How does Antarctica’s long isolation from other continents affect its wildlife?

Antarctica’s long-term geographic isolation from other continents, which has persisted for roughly 40 to 60 million years, has profoundly shaped its wildlife and ecosystems.1

Impact on Terrestrial Life

This isolation, combined with a harsh climate and extensive ice cover, has severely limited the establishment and development of land-based flora and fauna. As a result, the continent supports only an impoverished community of cold-tolerant plants, such as lichens, mosses, and liverworts. There is a notable absence of native land mammals on the continent.12

Impact on Marine Life

In contrast to the limited terrestrial life, the surrounding waters are highly productive. The isolation has led to a high degree of endemism among marine species. For example, approximately 90 percent of the sea-bottom fish species in the Antarctic zone are found nowhere else, providing clear biological evidence of the continent's long-standing separation.34

While many marine mammals and birds range widely, the unique environmental conditions and isolation have fostered specialized adaptations, such as the heat-exchange systems in penguins and the ability of Weddell seals to survive under fast ice.35