Difference between revisions of "Template:Westarctica.wiki:Today's featured article"

From Encyclopedia Westarctica
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(updated new article)
 
(231 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[File:Snow Petrel-1.jpg|thumb|300px|left]]
[[File:Crabeater Pléneau Bay.jpg|250px|left]]
The '''[[snow petrel]]''' is one of only three birds that breed exclusively in [[Antarctica]] and has been seen at the geographic [[South Pole]]. It has the most southerly breeding distribution of any bird.
The '''[[crabeater seal]]''' is a true seal with a circumpolar distribution around the coast of [[Antarctica]]. They are found primarily on the free-floating [[pack ice]] that extends seasonally out from the Antarctic coast, which they use as a platform for resting, mating, social aggregation and accessing their prey. They are by far the most abundant seal species in the world. While population estimates are uncertain, there are at least 7 million and possibly as many as 75 million individuals. This success of this species is due to its specialized predation on the abundant [[Antarctic krill]] of the [[Southern Ocean]], for which it has uniquely adapted, sieve-like tooth structure.


Snow petrels feed mainly on fish, some cephalopods, mollusks, and [[krill]], as well as carrion. During the winter, they disperse to the [[pack ice]], [[ice]] floes, and the open sea. Flocks are characteristically seen sitting on [[iceberg]]s. Only very rarely are they observed north of the pack ice.
Despite its name, crabeater seals do not eat crabs. As well as being an important [[krill]] predator, the crabeater seal is an important component of the diet of [[leopard seal|leopard seals]], which consume about 80% of all crabeater pups.


With an occurrence range of 35,900,000 km2 (13,861,067 sq mi), and an estimated population of 4 million adult birds, the IUCN has classified this bird as least concern for conservation efforts.
'''([[crabeater seal|Full Article...]])'''
 
'''([[Snow petrel|Full Article...]])'''

Latest revision as of 13:37, 19 March 2026

Crabeater Pléneau Bay.jpg

The crabeater seal is a true seal with a circumpolar distribution around the coast of Antarctica. They are found primarily on the free-floating pack ice that extends seasonally out from the Antarctic coast, which they use as a platform for resting, mating, social aggregation and accessing their prey. They are by far the most abundant seal species in the world. While population estimates are uncertain, there are at least 7 million and possibly as many as 75 million individuals. This success of this species is due to its specialized predation on the abundant Antarctic krill of the Southern Ocean, for which it has uniquely adapted, sieve-like tooth structure.

Despite its name, crabeater seals do not eat crabs. As well as being an important krill predator, the crabeater seal is an important component of the diet of leopard seals, which consume about 80% of all crabeater pups.

(Full Article...)