Organisms main content.

What Organisms Live in Antarctica Today?

Part of the Antarctica: The Farthest Place Close to Home Curriculum Collection.

What does it take to survive in Antarctica? For emperor penguins, the answer is teamwork—they huddle together by the thousands to keep incubating eggs warm. Learn how other organisms have adapted.

Article The Worst Journey in the World Why in the world would anyone spend five weeks trekking into the dark Antarctic winter to bring back a few penguin eggs? Find out,... Article Great White South by Herbert G. Ponting Ponting is one of the best photographers to have documented Antarctica. He was also a fine travel writer. Read an excerpt from his... Article Photographing Weddell Seals from Below the Ice Weddell seals spend about 90% of their time submerged, making them a tricky animal to study. Before Davis developed a special camera,... Article Microorganisms in Antarctic Seas During the winter, the sea ice off Antarctica covers an area so big that it's actually the largest continuous habitat on Earth. The... Article Antarctic Adaptations Unlike human visitors, Antarctica's plants and animals don't require high-tech gear. How have these organisms adapted to thrive—not... Educator Materials Create a Polar Creature Ice floes, katabatic winds, and subzero temperatures—welcome to life in Antarctica. What features would your ideal creature have... Article Studying Antarctica's Marine Organisms Antarctica's water is so clear that organisms have problems finding food. "It's like parents having to tell their young, 'We're...