Antarctica
is the most southerly continent on Earth and its freezing conditions
mean that animals that are found on every other continent on the planet,
are no-where to be seen. The extensive cover of ice, no sunshine during
winter and the fact that it holds the record for being the coldest
place on Earth makes it pretty inhospitable to life.
Unlike the other
continents, Antarctica has no permanent large land-dwelling animals and
even the plants are that are found growing there are incredibly small,
staying very close to the ground to avoid unnecessary exposure to the
freezing conditions. The seas surrounding the continent however, are a
completely different story and are seemingly abundant with a variety of
different species in comparison to life on the land.
The most
commonly known inhabitants of Antarctica are birds, the iconic Antarctic
species being penguins that spend vast amounts of time in the warmer
seas only venturing onto the land in the marginally warmer summer months
when they lay their eggs and raise their chicks in preparation for
returning to the water. Six species are penguin are known to exist in
Antarctica which are the Adelie Penguin, Chinstrap Penguin, Gentoo
Penguin, King Penguin, Macaroni Penguin and of course, the Emperor
Penguin.
Penguins in Antarctica feed exclusively in the sea and
are able to travel vast distances in search of food, often spending
extended periods of time hunting in the water. Krill is one of the most
important sources of nutrition for all penguin species and along with
squid, makes up the bulk of their diet. Depending on the time of year
and how far penguins choose to travel in search of food, a variety of
different fish species are also consumed.
The seas surrounding the
Antarctic continent are also frequently visited by a number of marine
mammals including five species of seal (Antarctic Fur Seal, Crabeater
Seal, Southern Elephant Seal, Weddell Seal and Leopard Seals), along
with Antarctic Minke Whales and Orcas. Although it may not seem like
there are many species living in Antarctica, together they all make up a
strong and thriving eco-system at the bottom of the globe.
