Message animal world of Antarctica. Fauna of Antarctica: fauna of the icy continent

Despite some of the most severe climatic conditions on the planet, Antarctica impresses with a unique ecosystem, where there is room for amazing flora and fauna, the representatives of which are not afraid of the cold. Antarctic animals and vegetation have evolved well to survive in extreme conditions ice continent. Absence human impact to nature only contributes to the successful development of the Antarctic fauna. Below are the main animals of Antarctica that are found on its icy expanses of land and waters and represent animal world the most severe climatic conditions of the continent.

Antarctic whale bird

This seabird has gray-blue plumage and the same coloring on the upper part of the body, while the lower part - from the throat to the tail - is snow-white, and the legs are black. Its beak is light gray, curved at the tip. The wingspan of the Antarctic whalebird reaches 80-91 cm, and its weight is 440 g with a body length of 35-40 cm.

Representatives of these seabirds of the petrel family are found throughout the Antarctic continent. Their most extensive colonies were seen on Scott Island, South Orkney and South Shetland Islands. These seabirds are characterized by a colonial lifestyle.

They live in huge colonies of 1000 individuals. The basis of their food consists of crustaceans (in particular, euphasids), tiny cephalopods, small fish and carrion. The Antarctic whalebird catches its prey by flying over the water's edge and capturing food with its beak or paws.

To reproduce, these birds usually lay one egg in December, which the pair incubates alternately for 45 days. 45-55 days after hatching from the egg, the chicks begin to lead an independent life. The average lifespan of these seabirds is 15-20 years.

killer whale

Killer whale - largest representative dolphin family. The body length of adult individuals reaches 9.8 m (for males) and 8.5 m (for females). The length of killer whale cubs is at least 2.4 m. The weight of adults can reach 7500-10000 kilos (females and males), and for calves - up to 200 kg.

It is no coincidence that these marine mammals received the nickname killer whales, because they are the owners of menacing 10-centimeter sharp teeth. Killer whales are characterized by a black body and a white belly, snow-white spots near the eyes and gray spots behind the dorsal fin. They are capable of reaching speeds of up to 54 km/h.

The basis of food for these marine predators are seals, sea lions and birds, turtles, sharks, squid, cephalopods and fish. Killer whales live in the cold waters of Antarctica, Norway, Alaska, the vast North Atlantic and Pacific Ocean.

Males are ready to reproduce only in the 21st year of their life, while females are capable of reproduction starting from early years. The lifespan of these animals is from 50 to 80 years. Killer whales usually live in groups of 5 to 30 individuals, led by a female.

Adelie Penguin

This migratory bird was named by French Arctic explorer Dumont-D'Urville in honor of his wife Adele. Populations of these seabirds are found throughout Antarctica, making them the most representative of Antarctic fauna.

The weight of male Adélie penguins reaches 5.4 kg, and females - 4.7 kg. The body length of these birds is about 70 cm. These birds differ from other relatives by their black head with characteristic white spots around the eyes and a red beak. Their back is black, their plumage is dark blue, and their paws are gray-pink.

These penguins feed on krill, small fish, squid and cephalopods. To get food, they can dive under water to a depth of 175 m, while being excellent swimmers. They live in large colonies of thousands of individuals.

Nests are built on land, lining the nesting area with stones to protect the eggs from moisture. Often, when building nests, they steal stones from the homes of their neighbors. The couple hatches their offspring alternately. Birds begin to reproduce it at 3-6 years of age. They live on average up to 20 years.

This is interesting! Find out also what other species exist in the world, including species that live in the Antarctic expanses.

Holothurians

These invertebrate creatures such as echinoderms are often called sea cucumbers or egg capsules because of their characteristic body shape. They also have a small tentacle, like a tube foot, which is used to move and capture food.

Depending on the variety, sea cucumbers are found in red, dark green and black colors. Their body length varies from 2.5 cm to 1.8 m. Holothurians live on seabed, often burrowing into it, which is why they are also called marine earthworms.

Other types of planktonic sea cucumbers swim in the sea, moving due to sea currents. They feed on algae, marine invertebrates and particles of marine waste, similar to earth worms. Holothurians are found in all ecosystems of the planet, including in the cold waters of Antarctica.

Their life expectancy is from 5 to 10 years. When threatened, sea cucumbers can shoot out sticky threads to catch an enemy, or they can discard part of their body, which is subsequently regenerated.

Rotifers

They are tiny microscopic plankton found in moist soils of freshwater and saltwater. There are about 2000 species of rotifers. Their size is usually from 0.1 to 1 mm, although some species can reach 2-3 mm.

They feed on microalgae and provide the basis for food for fish, shellfish, corals and other aquatic organisms. Because of high performance reproduction and as an important source of nutrition for other sea creatures, rotifers are often used in aquariums.

Some representatives of these animals lead a solitary lifestyle, while others live in colonies. On the front of the body of rotifers there is a semblance of a crown, creating an analogue of rotating wheels, for which they received their specific name.

A typical representative of the fauna of Antarctica is the rusty-red rotifer Philodina gregaria. In summer it is found in huge quantities on the ocean floor and in ocean pools.

Blue whale

This is one of the largest animals on the planet and is also one of the representatives of the animal kingdom that is found in the cold waters of Antarctica. The main food of the blue whale is krill and crustaceans. This giant of the oceans consumes from 2 to 4 tons of them per day.

The length of males is 29 m, and females are 33 m, while their calves reach 7 m. The weight of an adult male blue whale is 150 tons, a female is 1800 tons, and a baby whale is 2700 kg. The head of this giant is a quarter of the length of its body, which is distinguished by its streamlined shape and pale blue spots on its back. The blue whale has two blowholes, from which, when exhaling, a fountain of water up to 9 m high rises into the air.

Blue whales are found in the North Pacific and the vast Atlantic, as well as in the south and north Indian Ocean. They swim in small groups, but most often in pairs or alone. Blue whales spend the summer in polar waters, and at the beginning of winter they migrate to equatorial waters. These sea giants swim at a speed of 8 km/h, but when in danger they reach up to 32 km/h.

Blue whales are on the planet. In calm conditions, their moans and roars can be heard several thousand kilometers from their location. These marine mammals can reproduce offspring at 6-10 years of age. Their average lifespan in the ocean is 80-90 years, but the IUCN lists this species as endangered. There are between 10 and 25 thousand blue whales in the world.

Snow petrel

This seabird is a typical representative of the fauna of Antarctica. It received its specific name for its snow-white body color. Character traits their appearance is dark eyes, a black beak and bluish-gray paws. The weight of the snow petrel is from 260 to 460 grams with a length of 30-40 cm. These seabirds feed mainly on fish, squid, mollusks, krill and carrion (meat of seals, whales and penguins).

They nest in large colonies on rocks throughout Antarctica and islands near the icy continent. To avoid collisions with predators (particularly south polar skuas), snow petrels fly either very low over the water or very high above the ground. These birds are distinguished by sociality, and can simply circle chaotically in a group of their relatives. Their life expectancy is up to 20 years.

Antarctic giant squid

This large deep-sea predator is another characteristic representative of the fauna of Antarctica. Its body length together with tentacles can reach up to 14 m, and its weight can reach up to 500 kg. Males are usually smaller than females.

At the Antarctic giant squid eight legs ranging from 0.85 to 1.15 m long, and two tentacles about 2.1 m long. The tentacles have rotating hooks that allow them to capture and hold prey.

The basis of its diet is fish (in particular, Patagonian toothfish) and other squid. The skin of the Antarctic giant squid is red-pink in color, and its eyes are larger than those of other creatures on the planet.

Its main distribution area is the deep waters of Antarctica and the southwestern Pacific Ocean in New Zealand. This occurs sea ​​creature at a depth of more than 300 m below the water surface. This type of squid leads a solitary lifestyle and is particularly voracious. It may even engage in combat with sperm whales that hunt it.

Leopard seal

This marine mammal predator is found on the coasts of Antarctica and the sub-Antarctic islands, as well as in South Africa, South America, Australia and New Zealand. The weight of males reaches 300 kg, and females - up to 500 kg with a corresponding body length of 2.8-33 m and 2.9-3.8 m. Body color in adult individuals varies from silver-gray to black, covered dark spots and with a light belly.

The leopard seal has a large head, a long and flexible neck and a powerful jaw with teeth like a dog. Its main food is small seals, penguins, seabirds, and krill. He hunts for them by hiding under the ice and staying underwater for up to 15 minutes.

Leopard seals can live alone, in pairs or in small groups. They live 12-15 years, but some individuals live up to 26 years. Whales are their only natural enemy.

Emperor penguin

This is the largest of the 17 species of penguins existing on the planet. Its body height reaches 1.15 m, and its weight reaches 40 kg. Characteristics The appearance of these penguins is the presence of yellow spots near the ears, on the neck and abdomen. Their wings are gray-black. These penguins feed on fish, cephalopods and krill. The emperor penguin eats 2-3 kg of food per day. But when he needs to increase his fat layer, his daily ration reaches up to 6 kg.

Emperor penguin colonies are found throughout Antarctica, and total number These birds reach more than 20 thousand pairs. Birds gather in close groups to withstand severe frosts and snowstorms with wind speeds of up to 200 km/h. Their average lifespan is 15-20 years, but some individuals live up to 40 years.

On a note! On the pages of the magazine "World of Adventures" you can find a lot interesting information about a unique ice continent. Find out also what is the main one, how it appeared in the ice, who is included in it and why it is interesting. The world is amazing, discover at least a part of its wonders!

10.03.2014

The incredibly harsh climatic conditions of the icy continent, low temperatures and stormy winds, put the animals of this region on the brink of survival, but life exists here in all its diversity. The fauna of this continent has no analogues in the world; only a few species of fauna can survive in such peculiar conditions.

The most common animals on the mainland are penguins. And the largest among its relatives is the emperor penguin, weighing up to 45 kg, its height is 120 cm. In harsh winter, these birds nest along the shores of the continent. Colonies during nesting can number more than 10 thousand birds. Penguins spend a lot of time in the sea; water provides more comfortable conditions, constant temperature, lack of wind, and an abundance of food.

Penguins are very touching when it comes to choosing a partner and incubating and raising chicks. If a female accepts a gift from a male in the form of a pebble, she becomes his friend for life. The male takes on the difficult task of hatching a single egg, losing half of his weight in the process. In addition to large emperor penguins, Adélie penguins live in Antarctica, king penguin, golden-haired and Galapagos penguins.

The waters of Antarctica are home to the largest mammals currently existing on earth - whales. Among the baleen whales, fin whales, blue whales, and humpback whales are well studied and are objects of whaling. Measuring from 26 to 35 meters in length, the blue whale produces 20 tons of fat and weighs 160 tons. The diet of whales consists of small crustaceans, which Antarctic waters are rich in; at one time, the blue whale absorbs up to 1.5 meters of black-eyed crustaceans.

Among the toothed whales there are bottlenose whales, sperm whales and killer whales. Killer whale - scary predator, which attacks seals, fur seals, sperm whales, sea lions and dolphins, uses ambush tactics when hunting seals. Hunting for penguins, a group swims under an ice floe and knocks several individuals into the water, dealing with them with lightning speed.

The seal family is represented in Antarctica by several species. The most common are the Weddell seal, leopard seal, southern elephant seal, crabeater seal, Ross seal and Kerguelen seal. fur seal. The leopard seal is a true ruthless Antarctic predator. He is the only seal that constantly feeds on large warm-blooded animals - penguins, waterfowl and other seal species. With a weight of up to 380 kg and a body length of up to 3.5 meters, amazing dexterity and varied hunting tactics, it has no equal among seal predators.

Among the birds most common off the coast of Antarctica are the giant petrel and the great skua. Also found are white plover, snow petrel, Arctic tern, and Cape pigeon. There are also invertebrate animals among the ice of Antarctica; worms, freshwater mollusks, crustaceans, jellyfish, large starfish, and Antarctic octopus are often found.

In Antarctica, as nowhere else, the famous thesis of the evolutionary process “survival of the fittest” is confirmed. Life here is a daily struggle for survival with predators and natural conditions. The animals of Antarctica, formidable to their enemies, are strong and undaunted, but at the same time very friendly and caring in their colony or flock.

White icy desert- one of the last untouched natural spaces on earth. The Antarctic continent is located at the South Pole, covered with giant ice mountains surrounded by a dense white belt. The landscape seems sterile, completely joyless - and all the animals of Antarctica live, hunt, give birth to offspring - life flourishes.

Antarctica, continent of extremes

Every day in Antarctica is unforgettable. The sixth continent is the coldest, driest and windiest part of the world. Temperatures down to minus 55 degrees Celsius, strong snowstorms, low rainfall, even less than in the Sahara, make the sixth continent an uncomfortable living area for people - and yet here in the summer it can be beautiful and unusually cozy.

During the short, vibrant season, Antarctica often presents itself at its most beautiful: small disadvantages, weak wind and play of colors of the golden sun, blue sky And white snow. As they travel through the interior, the sculpture-like icebergs instantly change color. Just a few dazzling rays of the sun are enough to visually change a huge landscape.

Water

Country/region more Europe, 98 percent covered with snow. This place houses the world's largest reservoir of drinking water - deep-frozen - so to speak. Frozen fresh water stored in a huge ice sheet. Antarctica, however, is not a monumental ice floe. Although you should know from the ice that under your feet the ice has solid ground in some places. Because at a depth of 2200 meters of the ice shell there is a continent.

Winter summer

In winter, impassable sea ice accumulates on the coast. In summer it will melt to one sixth. The strength of the sun also affects inland ice. In summer, many large sections of the coast break off and huge icebergs appear. They move by wind, current and can drift up to twelve kilometers a day towards the flood. Some travel long distances: in 1894, an iceberg was spotted as high as Rio de Janeiro.

Animal Kingdom: penguins, seals and migratory birds

Despite the season's warm, sunny days, it is unlikely that this region can be maintained in the interior in the long term. Not a single mammal or bird lives in the icy desert for a long time and constantly. Emperor penguins are the only animals in Antarctica that move away from the shores of the icy desert and venture to breed in these places. This place is an earthen globe, inhabited by some invertebrate animals, such as the mosquito Belgica antarctica – rare view twelve millimeters in size.

The sea, the coast, rich in peculiar life. Four species of penguins make themselves at home here:

List of animals of Antarctica

• Emperor Penguin;
• Adelie Penguins;
• Subantarctic penguin.

Thanks to a thick layer of fat, dense plumage that conducts heat poorly, and poorly perfused soles, animals can withstand low air temperatures.

Ocean and animals

The oceans are full of small fish, squid, crabs and krill, which provide a variety of food for many aquatic mammals. Several species of seals, such as the Weddel seal, sea lion or leopard seal, prey on fish and penguins.

Numerous species of whales thrive in their migrations to Antarctic waters and replenish their fat reserves with an abundance of fish, krill, and the main diet of whales is squid, which are found here in large numbers.

Birds

In addition, there are countless colonies of migratory birds that move on the pack ice in the summer; the coastal islands are their breeding grounds. These include the giant royal albatross, some species of petrels, and skuas, the great skuas that feed on young penguins and their eggs. However, in winter, most animal species of Antarctica and birds migrate to warmer climes to the north.

Plants

The Antarctic flora is quite sparse and unremarkable. In fact, the sixth continent is home to the poorest flora in the world. It covers not only this edge of the ice desert land, but also extends over southwest Patagonia, the Kerguelen Islands and the South Island of New Zealand, in these open areas many grow various types plants.

The continent has only two native flowering plants: the Antarctic Shmile and the Antarctic Pearl Oyster. In addition to this, there are about 200 species of lichens and 100 species of mosses, which make up most of the barren Antarctic vegetation. They grow in dense cushions to protect themselves from wind and icy weather.

Scientists

Inhospitable nature challenges another, special species of humanity - polar explorers. In summer, huge expeditions flock to these places. Approximately 4,000 scientists, researchers, and travelers live for several weeks at 80 research stations located on the ice.

Scientists travel on ships and planes, since the icy desert does not provide the opportunity to study and travel on a bicycle. What scientists are studying in Antarctica: fauna, flora, ice depths, climate, geomagnetic field, sounds of the sea - and much more.

Most travelers, scientists, and just single tourists want to return to these places because they attract with their quiet, cozy coolness!

On July 4, 1819, the sloops Mirny and Vostok set off from Kronstadt for a circumnavigation of the world. The result of the expedition was the discovery of Antarctica. We decided to compile a list of the most interesting animals inhabiting this continent.

Not only the southernmost animal, but also one of the cutest animals. You can admire the cute faces of these big-eyed mammals for hours. The seal inhabits the entire coast of Antarctica, its population is estimated at about a million individuals. This animal is an excellent diver. An adult seal can hold its breath for an hour and is able to obtain food at a depth of 800 meters.

Blue, or Blue, whale , living in the waters of the Southern Ocean, is not just one of the animals that has managed to adapt to life in harsh conditions. This is, first of all, the most gigantic of the animals that inhabit our planet now and have ever inhabited. Its length can reach four tens of meters, and its weight often exceeds 150 tons. Compared to humans, this animal looks like a giant floating mountain. A whale's heart alone can weigh more than a ton. Unfortunately, as a result of uncontrolled whaling, a huge number of blue whales were destroyed, but now their numbers are slowly recovering.

This is one of the largest birds on planet Earth. These animals settle behind cliffs and rocks, living in huge colonies, which often number up to ten thousand individuals. Also interesting are the habits of penguins, their method of obtaining food and how they raise their offspring. These are also one of the most frost-resistant animals on planet earth - in their breeding places the temperature most often does not rise above minus fifty degrees.

The bird of prey, which can feed on fish, sometimes preys on penguins and storm petrels. This bird is an excellent traveler. During the migration season, it is able, using the power of the wind, to fly around the globe.

This is an Antarctic gull, it flies just as well, is just as tenacious and even more resilient. The bird is able to live and reproduce at low temperatures. Mainly it feeds on fish, but usually takes fish away from less agile birds.

This is one of the largest subspecies of seal. Adults reach three meters in size and weigh up to two and a half tons. An interesting fact is that there is much more fat in this animal than meat, which is not surprising, considering the temperatures at which it needs to exist. Known elephant seals their mating games and fights, during which they can seriously injure each other.

– dangerous predator, which lives in the waters of the Southern Ocean, swims to the coast of Australia during winter. Its thin layer of fat and developed muscles allow this animal to be a predator. Thanks to this, it is quite mobile and can kill seals, large fish, and penguins. The leopard seal does not disdain the meat of killed whales. But thin subcutaneous fat comes at the price of less resistance to cold.

Severe and regal, mysterious and alluring, Antarctica has a very limited species diversity of fauna. However, even in the extreme climatic conditions of Antarctica, some animals feel excellent.

Representatives of the local fauna inhabit the coastal strip of the mainland and live in coastal waters.

Terrestrial animals of Antarctica are leopard seals, crabeater seals, elephant seals, 17 species of penguins (Adélie penguins, emperor penguins and others), two species of skuas and several species of petrels. Nematodes live in the soil, and up to 70 species of arthropods, including arachnids and insects, can be found on the surface.

Leopard seal- a species of seal whose habitat is the sub-Antarctic regions of the Southern Ocean. Male leopard seals reach a length of 3 meters and weigh approximately 270 kg, and females grow up to 4 meters and have a body weight of up to 0.4 tons. The animals' body has a smooth, streamlined shape, making it possible to glide unhindered through ocean waters at speeds of up to 40 km/h. The diet of these animals includes warm-blooded vertebrates, including young seals and penguins.

Crabeater seal- a species characteristic of Antarctica, characterized by large numbers. The body length of an adult seal averages 2-2.5 m, females and males each appearance Almost identical to each other, both of them undergo a molting process every year in early spring, changing the color of their fur from silver-gray to grayish-brown with a few light spots. The food for these seals is small crustaceans.

Adélie Penguins- typically Antarctic birds, in whose nests there are up to 700 thousand individuals. These penguins make up 2/3 of all birds in Antarctica. They spend most of their lives in the ocean, and come ashore only during the nesting period. Penguins are called birds only conditionally - they cannot fly, but they can swim very well at speeds of up to 20 km/h. Almost the entire body of Adele is covered with waterproof feathers, and under the skin there is a thick layer of fat that protects from severe frosts. Adélie penguins feed exclusively on krill, cephalopods, mollusks and small fish. The daily amount of food eaten for an adult reaches 2 kg.

Emperor Penguins- the largest penguins currently living on Earth, reaching 1.3 m in length and weighing up to 45 kg. These birds have rounded shapes, disproportionately small heads and legs. The body color is black and white: black plumage on the back and white on the chest is the birds’ natural protection from enemies. Emperor penguins have yellow-orange patches of plumage on their cheeks and below their necks. Penguins spend most of the year on drifting ice floes and in the sea, but during mating they return to the mainland. The main food of emperor penguins is krill, shellfish and fish, which they hunt in groups.

King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonica)

Lives further north, in warmer places. Breeding colonies are located on the islands of South Georgia, Kerguelen, Marion, Crozet and Macquarie.
Body length is 91-96 cm. Colonies are located on hard rocky soil. Reproduction occurs in summer: eggs are laid mainly in December - January. Each female lays only 1 large egg. Both parents incubate alternately. Incubation duration 54 days

Rockhopper penguin or rock climber penguin, rock penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome)

It lives on the rocky islands of the subantarctic region, but is sometimes found further north, on the southern tip of Africa and South America, as well as on the south coast of New Zealand.
Reaches 45-58 cm in height, weight 2-3 kg.

It nests in large colonies on the barren and very harsh islands of Tristanda Cunha and Heard Island. In a noisy and crowded colony, the small first egg is usually lost in quarrels with neighbors. The chicks go to the nursery, but return to the nest when their parents call them to feed them. The chicks grow quickly and at the age of 10 weeks are ready to go to sea.

Victoria penguin or crested thick-billed penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus)

It nests only on the rocky, creviced coast of South Island in New Zealand, as well as on two small offshore islands - Stuart and Solander.
Reaches 60 cm in length, weighing about 3 kg.

Golden-haired penguins (eng. Macaroni Penguin) – Colonially nesting near Antarctica, low (up to 76 cm) penguins have a tuft of golden-yellow feathers above their eyes.

Little penguin, elf penguin, little blue penguin, little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor)

It stays off the southern coast of Australia, along the coasts of Tasmania, New Zealand and Chatham Island.
It has a body length of only 40 cm. Usually lays 1-2, sometimes 3 eggs.

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica)

It lives mainly on the barren islands of the subantarctic region.
It reaches a height of 71-76 cm and weighs 4 kg.
These penguins are quite aggressive. There are known cases of these birds attacking people approaching the colony. Unlike other species, they feed both their chicks.

Giant petrels

birds nesting on Antarctic islands, feeding on marine animals and sometimes young penguins. The size of the wings of these birds reaches half a meter. Scientists have found out that petrels, using the power of a tailwind, are able to fly around the entire planet and return to their nesting place.

Great Skuas

Closest relatives of seagulls. Their wings reach 40 cm in length, but they walk on the ground as well as they fly. Skuas feed on fish, small animals and birds, and can also be content with carrion.

Skuas are bandits, and that's all. There are four types of them, and all of them - some more, some less - commit robbery. Eggs and chicks are stolen from neighbors. Penguins are especially affected by great skuas. Great skuas, which are as tall as a large herring gull, use their strong beaks to kill even adult birds that they can overpower.

New Year's greetings from penguins