Marine mammals from Antarctica

The Minke Whale, with a 10 to 12 m adult size, is also the most elusive of baleen whales in Antarctica

The Minke Whale, with a 10 to 12 m adult size, is also the most elusive of baleen whales in Antarctica

© M. Scheidat - Alfred Wegener Institute

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Full Gallery

  • Inquisitive young Weddell Seal
  • Crab-eater Seal, the most numerous of Antarctic Seals, and specialised krill-eater
  • The Minke Whale, the main target species of the cetologists onboard Polarstern
  • The Minke Whale, with a 10 to 12 m adult size, is also the most elusive of baleen whales in Antarctica
  • The Minke Whale likes to feed among the sea ice
  • The Humpback Whale, quiet numerous near the South Shetland
  • The humpback whale's huge flippers
  • The Fin Whale, with a size easily above 20 m, is the biggest species observed so far
  • Rare picture of an Arnoux's Beaked Whales pod, a typical species of the Southern Ocean. An excellent diver, very fond of squid.
  • Close-up on the head of a male Arnoux's Beaked Whale, with the two only and protruding teeth, typical of that group of cetaceans
  • Very rare picture of a male Strapt-toothed Whale, very seldom observed in Antarctica, and also belonging to beaked whales. The two orange spots on the sides of the beak's base are again protruding teeth, which can meet above the animal's mouth.
  • Adult Orca, belonging to the pale subspecies only found in Antarctica, the most powerful predator of the Southern Ocean

Focus on

Teacher Koen Meirlaen performs the experiment at the Princess Elisabeth station in Antarctica.

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