Marine Mammals

Southern (Antarctic) fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella)

bull and harem sparring blond adult pup pups ai Salisbury Plains, South Georgia at Paulet Island adult, Royal Bay pups, Salisbury Plain

Fur seals are the only Otaroid (eared seal) in the Antarctic. Pugnacious, especially during their breeding season, these agile seals not only can walk, they can outrun a human. And they have sharp teeth!

Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina)

molting male male closeup female with king penguins at Grytviken weaner, Gold Harbor elephant seal with fur seal, Fortuna Bay

The elephant seal is the largest of all pinnipeds. Full-grown males can be more than 4 meters long. Sleepy and awkward on land, they look funny when molting, which they do in February. When not breeding or molting, they live in the open sea.

Weddell seals (Leptonychotes weddelli)

on ice on ice on ice

Weddell seals are slightly larger than crabeater seals but have very small heads. They are a coastal inshore species and are found around the fast ice. Weddell seals eat fish.

Crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus)

two seals closeup Lemaire Channel at Pleneau Island at Neko Harbor in the Gerlache Channel

Crabeater seals are the most populous seal in the world. There are about fifty million of them. They live on the edge of the ice pack. Every adult crabeater seal has huge scars from close escapes from leopard seals. Orcas also kill crabeater seals. The seals eat krill, shrimp-like crustaceans, not crabs. Their teeth have special lobes forming a sieve used to filter the krill out of the water.

Whales

Most whales migrate north during the winter months to more temperate climates to breed, but return to the Antarctic Ocean in summer to feed.

Orca (Killer whale) (Orcinus orca)

female with calf female with calf female with calf orca orca

Orcas, or killer whales, have a striking black and white color pattern. They are predatory killers and effective co-operative hunters. They eat fish, squid, penguins, seals, seabirds, and even baleen whales much larger than themselves, which they hunt in packs. They are curious and interested in ships.

Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

minke

The minke is the smallest and most common of the great baleen whales. They are curious and often approach ships.

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalis)

fin whale

Fin whales are the second largest whale; only the blue whale is larger.

Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)

humpback fluking

Humpback whales are found in all oceans. They spend their summers in polar waters and winter towards the equator where they breed.

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Last modified 5 November 2019