Adaptations of Antarctic pinnipeds to their environment

• Main Author: Muller, Chris
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: University of Canterbury 2001
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10092/14049

Antarctica is an extreme environment, and organisms living there must contend with extreme cold, ice, and winter darkness. The seals are well-suited for life in this unique environment, with a variety of evolutionary, morphological, physiological, behavioural and other adaptations which allow these animals to live in the hostile Antarctic environment. This leview will introduce the Antarctic seal species, explain their evolutionary origins, and detail some of the adaptations they possess for survival. Antarctica is an extreme environment, and organisms living there must contend with extreme cold, ice, and winter darkness. The seals are well-suited for life in this unique environment, with a variety of evolutionary, morphological, physiological, behavioural and other adaptations which allow these animals to live in the hostile Antarctic environment. This leview will introduce the Antarctic seal species, explain their evolutionary origins, and detail some of the adaptations they possess for survival.