Ross seal
Named after the British explorer who obtained the first specimen, less is known about the Ross seal than any of the other Antarctic seals. The species is mostly found on the pack ice around the Antarctic continent, with a wide but dispersed circumpolar distribution. It is very difficult to determine how many of the species there actually are. The Ross seal is however the rarest of the four seal species breeding on the Antarctic pack ice, and one population estimate has been made of about 220,000. The greatest abundance of Ross seals appears to be in the Ross and King Haakon VII Seas. Wandering seals have been reported north of 60°S only on very rare occasions.
Leopard Seals
The leopard seal is named for its black-spotted coat. The pattern is similar to that of the famous big cat, though the seal's coat is gray rather than golden in color. This seal is sometimes called the sea leopard, and the resemblance is more than skin deep. Like their feline namesakes, leopard seals are fierce predators. They are the most formidable hunters of all the seals and the only ones that feed on warm-blooded prey, such as other seals. Leopard seals use their powerful jaws and long teeth to kill smaller seals, fish, and squid.
Antarctic Fur Seals
Antarctic fur seals are more accurately called "Southern fur seals". In appearance and manner they resemble a large dog (albeit a funny shaped one). They are able to bring their rear flippers under their body and take the weight of their body on their fore-flippers and so are much more agile on land compared to others such as elephant, weddell and crabeater seals.
Crabeater Seals
Crabeater seals are the most numerous pinniped species in the world and are curiously named since their major prey is not crabs but Antarctic krill. They are found throughout the pack ice that surrounds the Antarctic continent, often in more concentrated numbers around the edges.
It is difficult to determine the true size of the crabeater seal population as only limited counts have been carried out due to the problems of surveying in the inhospitable Antarctic climate. It is generally believed that there are around 15 million crabeater seals.
It is difficult to determine the true size of the crabeater seal population as only limited counts have been carried out due to the problems of surveying in the inhospitable Antarctic climate. It is generally believed that there are around 15 million crabeater seals.
Southern Elephant Seals
Southern elephant seals live in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters that feature brutally cold conditions but are rich in the fish, squid, and other marine foods these seals enjoy. Southern elephant seals breed on land but spend their winters in the frigid Antarctic waters near the Antarctic pack ice. Southern elephants are the largest of all seals. Males can be over 20 feet (6 meters) long and weigh up to 8,800 pounds (4,000 kilograms). But these massive pinnipeds aren't called elephant seals because of their size. They take their name from their trunklike inflatable snouts
Weddell Seals
Weddell seals can dive up to 2,000 feet (610 meters) down and stay under for up to 45 minutes. But no matter how deep they dive, like all marine mammals, they must surface to breathe. If natural openings are not available, Weddell seals use their teeth to open and maintain air holes in the ice pack. Weddell seals are very vocal. Their calls can be heard from atop the ice even when seals themselves are below. The seals "haul out" onto the ice to rest, molt, or give birth. Females usually have one pup in September or October. These young are silver or golden (their parents are gray) and can swim by two weeks of age.
Humpback whale
The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults range in length from 12–16 metres (39–52 ft) and weigh approximately 36,000 kilograms (79,000 lb). The humpback has a distinctive body shape, with unusually long pectoral fins and a knobbly head. An acrobatic animal known for breaching and slapping the water with its tail and pectorals, it is popular with whale watchers off Australia, New Zealand, South America, Canada, and the United States.
Blue Whale
The largest animals ever to have lived, dwarfing even the largest dinosaurs. All figures about blues are awesome. Their circulatory system pumps 10 tonnes of blood through its body using a heart the size of a small car. A child could crawl down the whales' main blood vessel, the aorta. In its development, a blue whale calf can drink 50 gallons of its mother's milk and gain 200lbs per day.
The largest individuals have been estimated at being 150-200 tonnes.
Blue whales are light grey/blue to dark grey while at the surface, but seen underwater they are a luminous aqua blue
The largest individuals have been estimated at being 150-200 tonnes.
Blue whales are light grey/blue to dark grey while at the surface, but seen underwater they are a luminous aqua blue
Rights whale
The name was given by the early whalers because they were the "right" whales to kill. They have large amounts of oil, blubber and baleen or whalebone, they are slow swimming (easy to catch) and float when killed. Right whales have a large bulbous head and lack the streamlined shape of other whales. The head has large callosities that are home to a whole colony of whale barnacles, parasitic worms and whale lice.
Sei whale
These are among the more elusive of the larger whales, not coming very close to land at any time and not forming large groups or "schools". Sei is pronounced "Say" They are found like many whales in both Northern and Southern hemispheres following the best feeding at different times of year. Only the larger older individuals tend to go very far south, they are relatively rare in Antarctic
Minke whale
One of the smallest baleen or filter feeding whales. Minke numbers are still quite healthy due to whalers concentrating on larger, more profitable species. Minkes are still hunted for "scientific" reasons by Japan, though large quantities of the meat turns up in very expensive restaurants.
fin whale
The second largest after the blue whale, the fastest swimming of all the large whales (sometimes called the greyhound of the seas) and the commonest. Fin whales can produce sounds of 75-80dB at around 100Hz which is very loud for an animal source. In pre-propeller oceans this sound could travel for well over a hundred kilometres.
Sperm Whale
The name comes from the enormous bulbous spermaceti organ in the head. Only males are found in Antarctic waters. Sperm whales are toothed whales rather than filter feeders and are the deepest and longest of all whale divers catching giant squid in the dark ocean depths. Unlike baleen whales, which form only temporary bonds, sperm whales live in extended family units that for the females are lifelong associations.
Killer whale
Also known as Orcas from their Latin name. They are one of the most well known types of whales thanks to their being held captive in marine aquariums where they are taught to perform tricks. Killer whales are toothed whales and top carnivores in their food chain. Sometimes referred to as "sea-wolves", they frequently hunt in packs or "pods". Their tastes are wide ranging from krill and fish to penguins, seals and even much larger baleen whales.