 |
Weddell Seal - the southernmost pinniped in the world. In what
is known as reverse sexual dimorphism, males are generally smaller than
females. A newborn pup has a coat of long hair, called lanugo, which they will
shed within the first month as the protective layer of blubber is developed.
Listen to a Weddell Seal
underwater. |
| |
|
 |
Orcas - In the
Antarctic, Killer whales live amid pack-ice, but they are said not to extend
beyond the ice-line in the Arctic ocean. The Orca exhibits a great tolerance
for varying temperatures. This is one of the reasons they enjoy a worldwide
distribution. |
| |
|
|
Rockhopper
Penguins- one of the more ornate penguins, the Rockhopper stands 16- to 18
inches tall and weighs about 5 to 6 pounds. It can be found on subantarctic
islands. Its population numbers appear to be stable at about 3.5 million pairs!
These birds shake their heads and cause their yellow eyebrows to fly into a
"halo" in order to attract a mate! |
| |
|
|
Black-browed
Albatross - distinguished by its distinctive combination of white head and
neat black brow. The Black-browed albatross can have a wigspan of up to eight
feet and can weigh up to 10 pounds! Black-browed albatrosses are the most
widely distributed of all albatross species. Of all the albatross species they
may face the greatest threats from fisheries. |
| |
|
Listen to a Leopard seal.
|
Leopard
Seal - named because of the colour patterns on its fur and its fierce
nature, the Leopard seal is a fierce predator of it's favorite food - Adelie
penguins. They can leap up onto the ice and quickly grab a penguin. They also
feed on fish, krill, and squid. Unlike other phocid seals, the leopard seal
uses its large fore-flippers while swimming (sea lion style).
|
| |
|
|
Blue Whale - named for its blue-gray color, this huge cetacean
may grow to be roughly 100 feet long and weigh more that 120 tons! A blue whale
eats about 4 tons of krill per day during the feeding season! This means that
about 40 million krill are eaten every day for six months by a blue whale! The
tongue of the blue whale can be as big as a Volkswagen! The blue whale is the
loudest animal on earth! Hear the blue
whale. |
| |
|
Listen to the
Adelie
|
Adelie Penguin - the Adelies courtship ceremony begins when
the male drops a pebble at the feet of his intended. They begin to fight, but
if the female is interested, the fight is very short. Once the mates have been
selected, the males commence gathering more pebbles for thier nests. Adelie
penguins make their nests out of rocks! Ouch! |
| |
|
|
Antarctic Shag - primarily eats fish, which they catch by
diving. The bill of the Antarctic Shag is serrated for grabbing and holding
onto slippery fish! All four toes on this member of the Phalacrocoridae family
point forward - a rarity among birds! |
| |
|
Listen to the
Crabeater
|
Crabeater Seal - Crabeater seals are the most numerous
pinniped species in the world and are curiously named since their major prey is
not crabs but Antarctic krill! The seals have special lobed teeth that help
them to sieve the krill out of the seawater. Crabeater seals have been known to
dive as deep as 470 feet and for a period in excess of 10 minutes!
|
| |
|
|
Wandering Albatross - this species of albatross wanders the
oceans for months at a time searching for food. It sleeps on the ocean surface
at night and drinks seawater. The Wandering albatross is the largest bird in
the world in terms of wing span - 11 feet! The Wandering albatross is
endangered because of accidental killing of the bird on
longlines. |
| |
|
 |
Antarctic Fur Seal - tThe only eared seal in the Antarctic.
Fur seals can be quite aggressive and it is wise to give them a wide berth,
especially in the mating season! Within four years of their discovery in 1819,
over 320,000 Fur seal pelts were taken from the South Shetland Islands. Today
the Fur seals are making a rapid comeback and are regularly seen farther and
farther south on the Antarctic Peninsula. |
| |
|
Listen in on a
colony of Emperors!
|
Emperor Penguin - Emperor penguins, the biggest of the 17
penguin species, stand 3 to 4 feet tall and can weigh as much as 100 pounds!
They are the only living species to reproduce during the harsh Antarctic
winter. Without a nest, the male keeps the egg warm by holding it on his feet
under an abdominal fold of skin for 2 months! Unbelievable! What a
Dad!! |
| |
|
|
Southern
Elephant Seal - largest of all pinnepeds. The elephant seal gets its name
from the long, curved nose the male acquires around the age of three. The snout
plays a significant role in the elephant seal's spectacular breeding ritual. By
a process known as a catastrophic molt, elephant seals shed their coats every
autumn, sloughing large pieces of hair and skin, and leaving the seal with a
ragged and tattered appearance until it grows new, sleek fur!
|
| |
|
 |
Chinstrap
Penguin - Chinstrap penguins are named for the narrow band of black
feathers that extends from ear to ear. For nesting, they often select lofty
sites that are the first to become snow-free, to ensure the maximum amount of
time to raise their chicks. They are thought to be the most numerous penguin
species with an estimated population of 12 to 13 million. |
| |
|
|
Ross Seal - Ross Seals are very rarely seen because they live
deep within the consolidated pack-ice. It is believed that Ross Seals feed
mainly on squid and, to a lesser extent, fish and krill. They were named after
the British polar explorer Sir James Ross, who first discovered them in
1840. |
| |
|