Top Ten Animals You Can See

in Antarctica
There is plenty of animal life in Antarctica. It is a continent of extreme
conditions but a range of well-adapted animals thrive here at various
times of the year.
 

Despite the extremely cold conditions, there is a surprising amount of animal

life in Antarctica. It is a continent of extreme conditions but animals still
manage to thrive here at certain times of the year. We'd like to take a few
minutes to discuss the most incredible animals you can expect to find on
Earth's most southerly continent, and if you're interested in this, you might
also like to read about the most common misunderstandings about
Antarctica or perhaps you'd like to learn more about how to travel to
Antarctica from Ushuaia. Most Antarctic animal life revolves around the sea
in some way or another – so, if you are headed on an Antarctic cruise with
us, then you will have the chance to see some pretty spectacular animal life.
Keep reading to learn a little more about Antarctica's wildlife. 

10. Adélie Penguins

Along with the emperor penguin (which we will come to later), Adélie penguins
are the most southerly of the Antarctic's penguins and they can usually be
found on pack ice on the Antarctic continent and the sub-Antarctic islands.
They are a smaller branch of the penguin family, weighing in at an average of
5kg and standing less than a metre tall. They breed from November through
to February and you will likely hear and smell a rookery before you see it.
Adélie penguin rookeries are large and noisy affairs and can contain up to half
a million birds! The males begin the breeding process by making a nest from
pebbles that sits slightly above the land to protect it from flooding. Like most
other penguin species, both Adélie penguin parents will share duties on
rearing the young; due to their pebble nests and their gender
egalitarianism, Adélie penguin behaviour has fascinated scientists for
decades. If seeing Adélie penguins is at the top of your Antarctic bucket list,
make sure to browse our Ross Sea and East Antarctica trips, and you can
read more about these charming little guys on our Adélie penguin blog.
9. Chinstrap Penguins

Chinstrap penguins are one of the smallest penguin species. They weigh an

average of 4.5kg and they stand around 65cm tall. They are called "chinstrap
penguins" because the line of black feathers that wraps around their chin
looks like a strap. Usually, they can be found breeding on rocky coasts away
from the ice from December to March on Sub Antarctic and Antarctic islands
as well as the Antarctic Peninsula. Like the Adélie penguins, they can be quite
noisy and aggressive, particularly when it comes to the stones that make up
their nests. In order to attract a mate, male chinstrap penguins collect the
pebbles to construct an impressive nest. Other males steal each other's
pebbles and this can cause a lot of miniature battles! Their
eccentric behaviour, as well as their unique markings, make chinstrap
penguins incredibly entertaining. Chinstraps are most commonly seen on
the Antarctic Peninsula.

8. Leopard Seals

The leopard seal is so named because the spots on its coat are reminiscent of
the famous big cat. Much like their namesakes, leopard seals are fierce
predators; they hunt a range of other smaller seals, as well as fish, squid, and
penguins. Leopard seals are usually ambush hunters; they often wait below
an ice shelf for the birds to dive in to find food.  Fully grown leopard seals
usually weigh between 300-500kg and they can be anything from 3.5m to
3.8m long. You'll find leopard deals on the sub-Antarctic islands and on open
pack ice — usually quite close to penguin colonies during their breeding
season.  Leopard seals are particularly impressive hunters and they are a real
thrill to spot out in the wild!

7. Elephant Seals

The Elephant seal is the largest of all seals in Antarctica and, as you might
expect, it's particularly exciting to spot one on an Antarctic expedition. Male
elephant seals can range anywhere from 1,500 kg to 3,700kg, whilst females
are considerably smaller, ranging between 600kg to 800kg. This huge
difference in size between the sexes is called sexual dimorphism and it is so
prevalent that sometimes females are mistaken for juveniles when they are
spotted next to male elephant seals. You can find elephant seals throughout
the Antarctic region – particularly on sub-Antarctic islands, and they are
sometimes found as far north as the Falkland Islands. They are impressive
divers and can dive for as long as 20 minutes, to depths of 500 metres. If
you'd like to see elephant seals in large numbers during their breeding
season, browse our range of Antarctica and South Georgia trips.

6. Snow Petrels

The snow petrel is one of the Antarctic's smallest, yet most beautiful, animals.
They are pure white in colour – apart from their black eyes and beak. They
are about the same size as a pigeon but they are fascinating because, even
though they are so small, they are mighty and manage to survive the extreme
Antarctic conditions and wind-chill. In fact, snow petrels are so hardy that they
can live for up to 20 years. Because snow petrels are so long-lived, their
population is extremely healthy; in fact, there are around 4 million snow
petrels in the wild! They lay their eggs from October to November and chicks
will fledge within 6 weeks. Snow petrels can be found near open water – close
to packing ice or continuous ice around the Antarctic continent. 

5. King Penguins

Like emperor penguins, king penguins are much-loved representatives of all

penguins found in the Antarctic. When you see a photograph or a cartoon of a
penguin, it is usually a king or an emperor penguin. The king penguin is the
second-largest penguin species after the emperor and it weighs in at around
15kg on average. They can be identified with the golden feathers around their
head and necks, and they can be found living on sub-Antarctic islands –
where they form huge colonies on slopes close to the sea. Major colonies can
be seen on South Georgia, Macquarie Island, Prince Edward Island, and
Heard Island. 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 

4. Emperor Penguins

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. The first emperor
penguins were seen on Captain Cook’s second voyage in the late 18th Century
and Lt. Reginald Skelton found the first breeding colony on Scott’s voyage in
1901-1904. Emperor penguins are most easily seen on voyages to
the Weddell Sea.

3. Killer Whales (Orcas)

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 100,000 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. Recent research by the NOAA has found that there are
four distinct forms of killer whale – known as Type A, Type B, Type C, and
Type D. 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. 

2. Wandering Albatross

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 3.1-3.5m
and, as a result, they can fly for great distances without using much energy.
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.
1. The Blue Whale

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 200 tonnes. Their calls are louder than a jet engine
and their heart is the size of a small car. The blue whale species narrowly
escaped extinction in the 20th Century due to aggressive whaling practices,
and although the numbers are recovering, they are still under pressure and
sightings are rare.  Before whaling, there were over 200,000 blue whales in
Antarctica and at its worst level in 1966 it was thought that their population in
Antarctica dipped to only 400.  But now there are around 2,000 in the
Antarctic Ocean – which is a similar number to the blue whale populations in
the Pacific and Indian Oceans. In the nutrient-rich Antarctic waters during
summer, blue whales gorge on krill in before migrating to their feeding
grounds in the warmer waters of the equator. And, given that we only ever
visit Antarctica during its summer season, there is always a chance that you
will spot a blue whale on many of our Antarctic cruises! Late-season cruises
like this one offer the best opportunities for whale watching in Antarctica. 

Antarctic animals are unlike anything you'll find in any other part of the world.
This extreme landscape has ensured that only very specific animals can
survive and thrive. The stunning Antarctic backdrop is worth visiting in itself,
but many of our guests come to see some of the rarest animals on Earth. If
you’d like to see some of these Antarctic animals in an environmentally
sensitive way, accompanied by our experts and guides, please browse our
range of Antarctic cruises and expeditions. And please get in touch if you
have any questions. We specialise in cruises and expeditions on small ships
and we’ve personally visited all of the destinations we offer. Start planning
your dream Antarctic expedition today and perhaps you'll see a few of the
incredible animals on this list!