Antarctica, the southernmost continent of the earth, is known for the mysterious aura that it possesses. This frozen realm covers more than 14 million square kilometres of land, making it the fifth-largest continent on the earth, almost double the size of Australia.
This continent is located within the Antarctic Circle that translates to the temperatures always being below zero. Apart from the varied landscapes, the thick ice surface, water bodies, and the extreme weather conditions, there is also an unbelievable abundance of wildlife species that are not very easily found in other parts of the world. Whales, Orcas, Penguins, Seals, Krill, and many more form the habitat of Antarctica.
Apart from them, many other animals and birds migrate there as seasonal visitors, as they can’t live there year-round.
The continent doesn’t receive any sunlight during the winters, so it remains dark during those times, whereas, during summers, the sun doesn’t set, so it’s always daytime then.
The continent has over 30 countries signing in to help protect biodiversity. More than 80 research centres conduct several experiments and expedition programs to know more about the unexplored place. The human inhabitants, in general, are around 4000 during the summers and around 1000 for the rest of the year, i.e., during the harsh winters.
We have listed down some of Antarctica’s amazing facts for kids below.
Whales
Whales are regularly spotted in Antarctica. Whales are mammals that belong to the group Cetaceans. During the summer months (October to March), it becomes a hotspot for more than 10 species of whales to mate and feed. The different species found are a blue whale, southern right whale, Sei whale, Humpback whale, Minke whale, Fin whale, Sperm whale, Killer whale, etc.
It is quite common to spot one of these whales as you cruise through the Antarctica waters. They are so common that they may pop and appear out of nowhere when you enjoy a silent boat ride or kayaking in the Antarctica peninsula.
Penguins
These cute flightless birds are considered the icons of the continent. Out of the 17 species of penguins found in the world, eight are found here. These species are King, Adelie, Macaroni, Chinstrap, Emperor, Magellanic, and Gentoo penguins. An impressive number of 12 million penguins call Antarctica their home.
The Emperor penguins remain in the continent even during the long dark winters. The Adelie group has the highest number of penguins in its community. The Gentoo penguin colony is the calmest of the lot.
Watching penguins go about their business is so enthralling and engaging. Sure, these birds are anything but quiet. However, one cannot deny the majestic and long-lasting effects they have on the lookers.
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Seals
Just like the above two, a lot of species of seals reside in Antarctica. Some of them are Weddell seals, Southern Fur seals, Southern Elephant seal, Leopard seal, Crabeater seal, amongst others. Seals are well known for living in cold waters due to their thick skin. They usually feed on squids or other fishes in the sea.
The Elephant seals are the largest in size of the entire lot. During the breeding season, the males fight with each other to mate with the female elephant seal. The leopard seals are well known for their fur that resembles the spots of an actual leopard. They are the most violent predators. Their huge build with a large mouth and a wide lower jaw supports the claim.
The Crabeater seals do not feed on crabs. There was an observation error by the early biologists who coined their name. Young crabeater seals are often preyed on by leopard seals, and the remaining ones have serious scars on their body.
Krill
One of the smallest and the most important part of the biodiversity that fuels the entire ecosystem of Antarctica, Krill are semi-transparent shrimp-like fishes. The word ‘Krill’ is simply a Norwegian term for whale food. Due to their small size, they are unable to swim against the currents or mitigate; the currents always move them.
These species are indeed a treat to find in Antarctica, but it is important that we all are aware of the flora and fauna of not just Antarctica but all continents and countries. We at The Real School Of Montessori impart knowledge of every walk of life with basics and build a solid foundation that caters to á kid’s critical thinking skills.
Orcas
These killer whales don’t belong to the whale family. Instead, they are a part of the dolphin family and travel around in groups. These groups are known as ‘pods’. They have teeth and are the largest in the dolphin family.
They feed by using a similar technique as that of the dolphins. They make sounds- echolocation- that bounce off their prey like birds, fishes, squids, and many more. The offspring of these highly socializing animals are born around seven feet in height and can weigh around 500 pounds.
Albatross
Known for having the longest wingspan on the planet, a wandering Albatross is an enchanting sight to behold. They go on very long fishing trips and are capable of covering 10,000 km without using any extra energy. They feed on squid and fish that they catch at night in shallow currents. They are always on the lookout for boats that may have caught fishes or may have discarded remains of the same.
Their bodies are also adept at drinking saltwater, which makes it easy for them to stay near the ocean. They come to the land only to breed and then raise their offspring. They can also survive for around 50 years. This is one of the most interesting facts every kid should know about albatross.
Insects and Bugs
These invertebrates can adapt well to harsh conditions. There are around 67 different recorded species of bugs and insects residing on the continent. They don’t make an appearance everywhere and are hardly seen. One has to set out on an expedition to find them.
Some examples of the different types of insects living in Antarctica are Mite, Springtail, Nematode worms, Rotifer and Tardigrade, etc. They cannot be seen easily due to their small size, with the largest of them growing up to 13 mm in length.
To survive, they go into hibernation. They only come out of hibernation during summers.
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Conclusion
Apart from the above-mentioned wildlife species, the lands and waters of Antarctica also have many more animals, birds, and insects living there. There are many more facts about Antarctica animals for kids to read about. Scientists and researchers are working day and night, living under harsh conditions to find out more about flora and fauna in the continent. Several countries have joined hands to know more about this mysterious place as well.
We at The Real School Of Montessori encourage our students to ask questions and explore things they are curious about. We work on real-life goals, and our curriculum is based on that very concept to prepare the students for the actual world. Many out-of-the-box concepts and topics are touched upon in our sessions. Join our free trial classes to know more!
