Antarctica

This updated guidebook to Antarctica covers the home of the world s largest concentration of wildlife in the coldest, windiest and driest place on earth.

• Cruise the Southern Ocean for a wandering albatross
• Land on continental beaches to sit with thousands of penguins
• Keep a sharp eye open for humpback whales against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains soaring upwards from the sea
• Marvel at orcas harrying Weddell seals off ice floes
• Gawp at a leopard seal as it grabs and flays a penguin
• Visiting Antarctica means being in your very own natural-history documentary.

Conditions may be extreme, but wildlife thrives in superb scenery. Bradt s Antarctica: a guide to the wildlife brings to life the history of exploration (and exploitation) in this vast polar desert, where two-thirds of the world s fresh water is locked up as ice on a continent twice the size of Australia.

This readable introduction to mammals, birds, fish, invertebrates and plants is ideal for those `going south to the world s highest continent, where more than half the land exceeds 2, 000m above sea level.

Celebrating the amazing species of this spectacular environment, the guide features chapters on the region s famous whales and penguins alongside entries on lesser-known species like skuas and sheathbills.

Each species account blends extensive insights into natural history with identification tips and stunning artwork. Although focusing on wildlife on the Antarctic Peninsula, a section on South Georgia s birds briefs those whose itinerary extends to that island.

Updated throughout to address the needs of a flourishing but environmentally conscious tourism industry, this eighth edition takes account of evolving changes in population dynamics of Antarctic creatures, and reflects profound changes to the ice-shelf extent, which have made it easier for expedition vessels to contemplate visiting emperor penguin colonies.

Written by renowned expedition leader and former natural-history broadcaster Tony Soper and illustrated with specially commissioned paintings by Dafila Scott (granddaughter of `Scott of the Antarctic , no less), Bradt s Antarctica: a guide to the wildlife is an informative, entertaining guidebook that will whet your appetite for this trip of a lifetime and will always be within arm s reach when you get there.

Introduction

Discovery and Exploitation

Terrestrial Plants And Insects

Marine Invertebrates

Fish

Birds

Mammals

Appendices

Author, Illustrator

Index