Wildlife
Antarctic wildlife is amazing in so many ways that I can’t list them all here!!! So I have written up a few facts about each.
Penguins
- There are only 17 species of penguins.
- Emperor penguins are the only breed of penguins that stay in Antarctica during winter.
- Penguins generally breed in large colonies called ‘rookeries'.
- The end of winter brings millions of birds home.
- Birds eat sea-zooplankton, cephalopods, and fish.
- 100 million or more birds breed along the coast and offshore islands of Antarctica.
- There are only 6 species of seals.
- Seals come to the surface to breathe while sleeping.
- Eat mostly krill.
- They have a four chambered heart.
- A typical whale's lifespan is between 20 and 40 years though some may live to be 80.
- They are Warm Blooded.
Krill
- Nearly all Antarctic animals rely on the krill.
- There are more than 10,000 krill per cubic meter in the Antarctic Waters.
- They are usually found in huge swarms.
