They have a complex breeding system in that they can be either late or early breeders and will raise an average of two chicks every three years. This means that there are always juveniles king penguins around to spot if you're on a cruise or an expedition. If you're fascinated by king penguins and you want to. Of all penguin breeds, the emperor penguin is synonymous with Antarctica and it is perhaps the most recognisable of all the animals that live in the Antarctic. It is probably one of the birds you picture when you imagine your own dream voyage to Antarctica.
Emperor penguins are the largest penguins in the world — weighing in at an average of 30kg. With golden feathers around the sides of their heads, they are easily identifiable — that and the fact they live all around the coasts of Antarctica.
While a few land colonies have been found in recent years, emperor penguins almost always live and breed on sea ice — many emperor penguins will never step foot on land in their entire life.
Emperor penguins are fascinating as they are the only penguin species to breed in the depths of Antarctica's extremely brutal winter. Emperor penguins are most easily seen on voyages to the Weddell Sea. The killer whale is the biggest species of dolphin, and they are also called "orcas" — which is a much less scary name There are approximately , killer whales in the world and they can be found in every one of the world's oceans; however, the majority of killer whales are based in Antarctica, so the southern continent is, without doubt, the best place to see them.
All four types of orca can be found in Antarctica and each one favours a different type of prey. If you travel with Expeditions Online to Antarctica during the summer season, there is a good chance of spotting Killer Whales in the wild — particularly in and around the Antarctic Peninsula and the Ross Sea. It's incredible to actually see orca's in the wild, with the Antarctic ocean and icebergs as the backdrop.
The wandering albatross has the longest wingspan of any bird on the planet and it is an impressive sight to see. Their wingspan can measure 3. These long flights are possible due to the combination of their wingspan and the Antarctic's strong winds. Wandering albatrosses are usually found in the sub-Antarctic regions — particularly on exposed ridges on Prince Edward Island and South Georgia.
Once they find a mate, they stay with them for life. However, they are a species that is in decline because of the number of deaths from longline fishing hooks, and their slow breeding process has meant their numbers are not being replaced fast enough. For the best chance to see wandering albatross, you should visit the ocean around South Georgia before mid-November. If you want to plan ahead and get a good deal, you might like to check out our Antarctic cruise deals.
The blue whale is the largest and loudest animal ever known to have existed. Although not exclusive to Antarctica, the blue whale is so impressive that it had to be top of our list.
On average, they are around 30 metres long and they weight around tonnes. Famous for their fierce nature, these animals are one of the primary predators in Antarctica, using their powerful jaws and long teeth to hunt fish, squid, penguins and even other seals.
If voyagers on the cruise in Antarctica are lucky, they might catch a glimpse at a seal snare a bird as it enters the cold waters. Fascinatingly, leopard seals have no ear flaps, but rather hear from the inside.
As the beasts of the sea, blue whales grow as long as feet and weigh more than tons. In fact, their tongues alone can weigh as much as an elephant. While blue whales look true blue underwater, if any cruise critics see them breach, they'll notice that the mammal is more a mottled blue-gray.
Their underbellies, meanwhile, take on a yellowish colour due to the millions of microorganisms that live on their skin. At the near bottom of the food chain are krill: small, shrimp-like crustaceans that basically fuel the engine of the earth's marine ecosystems.
Though you might never see these tiny swimmers on an Antarctica cruise, they will be swimming underneath the ship, feeding on microscopic phytoplankton.
As one of nature's humorous ironies, the largest animal ever to roam the earth, blue whales, survive off of krill. Off of the shores of the southernmost continent of Earth , voyagers can encounter a range of eye-capturing animal life. Covid Updated information. Expeditions Go to Norwegian Coastal Express. Go to Hurtigruten Group. Krill is then the main consumer of the phytoplankton, which is eaten by many other organisms such as penguins, birds, or even ginormous elephant seals!
Because there are so many different organisms feeding from the krill, there needs to be lots and lots of krill available, especially as they are only 2 inches long!
In the video below, watch Dr Bethan Davies glaciologist and Dr Huw Griffiths marine biologist discuss krill and their important role in Antarctic food webs. At the top of the food chain, there are Orcas, often known as Killer Whales.
These are the biggest carnivores on Earth, reaching almost 10m in length! As you can see from the food chain above, their diet mainly consists of seals as they have a high amount of fat which can keep a hungry whale going in the year-round freezing temperatures. Not all of their meals are as big as a seal, a lot of the time Orcas consume different fish species. There are many different seals in Antarctica. They have thick beautiful fur coats and blubber, making them supremely adapted to the cold.
The Fur Seal has ears, and is actually a sealion! The creatures that thrive in this seemingly barren environment capture our imagination as living proof of the remarkable resilience and adaptivity of life on earth. They are also incredibly photogenic, so best get your camera ready. Emperor penguin The big daddy of the penguin world, emperor penguins can grow up to 1. They are only found deep in the coldest parts of Antarctica and huddle together in large groups to stay warm. Find them: Northern Antarctic Peninsula, breeding during winter.
Easily recognised by the white ring around their eyes, the Adelies also have stiff wings that can propel them to depths of metres ft underwater. Aside from emperor penguins, Adelie penguins are the only true Antarctic penguins, meaning they live there all year long. The second-largest penguins in the world after the emperor , king penguins are an attractive lot, with a fiery golden plumage around their heads, and dark grey bodies.
Male king penguins incubate the eggs on their feet while covering them with a special pouch to keep them warm. Find them: Antarctic Peninsula, breeding October to November with chicks present from late December to early February. These active critters spend a large part of their time hunting and eating. Known for their speed in the water, the gentoo penguin hunts for krill, smaller fish and squid.
Short, rotund and sporting a pair of yellow eyebrows that put even the most avant garde makeup artists to shame, the macaroni are as handsome as they are aggressive — males frequently fight other penguins within their colony. Find them: South Georgia plus one colony on the Antarctic Peninsula, breeding season changes annually. Leopard seal The only seals that kill other mammals for food, the solitary and adventurous leopard seal will migrate far and wide in search of a feast.
They have long bodies covered in spots hence the name and incredibly sharp teeth. Find them: Southern Antarctic Peninsula. Crabeaters are the most commonly found seal in the world, with an estimated population of up to 15 million. The male and females are both roughly the same size and have pale, cream coloured fur and a pointy face. You won't care that they're common when you see them — trust us. Find them: anywhere with pack ice. Male Antarctic fur seals can weigh up to kilograms pounds , which is much larger than their female counterparts.
They are silvery grey on their backs, with brown stomachs and a hairy mane on their neck and shoulders, which is how they get their name and all the attention. The largest species of seal in the world, the males can weigh up to kilograms four tons and sport a prominent schnoz that they use to roar and attract mates.
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