Picto Diary - 14 January 2023 (Part 2) - Yalour Islands
Above: Adelie penguins. Yalour Islands. Antarctica, 14 January 2023.
The Adélie penguin ( Pygoscelis adeliae) is a species of penguin common along the entire coast of the Antarctic continent, which is its only habitat. It is the most widely spread penguin species, as well as the most southerly distributed of all penguins, along with the emperor penguin.
Zodiac cruise in and around the Yalour Islands.
The third variety of penguins we have seen on this voyage. Before, Gentoo and Chinstrap.
Yalour Islands, also known as the Jalour Islands, is a group of islands and rocks 2.8 kilometers in extent in the south part of the Wilhelm Archipelago. The group lies 1.9 kilometers northwest of Cape Tuxen, Graham Land. Discovered and named by the French Antarctic Expedition, 1903–05, under J.B. Charcot.
Above: Crabeater Seals. Yalour Islands. Antarctica. 14 January 2023.
The crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophaga), also known as the krill-eater seal, is a true seal with a circumpolar distribution around the coast of Antarctica. They are medium- to large-sized (over 2 m in length), relatively slender and pale-colored, 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. Indeed, its scientific name, translated as "lobe-toothed (lobodon) crab eater (carcinophaga)", refers specifically to the finely lobed teeth adapted to filtering their small crustacean prey.[3] Despite its name, crabeater seals do not eat crabs. As well as being an important krill predator, the crabeater seal's pups are an important component of the diet of leopard seals (H. leptonyx). They are the only member of the genus Lobodon. (Wikepedia).
Above: Icebergs. Yalour Islands, Antarctica. 14 January 2023.
Photographed from zodiac.
Above: Zodiac. L'Austral. Antarctica. 14 January 2023.
Prudently, the expedition zodiac operations are cancelled when the seas are rough. So far, being in inlets and bays, protected from winds, all planned zodiac excursions have taken place. Our zodiac excursions have been comfortable. One or two times the trip from the ship to the protected inlets have been a bit rocky. I never felt at risk on these bouncy rides but did grab hold of the safety rope behind me and leaned an extra bit forward. This is my first experience in this amazing little watercraft. Zodiacs were powered by a 60 hp outboard engine. Passengers are seated and the operator stands at rear. Expedition staff take great care in boarding us geezer passengers. Two able seamen, one in the zodiac and one on the zodiac, grip your arms and ease you in and out of the zodiac. The passenger sits on the pontoon on either side and swings his leg out and over the pontoon to board and get off the zodiac. We are not allowed to stand in the zodiac. If we are seated at the far end, we slide on the pontoon on our rear ends to get to our appointed "seats."
Addendum
Welcome back from Antarctica. As usual, I have enjoyed your picto diary.
Hoops,
Pelham, NY
Looks very cold, but great red coats!
Isetta,
Chicago, IL