantarctic islands. Eight species of penguins inhabit Antarctica and its offshore islands. They share these areas with seven pinniped species. The Southern Ocean around Antarctica is home to 10 cetaceans, many of them migratory. There are very few terrestrial invertebrates on the mainland, although the species that do live there have high population densities. High densities of invertebrates also live in the ocean, with Antarctic krill forming dense and widespread swarms during the summer. Benthic animal communities also exist around the continent.
Over 1000 fungi species have been found on and around Antarctica. Larger species are restricted to the subantarctic islands, and the majority of species discovered have been terrestrial. Plants are similarly restricted mostly to the subantarctic islands, and the western edge of the Peninsula. Some mosses and lichens however can be found even in the dry interior. Many algae are found around Antarctica, especially phytoplankton, which form the basis of many of Antarctica's food webs.
Human activity has caused introduced species to gain a foothold in the area, threatening the native wildlife. A history of overfishing and hunting has left many species with greatly reduced numbers. Pollution, habitat destruction
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Antarctic animals and wildlife
There isn't much life in the Antarctic. The icy, cold and dark continent is not a pleasant habitat for most animals on the planet. Still, some animals have managed to fight the harsh and rough climate of Antarctica. Apart from a few herbivorous Antarctic creatures, all animals on the southernmost continent are predators.
Antarctica wildlife – a continent covered by ice, water and snow
There isn't much life in the Antarctic. Because the continent is almost entirely covered by ice and snow, there's no real room for plants to grow. There are a few mosses and grasses that survive in the harsh conditions, and two flowering plants. Otherwise, plant-life is nearly nonexistent on land.
The water is a different question: Phytoplankton are able to survive in the cold waters, and get their energy from the sun. Krill eat the phytoplankton, and apart from some zooplankton and bottom-dwelling creatures, that's basically the summary of herbivorous Antarctic creatures; everything else is a predator.
What animals live in Antarctica?
We have collected an overview of the four most prolific hunters on Earth's southernmost continent, but also other animals who live in Antarctica.
Seals
There are four types of seals that live in the waters surrounding Antarctica: leopard, crabeater, Weddell and southern elephant. All seals are fairly slow predators that hunt by waiting in places their prey is likely to appear. Most of them are unlikely to pay humans much mind at all - except for the leopard seal.
This seal, named for its characteristic spots, has been known to become aggressive with humans in small boats. They're fierce predators and are perfectly happy to eat anything. Although they don't attack humans often, it's best to give leopard seals a wide berth.
Whales
During the summer, Antarctic waters are full of many different types of whales looking to eat fish, squid, penguins and plankton. Killers whales are one of the species travelers might be able to spot on their trip. These are the most aggressive and ambitious hunters, as their sights are set on seals, sea birds and other whales. They're perfectly capable of taking down creatures that are much larger than they are, provided they hunt in groups.
Despite being aggressive toward other wildlife, killer whales aren't known for attacking humans in nature. Some killer whales in captivity have attacked their trainers, but generally speaking, humans aren't at any particular risk around these creatures.
Other whale species that travel south for the summer include humpback, orca and the largest animal on earth, the blue whale.
Penguins
The world's favorite awkward Antarctic creature, penguins mostly eat krill and very small fish. They spend most of their time in the water, but usually come on land to mate and raise their chicks.
Although Antarctic penguins don't think of humans as a threat or a meal, it's still best to exercise caution when around them. They're not shy around people, and may come right up to you - still, they can and do bite, so it's wise to treat them the way you would any other wild animal.
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