The Wildlife Of Antarcticas Seas And Skies - Nexta Expeditions
The Wildlife of Antarctica’s Seas and Skies

The Wildlife of Antarctica’s Seas and Skies

Antarctica is one of the most pristine environments on Earth, home to whales, penguins, seals, and birds, providing nature lovers with a treasure trove of wildlife memories to take back home.

Mid-level wildlife is the basis for larger life

Supporting the richness of Antarctica’s life is phytoplankton, which sinks to the seabed to support communities of benthic animals like sponges and sea cucumbers. Mid-trophic animals that feed off these communities in turn support larger fish, including the Antarctic silverfish. Eventually larger and larger species feed off this food chain, enabling species both underwater and in the air to thrive in the cold Antarctic waters. These species include skuas, petrels, leopard seals, Weddell seals, minke whales, and blue whales.

Distinctive-sounding south polar skuas

Visitors to the continent can see the south polar skua, a large bird that grows to be around 1.2 – 1.5 kg (2.6 – 3.3 pounds) and 53 cm (21 inches) long. They come in three types: pale with a soft honey colour and dark wings, dark chocolate-brown, and grey-brown with dark wings. South polar skuas are known for their distinctive call. Both parents share incubation, chick feeding, and defence duties. They arrive at their breeding sites between the end of October and mid-December, the Southern Hemisphere summer. During these warmer months, south polar skuas either feed on eggs and young Adélie penguins or rely on fish and krill. When not breeding, they prefer to live out at sea.

blog-image

Seafaring Antarctic petrels

The Antarctic petrel is a chocolate-brown bird with white wings and a brown-tipped tail. They are found mainly at sea and around pack ice and ice floes, as well as the coastal edges of the Antarctic continent. Every October through November, Antarctic petrels nest and lay eggs (one per female bird). Usually they choose a nesting site in snow-free areas, such as crevices and on the ledges of rocky cliffs. The incubation period lasts around 45 – 48 days, and the nesting period is around the same span of time. Their nesting colonies can become large, some having as many as 200,0000 pairs with densities that are more than one nest per square metre (0.32 square feet. Antarctic petrels usually eat krill and other small crustaceans, along with small squid and fish.

blog-image

Leopard seals, never too far from dinner

Leopard seals have slender bodies with long front flippers. They also have large canine teeth and sharp molars that are not only used to feed on penguins, fish, squid, crustaceans, and other seals, but also to strain krill from the water. Leopard seals are solitary creatures that often inhabit pack ice surrounding the continent.

While little is known of their biology, scientists do know that females breed every six years or more and give birth to a single pup on the sea ice. When it comes to carnivorous hunting, leopard seals like to be close to penguin colonies so that dinner is never too far away. Some leopard seals prefer to hunt crabeater seal pups. Their usual diet, however, consists mostly of krill.

blog-image

Newborn Weddell seals hauling out of the ice

Weddell seals are large animals, with adult males and females reaching up to three metres long (9.84 feet) and weighing around 400 – 500 kg (880 – 1,100 pounds). They have small heads relative to their bodies and are usually grey and black with white stomachs. The seals are found all around Antarctica, staying near fast ice and only making short trips into the sea to feed.

On your Antarctica cruise, you will typically see Weddell seals hauling themselves out of the sea onto fast ice to rest. The females use the fast ice to give birth, using the same place each year. They give birth to one pup per year, after which mothers tend to their pups for about six weeks.

During this time, Weddell seal mothers actively teach their pups life skills: The pups learn to swim and haul themselves out of the water at just one week old. Weddell seals usually hang around their access hole, generally staying near their breeding colonies. During the winter, when their access holes freeze up, the seals use their special canine and incisor teeth to break the new ice and create holes to breathe through.

blog-image

Minke whales poking through the ice

Whether on an Arctic or Antarctic whale watching trip, one of the larger marine animals you may spot are minke whales. These whales are black, dark brown, or grey, with a lighter-colored belly. Minke whales are seen in sub-polar areas too, and are largely spotted in open water. In summer, they often hang out in open pack ice; in the winter, minke whales prefer to swim around heavy pack ice. When the ice is thick, minke whales breathe by sticking their pointed heads up through narrow cracks in the ice. How they find these cracks, however, is a mystery.

Minke whales have hundreds of baleen plats growing from their upper jaws, with 50 – 70 pleats running from their throats to their flippers. These pleats stretch, letting minke whales take in large volumes of water when feeding. In Antarctica, minke whales feed almost entirely on krill. They feed in large groups that can number in the hundreds when food is abundant. Minke whales are quite fast swimmers and often breach. Below the surface, they can hold their breath for as long as 20 minutes.

blog-image

Blue whales, the titans of the ocean

The largest species Earth has yet created grows to around 30 metres (98 feet) in length. Though blue whales have not recovered from the great whale hunts of the early 20th century, they may sometimes be spotted in Antarctica’s open waters. Blue whales are one of the world’s longest-living species: The oldest whale is thought to have lived to 110 years old, while the average blue whale lifespan is upwards of 80 years.

During the summer months, blue whales often swim near the edge of the Antarctic sea ice. These whales look blue underwater, but on the surface they are more of a mottled blue-grey. Blue whales feed nearly exclusively on Antarctic krill, and adults are able to consume around 4 tonnes (8,800 pounds) of krill per day. Blue whales can be found in small groups, but typically they swim alone or in pairs.

They often swim around 8 kph (5 mph) but can race up to 32 kph (20 mph) when necessary Underwater the whales are very loud: Their pulses, groans, and moans able to be detected by other blue whales up to 1,600 km (1,000 miles) away. Baby blue whales are born weighting up to 3 tonnes (6,600 pounds) and measuring 7.6 metres (25 feet) in length. Feeding off their mother’s milk, baby blue whales put on 90 kg (200 pounds) each day in the first year alone.

blog-image

Blog
go-leftgo-right

10 Bountiful Blue Whale Facts - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

10 Bountiful Blue Whale Facts

The umbrella term “whale” refers to a wide variety of large marine mammals. To zero in on blue whales, however, we’ll need to unpack this term a bit. The Latin word for whale, cetus, is the root of the whale infraorder, Cetacea, the largest parvorder of which is Mysticeti.
Five Reasons to Love St. Helena - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Five Reasons to Love St. Helena

Being one of the most remote islands on Earth gives St. Helena a unique allure. Named after a Roman empress and the mother of Constantine the Great, this island also holds the distinction of being Napoleon’s final place of exile, making it a fascinating topic of conversation.
The Dirty Details of Antarctica's Dry Valleys - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Dirty Details of Antarctica's Dry Valleys

Situated on the western coast of McMurdo Sound, the McMurdo Dry Valleys represent the largest ice-free region in Antarctica.
The Norse Settlement of Greenland - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Norse Settlement of Greenland

Erik the Red is a significant and vibrant figure in the history of the Norse Vikings. His story is primarily documented in the Icelandic Sagas Huaksbók (14th Century) and Skalhóltsbók (15th Century). These accounts offer slightly different versions of events that occurred 3-400 years earlier. The original saga of Erik the Red is believed to have been written around 1200 A.D., with the Skalhóltsbók version considered closest to the original. Additionally, Flateyjarbók (13th Century), which includes the Saga of the Greenlanders, is a crucial source for understanding the settlement of Greenland and the discovery of Vinland – North America.
5 Misconceptions You Might Have About Greenland - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

5 Misconceptions You Might Have About Greenland

The Pack Ice and Polar Bears of North Spitsbergen - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Pack Ice and Polar Bears of North Spitsbergen

The Arctic archipelago of Svalbard is renowned for being one of the prime locations to observe polar bears. The largest island in this region, Spitsbergen, not only offers sightings of these majestic Arctic creatures but also provides a unique opportunity to experience the phenomenon of pack ice.
The Ins, Outs, and Ups of Polar Mountaineering & Ski Mountaineering - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Ins, Outs, and Ups of Polar Mountaineering & Ski Mountaineering

Traveling to the polar regions, whether to the Arctic or Antarctica, is an adventure almost no matter what you do.
15 Falkland Islands Bird Photos - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

15 Falkland Islands Bird Photos

The remote sub-Antarctic archipelago of the Falkland Islands is a haven for bird enthusiasts, offering a unique and abundant selection of birds, especially seabirds.
Scenes from St. Andrews Bay:  12 Pics of Penguins, Seals, and More - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Scenes from St. Andrews Bay: 12 Pics of Penguins, Seals, and More

If you ever find yourself exploring the breathtaking sub-Antarctic island chain of South Georgia, one of the most captivating spots you'll encounter is the picturesque shoreline of St. Andrews Bay.
Danger Beneath the Water: 10 Facts About Leopard Seals - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Danger Beneath the Water: 10 Facts About Leopard Seals

If your thirst for adventure leads you to Antarctica, you may be lucky enough to cross paths with a leopard seal while you’re there. These amazing animals are wonderful to observe both in and out of the water, and they are a coveted part of the polar wildlife experience.
Weddell Sea: the Original Antarctic Adventure - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Weddell Sea: the Original Antarctic Adventure

According to historian Thomas R. Henry, visiting the Weddell Sea requires a brave heart. In his 1950 book, "The White Continent," he described sudden “flash freezes” that occur in the region. It was one of these flash freezes that trapped Ernest Shackleton’s ship, Endurance, in January 1915, forcing his crew to endure over a year in the harsh environment before they could escape.
The Secret Life of Glaciers: How They Form, Move, and Melt - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

The Secret Life of Glaciers: How They Form, Move, and Melt

One of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders you can witness on an Arctic or Antarctic expedition is glaciers. These immense ice formations have been gradually moving from the mountains to the oceans for countless years, acting as both time capsules and indicators of our rapidly changing environment.
Svalbard’s 12 Most Iconic Animals - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Svalbard’s 12 Most Iconic Animals

Each of our Arctic regions offers its own distinct and unforgettable features: Greenland boasts mountainous shorelines and record-setting fjords, Northern Norway is renowned for the aurora borealis and historic masted schooners, and Svalbard (especially Spitsbergen) is where you're most likely to encounter a variety of Arctic wildlife.
Orcas of the Polar Seas - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Orcas of the Polar Seas

The orca, also known as the killer whale, is the apex marine predator and possibly the most widespread vertebrate on the planet. While they are most numerous in colder regions like Antarctica, Norway, and Alaska, they also inhabit tropical and subtropical seas. Here, we’ll explore some essential orca facts you might want to know before encountering them in person, concluding with a fantastic video showcasing our top ten favorite killer whale facts.
Polar Bears and Pack Ice: 22 Pics from North Spitsbergen - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Polar Bears and Pack Ice: 22 Pics from North Spitsbergen

Last month, we explored one of the premier Arctic cruise destinations in our North Spitsbergen blog. That post not only detailed our itinerary in this breathtaking region but also highlighted some of the stunning locations where you might encounter polar bears, whales, walruses, seals, seabirds, and the mesmerizing ice formations of the far north.
True South: A New Flag for a Global Antarctica - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

True South: A New Flag for a Global Antarctica

When Evan Townsend signed up to spend the winter of 2018 working at an Antarctic research station, he had no reason to expect he would end the season by designing a new flag for the continent. He had even less reason to expect the support it would receive.
Taking the Polar Plunge - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Taking the Polar Plunge

There are some human activities that for many people simply defy understanding: We juggle chainsaws, we breathe fire, we fling ourselves out of perfectly good airplanes.
Keep It Green: Our Commitment to Sustainable Polar Travel - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Keep It Green: Our Commitment to Sustainable Polar Travel

It doesn’t make much sense for expedition travel if every time we visit the polar regions we leave them worse than we found them. And that’s just considering things from a purely human perspective, which we don’t.
Antarctica’s Hourglass Dolphin - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

Antarctica’s Hourglass Dolphin

Though hourglass dolphins are especially rare, they’re actually not a threatened or endangered species.
9 Facts about the Greenland Shark - Nexta Expeditions
Blog

9 Facts about the Greenland Shark

The Greenland shark, or Somniosus microcephalus, is one of many fish that inhabit the waters around Greenland, though this is not the only area in which the shark resides. These sharks, sometimes referred to as “gray sharks” or “gurry sharks,” can also be found in the north Atlantic Ocean near Iceland, Norway, and Canada.