Animals living in the Antarctic

Animals are a group of living things. They generally feed on organic matter, can feel, can move, can move autonomously, or can move things. Animals also have a variety of behaviors that can be seen as animal responses to stimuli. Behavior is the science of animal behavior. One of the more famous behavioral theories is the instinct theory proposed by Conrad Lorenz. I'll bring you the details below, take a look!

Antarctica is the most isolated continent on Earth and the only one that is almost devoid of human habitation. Do you know which animals live in Antarctica?

1、Emperor penguins

After scientists' exploration, what animals live in the Antarctic region?

The famous emperor penguins are the largest penguin species in the world and are unique to Antarctica. They live in all coastal areas of this continent and often huddle together to escape the cold winds. The female lays one egg per year and the male cares for it until it hatches. The emperor penguin can reach a height of 39 to 47 inches and weighs about 49 to 99 pounds. When it comes to appearance, it has a black head and back, however, the belly is white, with a light yellow chest and yellow ears.

The feathers are a thick layer of fat that is waterproof and ensures its ability to survive in the harsh environment of -60 degrees Celsius. The average lifespan of an emperor penguin in the wild is about 15 to 20 years, with the ability to search deeply for food such as small fish, crustaceans, and krill.

2、Giant Squid

This fascinating Antarctic animal is also one of the world's mysterious animals that have not been thoroughly studied. It is the largest species of squid in the world and can only be found in very deep waters. There are legends that this animal is bloodthirsty and it is found mainly in cold waters, mostly in Antarctica and New Zealand, but sometimes in Africa as well. The giant squid is one of the species in which the male has a penis to reproduce, and the courtship of this squid species is unknown.

3. Hooded Penguin

This is the second most abundant penguin, with over 11 million individuals. Living near coastal areas, they spend a lot of time in the water in search of food. In winter, they move to larger icebergs and nest on rocks and land. Bodies can reach 28 to 30 inches tall and weigh about 6.5 to 10 pounds. However, male penguins are taller and heavier than females. When it comes to appearance, it has dense, waterproof feathers, with blue-black feathers on its head and back and white feathers on the front of its body and belly. It has webbed feet that are pink in color.

4. Crab-eating seal

One of the most numerous animals found in the Antarctic, with a population of over 15 million. They are also the most abundant mammal in the world, after humans. They live on the ice piled up in the Antarctic Ocean, where they breed and forage, and do not migrate. In their search for food, these seals can dive to a depth of 250 meters. They usually feed at night and spend about 8-10 hours feeding and making more than 100 dives.

5. Elephant Seals

After scientists' exploration, what animals live in the Antarctic region? Sheet 2

This Antarctic animal is the largest seal species found on the continent, and its trunk is shaped similarly to that of an elephant. They can grow up to 6 feet long and weigh over 2 tons. They are herd animals, feeding and breeding together. Males fight each other for the perfect mate and use their strong bodies to defeat competitors. Very good at storing energy, they can survive for up to two months without any food. They can be seen living in 2,000 meters of water and can hold their breath for two hours, and only 2-3% of males breed like seals.

6、Dark spotted dolphin

The smallest member of the dolphin family, only 2 meters long. It lives in the colder waters of the Southern Ocean, most commonly in the Antarctic. Migrates at night, searching for food and hunting in groups. Group size may be between 20 and 25, and group behavior has a strong influence on individual members.

7、Killer whale

Also known as killer whales, for those interested see in detail why killer whales are called killer whales, they are found in the cold oceans of the north and south and are in search of food every year. Killer whales are very social animals and the groups they live in influence their behavior, hunting habits, and feeding patterns. Usually, hunting seals, fish, and penguins, their current population is about 50,000 but is threatened by climate change.

8、Wandering albatross

After scientists' exploration, which animals live in the Antarctic region? Sheet 3

This bird is one of the fascinating Antarctic animals, as it has the largest wingspan and is therefore classified as the largest bird in the world. Living on the islands of Antarctica, it has a wingspan of 2.5 to 3.5 meters. These birds spend most of their lives in flight and rarely return to the ground. Using their large wings, they can glide for hours in wind currents, searching for food together. They lay only one egg a year and take very good care of it. Another interesting fact is that they can survive in seawater.

9. Antarctic Thief Gull

These birds are broad-winged birds found on the Antarctic coast, living near the open sea. Migrating to the North Pacific in the winter, they use the same nest throughout their lives. They are monogamous, have a brownish-gray appearance, have large wings, and have a very powerful flight.

10. Antarctic mink whale

Until recently, this whale was considered a subspecies of the common mink whale, but it has subtle differences in size and coloration, so it is classified as a separate species. It is found in the Antarctic, where some groups are migratory, with different feeding grounds in summer and winter, while some groups choose to remain in the Antarctic year-round.