Antarctic
The Antarctic is a vast, icy continent at the very south of the planet. Terrestrial life in this cold, inhospitable environment is mainly confined to the few areas of exposed, ice-free rock; but in contrast, the oceans around the Antarctic support a rich marine ecosystem. Its waters, rich in nutrients and oxygen, support a wide variety of marine species, from tiny krill to a range of fish, seals, whales and seabirds.
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Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae)
Named after the wife, Adéle, of the French Antarctic explorer, Dumont d'Urville, the Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) is a distinctive... More 46 Images 10 Videos -
Antarctic cod (Notothenia nudifrons)
Information on Notothenia nudifrons is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly... More 1 Image 0 videos -
Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella)
A large, hardy and charismatic inhabitant of the Antarctic region, the Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) is well adapted to the... More 26 Images 4 Videos -
Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica)
A fine-leaved, perennial grass, the Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica) is one of only two flowering plant species living below... More 4 Images 0 videos -
Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba)
One of the most abundant organisms in Antarctic waters, the Antarctic krill is a ‘keystone species’ of the Southern Ocean ecosystem, playing... More 10 Images 2 Videos -
Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis)
The Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) is one of the smallest and most abundant of the rorqual whales, the largest group of... More 10 Images 2 Videos -
Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis)
Information on the Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly... More 2 Images 0 videos -
Antarctic petrel (Thalassoica antarctica)
One of the most southerly nesting birds the Antarctic petrel (Thalassoica antarctica) breeds in the mountainous regions of the... More 12 Images 2 Videos -
Antarctic sea urchin (Sterechinus neumayeri)
Information on the Antarctic sea urchin (Sterechinus neumayeri) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly... More 2 Images 0 videos -
Antarctic tern (Sterna vittata)
The Antarctic tern (Sterna vittata) is a small seabird that is distributed throughout the southern hemisphere. In breeding plumage, the... More 15 Images 6 Videos -
Arnoux’s beaked whale (Berardius arnuxii)
One of the largest beaked whale species, Arnoux’s beaked whale is almost identical in appearance to its close relative, Baird’s beaked whale... More 4 Images 1 Video -
Black-browed albatross (Thalassarche melanophrys)
Albatrosses are one of the most marine of all birds, traversing the oceans of the southern hemisphere, and only returning to land to breed... More 47 Images 22 Videos -
Blackfin icefish (Chaenocephalus aceratus)
An intriguing and almost prehistoric-looking fish, the blackfin icefish (Chaenocephalus aceratus) belongs to the unique Channichthyidae... More 2 Images 0 videos -
Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus)
The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is the largest animal to have ever lived, being almost as big as a Boeing 737 and even larger than... More 52 Images 4 Videos -
Brown skua (Catharacta lonnbergi)
Information on the brown skua is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly... More 2 Images 0 videos -
Cape petrel (Daption capense)
Although both its common name and specific name refer the Cape of Good Hope, where it was first described, the Cape Petrel is actually found... More 25 Images 5 Videos -
Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus)
The chinstrap penguin owes its name to a thin band of black feathers that runs just below the chin from ear to ear. In addition to the... More 39 Images 8 Videos -
Commerson’s dolphin (Cephalorhynchus commersonii)
Information on the Commerson’s dolphin is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly... More 14 Images 1 Video -
Crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophaga)
With an estimated population of around 15 million individuals, the crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophaga) is by far the most numerous... More 20 Images 3 Videos -
Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)
Standing over a metre in height and weighing up to 40 kilograms, the emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the undisputed... More 59 Images 4 Videos -
Fairy prion (Pachyptila turtur)
A small seabird with a gentle, dove-like appearance, the fairy prion (Pachyptila turtur) has pearl-grey upperparts with a conspicuous dark... More 11 Images 1 Video -
Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua)
This charismatic marine bird is easily distinguished from other penguins by its bright orange-red bill and the conspicuous white patches... More 65 Images 8 Videos -
Giant Antarctic isopod (Glyptonotus antarcticus)
Information on the giant Antarctic isopod (Glyptonotus antarcticus) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly... More 3 Images 0 videos -
Gray’s beaked whale (Mesoplodon grayi)
One of the more easily distinguished members of its genus, Gray’s beaked whale has a particularly long, slender snout, or ‘beak’, which is... More 5 Images 0 videos -
Grey-headed albatross (Thalassarche chrysostoma)
This medium-sized albatross possesses a distinctive combination of a grey head and neck, black bill, dark grey back and tail and a white... More 32 Images 7 Videos -
Hourglass dolphin (Lagenorhynchus cruciger)
The small and robust hourglass dolphin (Lagenorhynchus cruciger) is often nicknamed the ‘sea cow’ due to its characteristic black and white... More 4 Images 0 videos -
Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
The magnificent humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is renowned for its impressive leaping displays and for the mysterious 'singing' of... More 57 Images 15 Videos -
Imperial shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps)
A strong swimmer and a proficient predator of fish, the imperial shag, also known as the imperial cormorant, displays a number of... More 42 Images 3 Videos -
Kelp gull (Larus dominicanus)
The kelp gull is a large bird with slate-black wings, a white head and body, and an all-white tail. The underwing is white, tipped black... More 33 Images 3 Videos -
King penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus)
The king penguin (Aptenodytes patagonicus) is the second largest penguin in the world, exceeded in size solely by its closest relative, the... More 52 Images 6 Videos -
Leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)
Like its terrestrial namesake, the leopard seal is a formidable hunter with a sinuous body and powerful jaws that open widely to reveal... More 25 Images 6 Videos -
Macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)
The macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) is a large, crested penguin, similar in appearance to other members of the genus Eudyptes, but... More 51 Images 16 Videos -
Mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari)
Information on the mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly... More 3 Images 0 videos -
Painted notie (Lepidonotothen larseni)
Information on the painted notie (Lepidonotothen larseni) is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly... More 1 Image 0 videos -
Ross seal (Ommatophoca rossii)
Occupying remote, inaccessible ice packs surrounding the Antarctic, the Ross seal is perhaps the most enigmatic phocid (earless seals). This... More 4 Images 0 videos -
Sea star (Odontaster validus)
Information on Odontaster validus is currently being researched and written and will appear here shortly... More 5 Images 0 videos -
Snow petrel (Pagodroma nivea)
One of few birds that breed exclusively in the Antarctic, this bird is strongly associated with snow throughout its life, a feature alluded... More 24 Images 3 Videos -
Snowy sheathbill (Chionis albus)
The sheathbills not only have the distinction of being the only widespread land-based birds in the Antarctic, but they are also the only... More 20 Images 0 videos -
South Georgia diving-petrel (Pelecanoides georgicus)
A tiny, puffin-like bird that flies low and fast over the water with whirring wingbeats, the South Georgia diving-petrel (Pelecanoides... More 1 Image 0 videos -
South Georgia pipit (Anthus antarcticus)
Although unremarkable in appearance, the South Georgia pipit is unique in being the only bird species endemic to the remote island of South... More 5 Images 0 videos -
South polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki)
A widespread and prominent bird of the Antarctic, the south polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki) has a rather notorious reputation as a... More 17 Images 0 videos -
Southern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon planifrons)
A rather odd-looking, robust whale, the southern bottlenose whale (Hyperoodon planifrons) is so-named for its short, tube-like... More 2 Images 0 videos -
Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina)
Instantly recognisable by the large, inflatable proboscis, the male southern elephant seal is the biggest seal in its family. Males can... More 33 Images 11 Videos -
Southern fulmar (Fulmarus glacialoides)
This elegant seabird, roaming the southern seas, has a somewhat gull-like appearance with pale grey upperparts, with white flashes and dark... More 14 Images 1 Video -
Southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus)
The southern giant petrel is, as the name suggests, a very large bird, with impressive long, pointed wings and a huge bill. Like all species... More 53 Images 7 Videos -
Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
The sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) is the largest of the toothed whales, with males growing up to 20 metres in length. The sperm whale... More 45 Images 14 Videos -
Wandering albatross (Diomedea exulans)
The impressive wandering albatross has the largest recorded wingspan of any bird, reaching up to a massive 3.5 metres across. Juveniles have... More 50 Images 14 Videos -
Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii)
The Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) is the most southerly breeding of all mammals, and one of the best known Antarctic seal... More 40 Images 6 Videos -
Wilson’s storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus)
One of the most numerous of all sea birds, Wilson’s storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) is predominantly sooty-black with a white, U-shaped... More 9 Images 3 Videos -
Yellow-billed pintail (Anas georgica)
Named for its conspicuous yellow beak, the yellow-billed pintail is an otherwise fairly nondescript duck, with a slender body, brownish... More 24 Images 1 Video
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