Antarctica

This ice-covered continent is actually a desert! So cold, the only creatures that can survive here are a few Arctic birds and mammals with ’blubber’ like whales and seals. Human researchers or explorers must wear special clothing and goggles, to protect from frostbite. It’s dark a lot of the time, but on a clear day you can see for 10 miles.

Albatross

These are the largest birds, with a wingspan of 2.5 metres. Just one beat of their wings, and they can remain airborne for hours. They can travel thousands of kilometres over several days. Often found following ships, they mate for life and live to 80.

Arctic Tern

This small white ‘sea swallow’ flies all the way from Greenland to the South Pole on its annual migration. He flies straight through Africa and Brazil (stopping off in the Azores), but it’s been found that on the return he makes an s-shaped detour for more favourable winds. It goes quiet, then all the birds all take off together at the same time!

Bird Island

This is a research station in the Southern Atlantic Ocean. Presumably it contains lots of birds. It is a research station used by climatologists (who study climate change). It’s 1000km southeast of the Falkland Islands near Argentina, and can only be reached by boat or ship-supported helicopter.

Dolphins

Two that can be found here are small hourglass dolphins, and southern right whale dolphins (the only type with no dorsal fins). Also found are orcas (killer whales) that are actually dolphins, not whales – these social creatures swim up to 100 miles a day, in their natural habitat.

Glaciers

These are mountains and valleys made from ice. The glaciers here appear blue because the ice absorbs all the colours in the spectrum (unless there are air bubbles, then they look white). Although it never rains here, the snow and ice never melt, because it’s too cold!

Krill

These little pink shrimp-like crustaceans are the most important part of the food chain in Antarctica. Without them, nothing else could survive, as it’s practically what everything else that lives here eats. Krill themselves feed on single-celled plants, and can go without food for 200 days.

Octopus

Surprisingly, a few of our eight-armed friends survive here two. Most have blue blood or ‘ink’ that they squirt at predators. The octopus swims in a peculiar way, by using jet propulsion to spew water. Did you know it also has three hearts, is highly intelligent and is deaf – simply because it has no ears?

Penguins

We all love penguins with their funny little walks. But underwater, they are graceful swimmers. We are all now familiar with the ‘March of the Penguins’, where babysitting parents huddle together, whilst the other parent goes off to feed. The main penguins here are Emperors (largest), King (smaller) and Macaroni (yellow crested heads).

Porpoises

 

These marine mammals are related to whales and dolphins, but are smaller and stouter. They are faster, but do not tend to dive out of the water. They look similar to dolphins.

 

Seals

The main species found in Antarctica are large Weddell Seals and Elephant Seals (so-called because their nose looks like an elephant’s trunk). Seals have flippers, which have evolved from four legs. How do you know the difference between a seal and a sea lion? Easy – sea lions have ear flaps! Walruses live much further north.

Snow Petrel

These pure white birds like look pigeons or doves, with black beaks. To find a mate, the male must copy all the acrobatic skills of the female! If a human goes near its nest, it emits a foul-smelling liquid from oily semi-digested krill, and squirts it at you. Sounds effective enough!

Whales

Whales live here, but understandably migrate to warmer waters each year to breed and give birth. Blue whales are so big, their tongue weighs as much as an elephant. They are long as the 100m sprint you did in school! They live mainly on krill, and communicate by echolocation, and sing to each other over 1000 miles.