Have you ever heard about some animals that live in Antarctica? Antarctica is home to many penguins. The extreme cold weather in Antarctica becomes the best place for them, such as animals that live in the South Pole.
Other animals that live in Antarctica live in the land and the water that surrounds Antarctica. They have a different environment from animals in Tropical grassland which have a dry temperature.
There are more than 200 species of animals living in Antarctica so far which is different from animals in the Gobi Desert. Some of them need more protection from extinction because hardly find food or illegal hunting.
If you are wondering what kind of animals live in Antarctica, here we have some of them on the list below. Let’s check them out!
1. King Penguin
King penguin is one of the animals that live in Antarctica that can grow up to 100 cm. They can weigh up to 16 kilograms which looks bigger than other typical penguins. These facts made the king penguin becomes the second biggest penguin.
King penguin is different from common birds, which don’t build a nest when breeding season. The female king penguin will only lay their egg and incubate it under their feet. Both female and male king penguins will cooperate to incubate their egg.
King penguins can be found easily around the sub-Antarctic islands such as the Falklands, South Georgia, and some of the tip of the Peninsula.
2. Emperor Penguin
The emperor penguin is one of the animals that live in Antarctica, which can be easily recognized by its yellow cheek and orange beak. They mostly look similar to king emperors but have taller sizes when reaching adulthood.
Emperor penguin can weigh up to 45 kilograms, which make them bigger compared to other penguins. Most of their existence lately living in a conservatory area deep in the remote area of Antarctica.
Emperor penguin commonly has their breeding season during winter as the weather in Antarctica become colder.
3. Weddell Seal
Weddell Seal is one of the animals that live in Antarctica, which was first found by James Weddell in 1820. This kind of seal is popular as the kindness seal when interacting with other animals and humans, as well.
Weddell Seals can grow up to 300 cm, which makes them become one of the biggest seals. The female can grow bigger than the male because they are eating more than the male, which is different from animals in the Baltic Sea.
Weddell Seal can be found around the Antarctic water area, such as Peninsula, where they love to swim to hunt fish.
4. Humpback whale
The Humpback whale is one of the animals that live in Antarctica, which is different from common whales or other animals in the Mediterranean Sea. This kind of whale becomes the most iconic whale in Antarctica.
Humpback whales can be easily seen around the water area surrounding Antarctica. They love to move alone but sometimes also move in smaller groups not more than five whales.
The unique pattern of white and brown on the tail of humpback whales makes them easily recognized. That looks like the fingertips for whales to make the difference between one another.
5. Kelp gull
Kelp gull is one of the animals that live in Antarctica, which can be recognized by its iconic yellow bills and feet. They have black wings, which can help them to fly up to 140 cm in one wingspan.
Kelp gull can be easily seen around Antarctica, including the hemisphere area. They are eating fish and other smaller animals, both alive and dead. This fact makes this kind of bird become an omnivore bird.
6. Brown Skua
Brown Skua is one of the animals that live in Antarctica, which looks similar to seagulls. They have brown fur with black beaks and can grow as big as seagulls. They are typical predator birds that attack other birds to steal food.
Brown Skua can be found around the land of Antarctica. They are also found near the seal colony because sometimes they feasting the seal’s pup. They are typical predators that could do anything for food.
7. Southern fulmar
Southern fulmar is one of the animals that live in Antarctica that is categorized as the petrel family. They are recognized as the biggest petrel, which can grow up to 50 cm. They have beautiful color of white fur, black wing tips, and pink beak.
Southern fulmar is also popular as the Antarctic fulmar. They love to fly around the ship that passes around the water of Antarctica. They have a strong sense of smell to hunt their prey around the water.
8. Wandering Albatross
The wandering albatross is one of the animals that live in Antarctica that becomes the biggest bird that lives in Antarctica. They have a huge wing that can reach up to 135 cm, which makes them have the largest wingspan.
Wandering albatross spend their time flying around. They could fly faster to avoid predators that hunt them. They love to spend their time in the air, which makes other predators hardly find them.
All of those animals that live in Antarctica commonly eat fish that could easily be found around the water of Antarctica. Some of them can be easily seen around the area that is allowed to visit for humans.
Do you want to explore Antarctica to meet some of the animals above? Let’s pack your bag and write a plan for your trip to get there.