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Life in the Southern Ocean Quick Facts  QUICK FACTS - Life in the Southern Ocean The Arctic Tern spends the summer in Antarctica and then flies back to the Arctic for the summer months there - this represents a yearly round trip of 40,000 km.. When hunting, seals can hold their breath for as long as an hour. Some Antarctic algae (tiny single-celled plants) have got little hairs for swimming in the snow. That way they can reach the sunlight, which they need for making food. Of the 20,000 known species of fish in the world, only 120 live in the Southern Ocean. Antarctic fish have adapted to the freezing conditions by developing a special `antifreeze' component in their blood fluids. Adult male Southern Elephant seals can weigh up to 2,200 kilograms. There are about 85 species of krill, ranging in size from under 1cm to up to 14cm. The dominant krill in the Southern Ocean is the Antarctic krill, which is about 6 cm long and has a life span of about 5-10 years. It is estimated that there is between 200 - 800 million tonnes of krill in the Southern Ocean. More Information >>      The Southern Ocean Contents >> Quick Facts<< Introduction Antarctic Marine Ecosystem Sea Life Fish Whales Seals Penguins Birds Petrels Survival Useful Links