Plants of Antarctica: the unique flora of the icy continent. Flora and fauna of Antarctica

Antarctica is a continent with harsh climatic conditions. Temperatures across most of the continent never rise above freezing, and the entire continent is covered in ice. Nevertheless, Southern Ocean The area surrounding Antarctica is one of the most amazing ecosystems on Earth and is home to many incredible creatures.

Most animals are migratory, since the climate of the continent is too difficult for permanent residence and wintering.

At the same time, many species are found only in Antarctica (animals that live only in one area are called endemic) and have managed to perfectly adapt to the harsh environment. Since Antarctica was only discovered 200 years ago, native species are not accustomed to human society, resulting in one of the most amazing features wild animals of Antarctica: people are as interesting to them as they are to people. For visitors, this means that most animals can be approached without them running away, and for researchers, it means an opportunity to better study Antarctica's fauna. However, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the Antarctic treaties prohibit touching wild animals!

In this article, we have compiled a list with brief description and photos of some famous representatives of the fauna of the coldest continent on the planet - Antarctica.

Mammals

Whales

Whales are one of the most mysterious and amazing creatures on Earth. The blue whale is the largest animal to ever live on the planet, weighing over 100 tons, easily outweighing the heaviest dinosaurs. Even a “regular” whale is enormous in size and is considered a truly impressive creation of nature. Whales are huge but elusive mammals and difficult to study. They are very smart, with complex social life and complete freedom of movement.

Whales belong to the order of mammals called, along with dolphins and porpoises. They are the same mammals as people, dogs, cats, elephants and others. That is, they cannot be called fish. Whales breathe air and therefore must rise to the surface at regular intervals to take a breath. They give birth to live young, which stay with their mother for a year and feed on her milk. Whales are warm-blooded and have a skeleton similar to that of a human (albeit highly modified).

The whales of Antarctica are all whales that spend at least part of the time of the year near the coast of the continent. These include:

• Blue whale ( Average length adult male 25 m, female - 26.2 m. Average weight adult body - 100 - 120 t);
• Southern right whale (Average length 20 m and weight 96 tons);
• (Body length 18 m, weight - 80 tons);
• (Length from 18 to 27 m, weight 40-70 tons);
• Sperm whale (Average length 17 m, average weight 35 tons);
• Humpback whale (Average length 14 m, weight 30 tons);
• (Length - 9 m, weight - 7 t);
• Killer whale (body length from 8.7 to 10 m, weight up to 8 tons).

Kerguelen fur seal

The Kerguelen fur seal belongs to the family known as eared seals (Otariidae), which includes fur seals And sea ​​lions.

In appearance and manner, these mammals resemble big dog. They are able to pull their rear flippers under their body and lift their weight with their front flippers, making them much more flexible on land than other pinnipeds.

Males reach a mass of 200 kg and are 4 times larger than females. They are limited primarily to the sub-Antarctic islands, with 95% of the population on South Georgia Island.

Leopard seal

Called the leopard seal because of the spots on its body, it is one of the most... large 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 leopard seals is very varied. They can eat any animal they can kill. The diet consists of fish, squid, penguins, birds and seal pups.

Leopard seals are not skilled divers compared to others marine mammals. The longest dive does not last more than 15 minutes, so the animals stay close to open water, rather than being immersed long distances under continuous ice. They are capable of swimming at speeds of up to 40 km/hour.

Crabeater seal

Crabeater seals are believed to be the most abundant large mammals continent. Adults weigh 200-300 kg and have a body length of about 2.6 m. Sexual dimorphism in these seals is not pronounced. These are fairly solitary animals, but can lie in small groups, which creates the impression of a social family. Real bonding is possible between mothers and their babies.

They do not eat crabs, despite their name. Their diet consists of 95% Antarctic krill, the rest being squid and fish. They are well adapted for catching krill thanks to their teeth, which form a sieve to catch prey from the water.

Because crabeater seals feed primarily on krill, they do not need to dive deeply or for long periods of time. A typical dive to a depth of 20-30 m lasts about 11 minutes, however they have been recorded at a depth of 430 m.

Weddell seal

Weddell seals are mammals that live on ice. The weight of adult individuals varies between 400-450 kg, and the body length is 2.9 m (for males) and 3.3 m (for females).

They feed mainly on fish, as well as squid and invertebrates in much smaller quantities. Weddell seals are excellent divers, capable of diving to depths of 600 meters and spending up to 82 minutes underwater.

It is quite difficult to estimate the population size of these animals, since they live near the Arctic Circle and on drifting ice.

Southern elephant seal

Southern elephant seals are the largest of all seals and show marked sexual dimorphism. The weight of males varies in the range of 1500-3700 kg, and females - 350-800 kg. The body length of males is 4.5-5.8 m, and females - 2.8 m.

The diet consists mainly of squid, but fish is also present (about 75% squid and up to 25% fish). Males tend to travel further south in pursuit of their prey.

Southern elephant seals are impressive divers, diving to depths of 300-500 m for 20-30 minutes. They are found throughout Antarctica, all the way to the deep south.

Birds

Flying

Antarctic tern

The Antarctic tern is typical representative 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, with a black “cap” on the head. The tips of the wings of this tern are grayish-black.

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

Antarctic Blue-eyed Cormorant

The Antarctic blue-eyed cormorant is the only member of the cormorant family that is found in Antarctica. They live along the South Antilles Ridge and the Antarctic Peninsula, going deeper to the south. These cormorants are characterized by bright eye color and an orange-yellow growth at the base of the bill, which becomes especially large and colorful during the breeding season. Body weight is 1.8-3.5 kg, with males slightly heavier than females. The body length varies from 68 to 76 cm, and the wingspan is about 1.1 m.

They feed primarily on fish, often forming a "trap" of tens or hundreds of birds that repeatedly dive into the water and help each other catch fish. These cormorants are capable of diving to depths of up to 116 m. When swimming, they press their wings tightly to their body and use their webbed feet.

Snowy Plover

The white plover is one of two species of the genus Chionidae. She prefers a terrestrial lifestyle. When walking, it nods its head like a dove. Body weight varies from 460 to 780 g, body length is 34-41 cm, and wingspan is 75-80 cm.

Pintado

The Cape Dove belongs to the shearwater family. Its weight is up to 430 g, body length is 39 cm, and its wingspan reaches 86 cm. The color of the feathers of this bird is black and white.

The Cape bluegill feeds on krill, fish, squid, carrion and ship waste, if available. They usually catch prey on the surface of the water, but sometimes dive shallowly.

Snow petrel

Snow petrels are white birds with black bills and eyes. They are the size of a pigeon and are perhaps the most beautiful of all Antarctic birds. The body length is 30-40 cm, the wingspan is 75-95 cm, and the weight is 240-460 g.

They feed mainly on krill and must always be close to the sea to have access to food. They are found along the coast of Antarctica, and are known to nest far inland (up to 325 km from the coast), in mountains that jut out above the surrounding ice.

wandering albatross

The wandering albatross is the bird with the longest wingspan (3.1 to 3.5 m). This bird can make long flights of 10-20 days, over distances of up to 10,000 km, using barely more energy than when sitting on the nest.

Average weight ranges from 5.9 to 12.7 kg, males are approximately 20% heavier than females. Body length varies from 107 to 135 cm.

The diet is based on fish, squid and crustaceans. The bird hunts at night on the surface of the water or by diving shallowly. Wandering albatrosses follow boats and vessels of any type where food is dropped. This is especially true for fishing vessels that throw fish waste overboard.

South polar skua

The South Pole Skua is a fairly large bird. Males average weight 900-1600g and they tend to be slightly smaller and lighter than females. Average length: 50-55 cm, and wingspan 130-140 cm. They nest in continental Antarctica and breed far to the south. These birds have been recorded at the South Pole.

They feed primarily on fish and krill, although penguin eggs, chicks and carrion may also be included in the diet, depending on the habitat. South polar skuas have been observed stealing fish from other bird species.

Southern giant petrel

Southern giant petrel - bird of prey from the petrel family. Their weight is 5 kg and their body length is 87 cm. The wingspan varies from 180 to 205 cm.

The diet consists of dead seal and penguin carcasses, carrion, squid, krill, crustaceans, and waste from ships or fishing boats.

Most often, these birds are found on the Antarctic and subantarctic islands. They nest on open ground, in the Falkland Islands.

Flightless

Emperor penguin

Emperor penguins are the largest penguins in the world, with an average weight of about 30 kg (but can reach 40 kg), and a height of 1.15 m. Males and females have similar colors and body sizes. The back and head are black, the belly is white, the chest is pale yellow, and there are bright yellow spots in the ear area. Like all penguins, they are wingless, with a streamlined body, and wings flattened into flippers for marine environment habitat.

Its diet consists primarily of fish, but may also include crustaceans and cephalopods. When hunting, these birds can remain underwater for up to 18 minutes and dive to a depth of 535 m. It has several adaptations for this, including unusually structured hemoglobin, hard bones and the ability to reduce metabolism.

The emperor penguin nests in cold environments. The species has adapted in several ways to counteract heat loss: its feathers provide 80-90% insulation, and it has a layer of subcutaneous fat that reaches 3 cm in thickness; the downy undercoat, in combination with the plumage, plays a decisive role in keeping the bird warm; The process of preening the feathers is vital in providing insulation and in keeping the plumage oily and water-repellent.

King Penguin

The king penguin is the second largest penguin species after the emperor. Height ranges from 70 to 100 cm, and weight from 9.3 to 18 kg. Males are slightly larger than females. The plumage of king penguins is much brighter than their close relative imperial in appearance, but otherwise similar.

King penguins eat small fish and squid. They can dive to depths of 100 m, but have also been seen at depths of over 300 m. Fish makes up 80-100% of their diet, except winter months year.

King penguins breed on sub-Antarctic islands, in northern regions Antarctica, as well as Tierra del Fuego, the Falkland Islands and other islands with a temperate climate.

Subantarctic penguin

Subantarctic penguin, also known as the gentoo penguin. It is easily recognized by the broad white stripe running across the top of its head and its striking orange-red beak. This species has pale webbed feet and is quite long tail- the most outstanding among all penguins.

The gentoo penguin reaches a height of 51 to 90 cm, making them the third largest penguin species, after the two giant species: emperor and king penguins. Males have Weight Limit about 8.5 kg, just before molting, and a minimum weight of about 4.9 kg, before mating. In females, the weight ranges from 4.5 to 8.2 kg. This species is the fastest underwater, reaching speeds of up to 36 km/h. They are perfectly adapted to very harsh conditions. climatic conditions.

Subantarctic penguins feed mainly on crustaceans, with fish making up only about 15% of the diet.

Other animals

Antarctic krill

Antarctic krill is a member of the order Euphausiaceae, distributed in Antarctic waters Southern Ocean. This is a small crustacean that lives in large groups, sometimes reaching densities of 10,000-30,000 individuals per cubic meter. Krill feed on phytoplankton. It grows to a length of 6 cm, weighs up to 2 g, and can live for about six years. Krill are one of the key species in the Antarctic ecosystem and, in terms of biomass, probably the most abundant animal species on the planet (about 500 million tons, corresponding to 300-400 trillion individuals).

Belgica antarctica

Belgica antarctica is the Latin name of the only species of flightless insect endemic to Antarctica. Its length is 2-6 mm.

This insect has a black color, thanks to which it is able to absorb heat for survival. It can also adapt to changes in salinity and pH, and survive without oxygen for 2-4 weeks. At temperatures below - 15 ° C, Belgica antarctica dies.

July 4, 1819 from Kronstadt went to circumnavigation sloops "Mirny" and "Vostok". 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. They are also one of the most frost-resistant animals on planet earth - in their breeding areas 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. Elephant seals are famous for their mating games and fights, during which they can seriously injure each other.

- a dangerous predator that lives in the waters of the Southern Ocean, during winter it swims to the coast of Australia. Its thin layer of fat and developed muscles allow this animal to be a predator. Thanks to this, he is quite mobile and can kill seals, big fish, penguins. The leopard seal does not disdain the meat of killed whales. But beyond thin subcutaneous fat You have to pay with less resistance to cold.

Fauna of Antarctica directly related to its climate. Therefore, all living organisms of this continent are located only in those places where plants are present.

According to information received from scientists, all animals of Antarctica, are divided into aquatic and terrestrial. At the same time, completely land representatives of the fauna do not exist on this continent. List of animals of Antarctica(the most popular) are presented below.

Mammals of Antarctica

Weddell seal

This type representatives of the fauna acquired its name thanks to the commander of an industrial expedition in one of the seas of Antarctica (also named after this scientist) - James Weddell.

This type of animal lives throughout coastal areas Antarctica. According to calculations at the moment, their number is 800 thousand.

An adult of this species can reach a length of up to 350 centimeters. Their difference is that they can stay under water for an entire hour. Their diet includes fish and cephalopods, which they catch without problems at depths of up to 800 meters.

IN autumn period For years they have been gnawing holes in the newly formed ice so that they can breathe. Such actions lead to the fact that older representatives of the species, as a rule, have broken teeth.

Pictured is a Weddell seal

Crabeater seals

The crabeater seal is noted as the only one from the family of True seals. It is the most common species not only among those living in Antarctica, but also among those living throughout the world. According to various estimates by scientists, their number varies from 7 to 40 million individuals.

The name of these animals has nothing to do with reality, since they are not included in their diet. These mammals feed mainly on Antarctic krill.

The size of crabeater seals that have reached mature age, can reach a length of 220–260 centimeters, and their weight varies from 200 to 300 kilograms.

There is an elongated and fairly slender physique. The muzzle is elongated and narrow. The actual color of their fur is dark brown, but after fading it becomes creamy white.

Crabeater seals have a scalloped-tubercular shape of their lateral teeth. This shape means that they fit tightly together and create a sort of sieve that allows them to filter food.

A distinctive quality of this type of seal is that on the shore, they unite in large dense groups. Habitat – marginal seas Antarctica.

They make rookeries on the ice, on which they move quite quickly. The preferred hunting time is at night. Able to stay underwater for 11 minutes.

During the period of feeding babies, the male stays near the female all the time, obtaining food for her and driving away other males. Their lifespan is about 20 years.

Pictured is a crabeater seal

Leopard seal

It is not only the largest, but also the heaviest of all penguin species that live on planet Earth. Its height can reach 122 centimeters, and its weight ranges from 22 to 45 kilograms. Females of this species are smaller than males and their maximum height is 114 centimeters.

Among other species, penguins also stand out for their muscularity. These penguins have black feathers on their backs and white feathers on their chests - this is a kind of protection from enemies. Under the neck and on the cheeks small quantity orange feathers.

About 300 thousand individuals of these penguins live in Antarctica, but they migrate to mate and lay eggs. These penguins feed on various types of fish, squid and krill.

They live and hunt mainly in groups. Small prey is eaten right on the spot, but larger prey is dragged ashore for cutting. The lifespan is about 25 years.

Emperor penguin

Snow petrel

The snow petrel is a bird that was first discovered in 1777 by Johann Reinhold Forster. The body length of this species of petrel can reach up to 40 centimeters, the wingspan up to 95 centimeters.

The color is white, only at the front upper edge of the eye there is a small dark spot. The beak is black. The paws of this bird species are bluish-gray in color. They love low flights, right above the surface of the water.

Lead relatively sedentary image life. The diet includes small-sized crustaceans, Antarctic krill, and squid. They can nest either in individual pairs or in groups. They prefer to nest on rocky mountain slopes. During the period of feeding the chicks, the male provides food and protection.

Snow petrel

Unfortunately, all presented photos of Antarctica animals are unable to fully describe their beauty, and one can only hope that one day Antarctica will fully reveal its expanses to people.

Has very limited species diversity 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.

There are 4 biosphere “arenas of life” - continental coastal oases (the largest of them is the Banger oasis), coastal ice and islands, the ice sheet arena and the nunatkak arena (Mount Nansen located on Victoria Land and Mount Amundsen in the Mirny region).

All continental animals are completely dependent on the Southern Ocean ecosystem. The lack of sufficient vegetation forced the inhabitants of Antarctica to look for food in a sea rich in zooplankton (primarily krill). In this regard, completely land species There are no animals in Antarctica.

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 seals(eng. Leopard seal) is 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 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.

Leopard seal

Elephant seals(eng. Elephant seal) - the largest of modern pinnipeds mammals from the family of true seals, distributed in the coastal regions of the Subantarctic and off the Pacific coast North America. They can reach 6.5 m in length, and their weight reaches 3.5 tons. These large ones feed sea ​​creatures cephalopods.

Elephant seal

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

Crabeater seal

Adelie Penguins(English: Adélie Penguin) are 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.

Adélie Penguin

Emperor penguins(English: Emperor Penguin) are 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 at 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.

Emperor Penguin

Golden-haired penguins(English: Macaroni Penguin) are short (up to 76 cm) penguins that nest colonially near Antarctica and have a tuft of golden-yellow feathers above their eyes.

Macaroni Penguin

King penguins(eng. King Penguin) - by appearance birds very similar to emperor penguins, living in more warm waters north of Antarctica. Compared to the imperial ones, they shorter(about 90 cm) and have a brighter color. They nest in island rocks, where their chicks hatch.

King Penguin

Giant petrels(eng. Giant petrel) are birds that nest on the 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.

Giant petrel

Great Skuas(eng. Great Skua) - the 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.

Great Skua

I suggest watching a video about amazing animals that have perfectly adapted to the harsh climatic conditions of Antarctica.

On our planet there is an ice kingdom - Antarctica. This is a continent that is almost completely covered with ice; there is no ice only on the mountain ranges.

Always here low temperatures and harsh winds blow, so such weather conditions influenced appearance animals.

In general, the flora and fauna of Antarctica is very poor and unique; it has no analogues in the world.

Adelie Penguins

The most common inhabitants of Antarctica are Adélie penguins. They are mostly found in water, since water is warmer than air. They come to the surface only for nesting.

The males of these penguins are very careful about finding a mate and caring for their offspring. The male finds a suitable pebble and brings it to his chosen one; if the female likes the pebble, then she becomes the male’s partner for life.

All newborn chicks are collected in a “nursery”, and after 60 days all the babies become adults and can search for food on their own. Each adult requires 2 kilograms of food daily.

Baleen whales of Antarctica

The wildlife of this rugged area is not limited to just penguins. The Antarctic ocean is home to the largest mammals - cetaceans. There are two types of whales in Antarctica: baleen and toothed.

Baleen whales are the best studied, because they are the object of whaling. This group includes humpback whales, fin whales, blue whales and true whales. The largest is. They and fin whales are what people hunt the most. The body length of the largest individual killed in Antarctica was 35 meters, but on average blue whales are about 26 meters long. A large whale can produce up to 20 tons of blubber, and its total weight is 16 tons.

Big blue whale- a representative of the baleen whale family.

The diet of baleen whales consists mainly of small crustaceans, which are found in abundance in the icy Antarctic waters. Female whales feed their babies milk, and every day they gain 100 kilograms from this fatty food.

Toothed whales of the ice kingdom

Toothed whales include bottlenose whales, killer whales and. The most the most dangerous predators are killer whales. With the help of its powerful and sharp killer whale fin, the killer whale is capable of inflicting serious wounds even on a whale.

The diet of killer whales is very diverse, but each individual population has its own specialization.

For example, killer whales living near Norway hunt for schools of herring, which are abundant in those waters. Killer whales hunt in packs, and they do it in a sophisticated manner, so the hunt always ends in success.

These killers attack seals, fur seals, dolphins, sea lions and even sperm whales. When hunting for seals, killer whales make ambushes, hiding behind ice ledges. When penguins become their prey, the killer whales jump onto the ice floe, turning it over and throwing the prey into the water.

Large whales are hunted primarily by male killer whales. They all attack the prey together, snatching pieces of meat from the fins and throat, while preventing the whale from rising to the surface. And if they attack a sperm whale, then, on the contrary, they do not allow it to dive into the depths.

Killer whales are huge, social Antarctic creatures.

Killer whales have an excellently developed social structure. The maternal group includes a female with a baby, matured sons and several families consisting of direct relatives of the main female. Such social groups may consist of approximately 20 individuals. All of them are quite tightly attached to their relatives. Each pack has its own way of communicating. Killer whales do not allow their crippled or old relatives to die. Relations within the pack can be called very affectionate and friendly.