Under the icy waters of Antarctica are huge numbers of whales, but up on the surface, few things are hardy enough to spend much time on the frozen land.
Even regional plants would likely prefer to live somewhere else, vegetation on Antarctica is limited to about 350 species of mosses, algae, and lichens.
Oh, yeah, mites and ticks also manage to survive there, as they seem to about everywhere else, relying on their hosts’ body heat as much as their blood.
No land-based animals live in Antarctica at all, however.
Six species of seals, notably the crab-eater, elephant, and leopard, emerge from the water once a year to breed, the land might be cold, but it’s predator-free.
Only twelve species of birds live there, of which six are various types of penguins.
It is the nesting place of the wandering albatross, which has the distinction of having the longest wingspan of all birds, about eleven feet from tip to tip.
The remaining six species are gull-like seabirds, most notably the skua and the arctic tern, which divide their time between the two polar regions.
Related Posts
-
What Types of Plants or Animals Live In Antarctica and Do Any Insects Live In Antarctica?
There are plants and animals species that live in Antarctica. Those that can survive the cold, dry climate, such as mosses, lichens, and algae. Only a few small insects can live there, and…
-
How Did Antarctica Get Its Name, What Does Antarctica Mean In Greek, and Is Antarctica a Country?
The use of the name "Antarctica" for the continent is attributed to the Scottish cartographer John George Bartholomew. The name Antarctica is the romanized version of the Greek word ἀνταρκτική (antarktiké), which means…
-
Why Do Penguins Live in Antarctica at the South Pole and Not in the Arctic at the North Pole?
Penguins don't live in the Arctic because they don't like having to swim across warm water. They are perfectly happy where they are, however, you'd be surprised how far north they can go.…
-
How Many People Live In Antarctica and How Many Scientific Research Stations Are There In Antarctica?
Many people live in Antarctica on a temporary basis, several countries have set up about 30 scientific research stations there. One of the largest is the U.S.'s McMurdo Station, where about 4,000 people…
-
How Cold Does It Get In Antarctica and Why Is Antarctica Colder Than the Arctic In the North Pole?
Antarctica is the coldest place on earth. The world's lowest recorded temperature was at Vostok Station on July 21, 1983, when the thermometer dropped to -128.6° F (-89.2° C). Year round in Antarctica,…
-
When Did Penguins Become Flightless Birds And Why Did Penguins Evolve To Swim?
Millions of years ago penguins did in fact fly around like regular birds but they have evolved to swim instead of fly. Eventually, flying was no longer necessary. Penguins spent most of their…
