QUESTION:
I would like to ask how many different kinds of species live in Antarctica
I hope you will answer my question.

                Sincerely, Sangeeta
                Sequoia Elementary School in Pleasant Hill, California.


ANSWER from Steven Downey, Doctoral Student, University of Illinois
            Wed, 19 Feb 1997 12:16:56 -0500
   
Dear Sangeeta,
        
Where do you want to start?  Including those in the sea, there are a lot
more species of life than most people realize.  The biggest of these are
whales, of which there are seven different species found in Antarctica.
They include Blue Whales (9,000), Fin Whales (123,000), Humpback Whales
(25,000), Orcas or Killer Whales, Minke Whales (850,000), Sei Whales
(55,000), and Sperm Whales.  The number in the parentheses are estimates of
that species worldwide population.  As for other species found in the
oceans, there are numerous species of fish, squid, octopi, crustaceans
(crabs, etc.), zooplankton, and three species of dolphins:  Dusky,
Hourglass, and Peale's.

There are fewer land animal species on Antarctica than in the oceans. The
most diverse group are the birds, of which there are over 20 species not
counting the six species of penguins.  The Albatross family includes three
species: Wandering Albatross, the Black-browed, and the Grey-headed.  There
are two different Cormorants, the Blue-eyed Shag and the King Shag.  Three
Gulls/Terns exist:  the Kelp Gull, Antarctic Tern, and the Arctic Tern.
The South Polar and the Falkland Brown make up the Skua population; while
the American Sheathbill is the only one of its family in the Antarctic.
That leaves us the Petrels, Fulmars, and Shearwaters.  In this group, there
are 10 species found in Antarctica.  They include: Southern Giant Petrels,
Southern Fulmars, White-chinned Petrels, Antarctic Petrels, Snow Petrels,
Dove Prions, Cape Petrels, Greater Shearwaters, Wilson's Storm Petrels, and
Black-billed Storm Petrels.  As for the Penguins there are six species
found in Antarctica:  Adelies,  Chinstraps, Gentoos, Macaronis, Kings, and
Emperors.

The last major animal family are seals.  There are six species found in
Antarctica:  Antarctic Furs, Crabeaters, Leopards, Rosses, Southern
Elephants, and Weddells.

Thanks for your question!
Steven