Difference between revisions of "Template:POTD protected"

From Encyclopedia Westarctica
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(167 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{| role="presentation" style="margin:0 3px 3px; width:100%; text-align:left; background-color:transparent; border-collapse: collapse; "
{| role="presentation" style="margin:0 3px 3px; width:100%; text-align:left; background-color:transparent; border-collapse: collapse; "
|style="padding:0 0.9em 0 0;" | [[File:Antarctic-midgee.jpg|300px]]
|style="padding:0 0.9em 0 0;" | [[File:King Penguin Chick.jpg|300px|thumb]]
|style="padding:0 6px 0 0"|
|style="padding:0 6px 0 0"|


The '''[[Antarctic midge]]''' is a species of flightless midge, endemic to the continent of [[Antarctica]]. At 0.079–0.24 in long, it is the largest purely terrestrial animal on the continent, as well as its only insect. It also has the smallest known insect genome as of 2014, with only 99 million base pairs of nucleotides (and about 13,500 genes).
The '''[[king penguin]]''' is a large species of [[penguin]], second only to the [[emperor penguin]] in size. King penguins eat small fish, mainly lanternfish, and squid. They are less reliant on [[krill]] and other crustaceans than most [[Southern Ocean]] predators. On foraging trips king penguins repeatedly dive to over 100 meters (300 ft), and have been recorded at depths greater than 300 meters (1,000 ft). King penguins breed on the subantarctic islands at the northern reaches of [[Antarctica]], South Georgia, and other temperate islands of the region. King penguins do not live or breed in [[Westarctica]].


This species is the [[National Symbols of Westarctica|national insect]] of [[Westarctica]].


To adapt to the cold temperatures, the Antarctic midge accumulates trehalose, glucose, and erythritol. These compounds help the insect survive freezing by reducing the amount of ice that forms within the body. They also stabilize proteins and membranes, binding to them by means of hydrogen bonds. Heat shock proteins also help the tolerance to both high and low temperatures.
<p><small>Photographer: Liam Quinn from Canada</small></p>
 
[[:Category:Images|'''(More Images)''']]
It not only tolerates, but also requires a freezing climate to survive: exposure of larvae to mild temperatures as +10 °C is enough to kill them within a week. Exposure to temperatures of +30 °C kills individuals in a few hours. It can, however, resist partial desiccation, surviving the loss of up to 70% of body water.
 
<p><small>Photographer: Tasteofcrayons</small></p>
[[:Category:Images|'''(More Featured Images)''']]
<div class="potd-recent" style="text-align:right;">
<div class="potd-recent" style="text-align:right;">

Latest revision as of 16:14, 17 October 2025

King Penguin Chick.jpg

The king penguin is a large species of penguin, second only to the emperor penguin in size. King penguins eat small fish, mainly lanternfish, and squid. They are less reliant on krill and other crustaceans than most Southern Ocean predators. On foraging trips king penguins repeatedly dive to over 100 meters (300 ft), and have been recorded at depths greater than 300 meters (1,000 ft). King penguins breed on the subantarctic islands at the northern reaches of Antarctica, South Georgia, and other temperate islands of the region. King penguins do not live or breed in Westarctica.


Photographer: Liam Quinn from Canada

(More Images)

Retrieved from "https://www.westarctica.wiki/index.php?title=Template:POTD_protected&oldid=14350"