Animals

          The terrestrial fauna of Antarctica consists entirely of invertebrates, mostly microscopic, which live in the soil and in vegetation. They rage from protozoa (single-celled creatures), rotifers, tardigrades and nematodes to arthropods (mainly mites and springtails). The largest invertebrate is the wingless midge (Belgica antarctica), which grows to 12 mm long.

          Compared to other regions, insects are scarce and small in Antarctica. only 67 species have been recorded, and most are less than 2 mm long. Most of them are parasites, like lice which live in the feathers and fur of birds and seals, where they are protected from the harsh climate for much of the time. Collemola (springtails) are the only free-living insects. They feed on algae and fungi, and remain dormant in winter.

          Mites, which belong to the spider family, are the commonest land animals. One of them, which is only 0.3 mm long, is the world’s most southerly indigenous animal. It has been found as far south as 85°. Many of the mites avoid freezing by a physical process known as "supercooling", whereby their body fluids are maintained in a liquid state in temperatures below their normal freezing point. Species such as the oribatoud mite (Alaskozetes antarcitcus) and the springtail (cryptopygus antarcticus) have a constant struggle to maintain this unstable condition. The presence of food material in the gut provides some particles around which ice will form, so, in order to survive, they must strike a balance between freezing and starving. Their ability to synthesize glycerol, an antifreeze, enables them to survive temperatures of – 35°C.

Plants

Birds