There are many animals in Antarctica! Here is 3 information reports on 3 animals from Antarctica:
Leapord Seals
Reproduction
Solitary by nature, leopard seals come on land (ice) only during the breeding season and then only in pairs or small groups. Pupping generally takes place during November and December. Females dig a hole in the fast ice where they will give birth to a single pup after a 9 to 11 month gestation period (implantation can be delayed by up to two months). The pups weigh about 66 pounds (30 kg) at birth and nurse for about one month. The female protects the pups until they can take care of themselves; males do not participate in parental care.
Food source/food
Leopard seals eat almost anything, including penguins, fish, squid , crustaceans and other seals. Seals eaten include seal pups of crabeater, Weddell and fur seals.
The feeding behaviour of leopard seals is easily seen when their prey is a penguin. Typically the seals chase or grab penguins in the water and thrash the captured bird back and forth until the skin peels away. The remaining carcass is then consumed.
Leopard seals have very individual tastes. Some remain near penguin colonies and eat the penguins they catch there while others prefer to eat crabeater seal pups. Other leopard seals prefer a subantarctic menu and migrate north to Heard Island to feed on penguin and seal pups there.
Habitat
During the Antarctic summer (November–April), leopard seals hunt among the pack ice surrounding the Antarctic continent, spending almost all of their time (except for breeding) in the water. In the winter (May–October) they range northward to the sub-Antarctic islands.
Predators
The only natural predator of leopard seals is the killer whale, though an observation of a male elephant seal having killed a leopard seal while ashore at Heard Island has been reported. This is likely to be an uncommon occurrence.
Interesting fact
Leopard seals, named for their spotted coats, are one of the primary predators of Antarctica.
Leapord Seals
Reproduction
Solitary by nature, leopard seals come on land (ice) only during the breeding season and then only in pairs or small groups. Pupping generally takes place during November and December. Females dig a hole in the fast ice where they will give birth to a single pup after a 9 to 11 month gestation period (implantation can be delayed by up to two months). The pups weigh about 66 pounds (30 kg) at birth and nurse for about one month. The female protects the pups until they can take care of themselves; males do not participate in parental care.
Food source/food
Leopard seals eat almost anything, including penguins, fish, squid , crustaceans and other seals. Seals eaten include seal pups of crabeater, Weddell and fur seals.
The feeding behaviour of leopard seals is easily seen when their prey is a penguin. Typically the seals chase or grab penguins in the water and thrash the captured bird back and forth until the skin peels away. The remaining carcass is then consumed.
Leopard seals have very individual tastes. Some remain near penguin colonies and eat the penguins they catch there while others prefer to eat crabeater seal pups. Other leopard seals prefer a subantarctic menu and migrate north to Heard Island to feed on penguin and seal pups there.
Habitat
During the Antarctic summer (November–April), leopard seals hunt among the pack ice surrounding the Antarctic continent, spending almost all of their time (except for breeding) in the water. In the winter (May–October) they range northward to the sub-Antarctic islands.
Predators
The only natural predator of leopard seals is the killer whale, though an observation of a male elephant seal having killed a leopard seal while ashore at Heard Island has been reported. This is likely to be an uncommon occurrence.
Interesting fact
Leopard seals, named for their spotted coats, are one of the primary predators of Antarctica.
Southern Elephant Seal
Reproduction
Generally, pups are born rather quickly in the breeding season.After being born, a newborn will bark or yap and its mothers will respond with a high-pitched moan. The newborn begins to suckle immediately. Lactation lasts an average of 23 days. Throughout this period, the female fasts. Newborns weigh about 40 kg at birth, and reach 120 to 130 kg by the time they are weaned. The mother loses significant weight during this time. Young weaned seals gather in nurseries until they lose their birth coats. They enter the water to practice swimming, generally starting their apprenticeship in ponds. In summer, the elephant seals come ashore to moult. This sometimes happens directly after reproduction.
Food Source/Food
Southern Elephant Seals feed upon fish and squid. When foraging their averages dives are between 300 and 800 m (984 - 2,624 ft) and they stay underwater for up to 20 minutes, but they can dive to depths of over 1,500 m (4,920 ft) and stay submerged for up to 2 hours.
Habitat
Southern Elephant Seals are found in Antarctic and Subantarctic waters. They only come ashore to breed and the rest of their time is spent at sea.
Predators
Predators of Southern Elephant Seals include killer whales and large sharks, such as great white sharks. Leapord seals will also prey upon pups.
Interesting fact
The Southern Elephant seal is one of two species of elephant seal, the other being the northern elephant seal.
Reproduction
Generally, pups are born rather quickly in the breeding season.After being born, a newborn will bark or yap and its mothers will respond with a high-pitched moan. The newborn begins to suckle immediately. Lactation lasts an average of 23 days. Throughout this period, the female fasts. Newborns weigh about 40 kg at birth, and reach 120 to 130 kg by the time they are weaned. The mother loses significant weight during this time. Young weaned seals gather in nurseries until they lose their birth coats. They enter the water to practice swimming, generally starting their apprenticeship in ponds. In summer, the elephant seals come ashore to moult. This sometimes happens directly after reproduction.
Food Source/Food
Southern Elephant Seals feed upon fish and squid. When foraging their averages dives are between 300 and 800 m (984 - 2,624 ft) and they stay underwater for up to 20 minutes, but they can dive to depths of over 1,500 m (4,920 ft) and stay submerged for up to 2 hours.
Habitat
Southern Elephant Seals are found in Antarctic and Subantarctic waters. They only come ashore to breed and the rest of their time is spent at sea.
Predators
Predators of Southern Elephant Seals include killer whales and large sharks, such as great white sharks. Leapord seals will also prey upon pups.
Interesting fact
The Southern Elephant seal is one of two species of elephant seal, the other being the northern elephant seal.
Chin Strap Penguin
Reproduction
The eggs of chinstrap penguins are laid in late November. They generally have two chicks each summer, both of whom are treated equally by the parents. This is unlike other penguins species where the stronger chick is fed preferentially. The chicks fledge at about seven to eight weeks.Breeding success is lower in years when extensive sea-ice persists close to colonies, as this restricts access to the sea for foraging adults.
Food source/Food
Chinstrap penguins feed mainly on Krill and fish and are considered near-shore feeders, feeding close to their breeding colonies. They catch prey by pursuit-diving using their flippers to ‘fly’ through the water.
Habitat
The chinstrap penguin habitat consists of the barren rocky islands of sub-Antarctic and Antarctic peninsula. They are found living on icebergs formed in the open ocean.
Predators
The predator of adult Chinstraps is the Leapord Seal. Eggs and chicks can fall prey to birds, such as the Sheatbill and the Brown Skua.
Interesting Fact
One of the boldest penguins of all is the chinstrap penguin. Although small in size, they have the courage to fight off larger penguin species. They are known as the most aggressive penguin species of all.
By Pamela Votsikas
Reproduction
The eggs of chinstrap penguins are laid in late November. They generally have two chicks each summer, both of whom are treated equally by the parents. This is unlike other penguins species where the stronger chick is fed preferentially. The chicks fledge at about seven to eight weeks.Breeding success is lower in years when extensive sea-ice persists close to colonies, as this restricts access to the sea for foraging adults.
Food source/Food
Chinstrap penguins feed mainly on Krill and fish and are considered near-shore feeders, feeding close to their breeding colonies. They catch prey by pursuit-diving using their flippers to ‘fly’ through the water.
Habitat
The chinstrap penguin habitat consists of the barren rocky islands of sub-Antarctic and Antarctic peninsula. They are found living on icebergs formed in the open ocean.
Predators
The predator of adult Chinstraps is the Leapord Seal. Eggs and chicks can fall prey to birds, such as the Sheatbill and the Brown Skua.
Interesting Fact
One of the boldest penguins of all is the chinstrap penguin. Although small in size, they have the courage to fight off larger penguin species. They are known as the most aggressive penguin species of all.
By Pamela Votsikas