Antarctica is
an enormous land mass that surrounds the South Pole, far below Australia.
It is the fifth largest continent in the world. It is a cold and inhospitable
place that, like the Arctic regions of the North, is completely covered
by ice and snow for the entire year. In the extremely cold winter months,
the ocean around Antarctica freezes over, extending the continent even
further.
No trees and very few plants
can survive in this harshest of climates. The midge, a tiny invertebrate
(no backbone), is the largest land animal on the continent. Bigger animals,
such as penguins and seals, live around the coast and on the sub-Antarctic
islands nearby. Many other animals and birds visit during the short Summer
period between November and January.
Below is a list of flora
and fauna that can be found on Antarctica.
Plants in Antarctica |
Leopard
Seals |
Emperor
Penguins |
Toothed Whales |
Southern
Elephant Seals |
Chinstrap
Penguins |
Land
Animals |
Weddell
Seals |
Baleen Whales |
Antarctic
Food Webs |
Adelie
Penguins |
Antarctic
Fish and Crustaceans
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The following activities
will help you learn about the different plants and animals found on Antarctica.
By the end of this session you should be able to name them and describe
some of their features. Make sure you carefully read all the information
before each activity. |
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