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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
penguin |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Aves |
| ORDER: |
Sphenisciformes |
| FAMILY: |
Spheniscidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
There
are 17 species of penguins:
| • |
emperor
- Aptenodytes forsteri |
| • |
king
- Aptenodytes patagonica |
| • |
Adélie
- Pygoscelis adeliae |
| • |
gentoo
- Pygoscelis papua |
| • |
chinstrap
- Pygoscelis antarcticus |
| • |
rockhopper
- Eudyptes crestatus |
| • |
macaroni
- Eudyptes chrysolophus |
| • |
royal
- Eudyptes schlegeli |
| • |
Fiordland
crested - Eudyptes pachyrhynchus |
| • |
erect-crested
- Eudyptes sclateri |
| • |
Snares
Island - Eudyptes robustus |
| • |
yellow-eyed
- Megadyptes antipodes |
| • |
fairy
(little blue) - Eudyptula minor |
| • |
Magellanic
- Spheniscus magellanicus |
| • |
Humboldt
- Spheniscus humboldti |
| • |
black-footed
- Spheniscus demersus |
| • |
Galapagos
- Spheniscus mendiculus |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
The
upright body posture and mostly black-and-white
coloration makes penguins easy to distinguish from
other birds. As with other marine animals, penguins
have a fusiform (tapered) shape. The forelimbs are
modified into flippers, the tail is short and wedge-shaped
and the hind limbs are set far back on the body,
which is supported on land by webbed feet. Species-specific
markings on the head and facial areas make it easy
to tell the adults of most penguin species apart. |
| MALE |
Male
and female penguins of most species are not sexually
dimorphic. The exception is the crested penguins
in which males are more robust and have larger bills. |
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| SIZE: |
The
emperor penguin is the largest penguin, standing
112 cm (44 in) tall. The smallest penguin is the
fairy penguin, standing just 41 cm (16 in). |
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| WEIGHT: |
Of
the 17 penguin species, emperor penguins weigh
the most at 27-41 kg (60-90 lbs). In contrast,
the fairy penguin is the lightest, weighing roughly
1 kg (2.2 lbs). |
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| DIET: |
Depends
on the species - fishes, squid and krill (a shrimplike
crustacean) |
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| INCUBATION: |
In most species of penguins, both the male and female
parent takes turns incubating the egg. In emperor
penguins, the female transfers a newly laid egg
to her mate's feet, and then leaves to feed at sea
while the male incubates the egg for as long as
66 days. The incubation period lasts anywhere from
4 weeks (erect-crested penguins) to 66 days (emperor
penguins).
For most species, breeding season occurs from the
Southern hemisphere's spring through summer period.
The primary exception is the emperor penguin which
breeds during the Southern hemisphere's winter period. |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
Emperor
and king penguins typically lay a single egg, whereas
penguins of other species usually lay two eggs. |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
Approximately
3-8 years |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
For
most species, the average lifespan is 15-20 years
although some individuals live much longer. |
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| RANGE: |
All
penguins live south of the equator, from the icy
waters of Antarctica to the tropical Galápagos
Islands off the coast of Ecuador, just south of
the equator. |
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| HABITAT: |
Tend
to inhabit islands and remote landmasses that are
relatively free from land predators. Some species
spend nearly 75% of their life at sea. |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Chinstrap
penguins may be the most numerous penguin species,
with a population estimated at 6.5 million breeding
pairs. The vulnerable yellow-eyed penguin population
is estimated at less than 7,000. |
|
| STATUS: |
IUCN |
12 species are listed |
| CITES |
Humboldt
penguin - Appendix I; African penguin - Appendix
II |
| USFWS |
The
Galapagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus)
is listed as Endangered |
| OTHER |
All
Antarctic penguins are legally protected by the
Antarctic Treaty. Penguins are vulnerable to habitat
destruction, overfishing of primary food sources,
ecological disasters such as oil spills and human
encroachment into nesting areas. |
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| 1. |
All
penguins live south of the equator, from the icy
waters of Antarctica to the tropical Galapagos Islands
off the coast of Ecuador, almost astride the equator. |
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| 2. |
Penguins
are specialized marine birds adapted to living at
sea. Some species spend as much as 75% of their
lives in the sea - only coming ashore for breeding
and molting. Penguin wings are paddle-like flippers
used for swimming, not flying. |
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| 3. |
Penguins
have denser feathers than most other types of birds
having as many as 70 feathers per square inch. These
feathers are spaced very closely and tufted with
down on the shafts to help keep the penguins warm. |
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| 4. |
Adult
penguins are countershaded (dark dorsal, light ventral)
which helps to conceal swimming penguins from predators
such as killer whales, sharks or leopard seals.
When viewed from above, the dark dorsal side blends
in with the darker ocean depths. When viewed from
beneath, the light ventral side helps in with the
lighter surface of the sea. |
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| 5. |
Antarctic
species of penguins can move quickly on ice by tobogganing
on their bellies using their flippers and feet to
help propel them along. |
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| 6. |
Chinstrap
penguins may be the most numerous penguin, with
a population estimated at 12-13 million. |
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| 7. |
The
most vulnerable penguin is the yellow-eyed penguin,
which inhabits the coasts and offshore islands of
southeast New Zealand. The yellow-eyed penguin population
is estimated at less than 7,000. |
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| 8. |
For
more in-depth information, explore the PENGUIN INFOBOOK. |
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The Antarctic Treaty legally protects all Antarctic
penguins. Penguins are vulnerable to habitat destruction,
overfishing of primary food sources, ecological
disasters such as oil spills, and human encroachment
into nesting areas.
Collectively, SeaWorld Adventure Parks have maintained
nine species of penguins, all of which have successfully
reproduced. SeaWorld, San Diego has hatched over
500 penguins. This is the only place outside of
Antarctica that emperor penguins have successfully
reproduced. To date 20 emperor penguins have hatched
and been raised at SeaWorld, San Diego. In addition,
the Humboldt penguins at SeaWorld are part of
the species survival program (SSP) of the American
Zoo and Aquarium Association in an attempt to
ensure the survival of this endangered species. |
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|
|
| Coates,
J. Penguins: Flightless Birds of the Southern
Hemisphere. San Diego. SeaWorld, Inc. 2001. |
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Oki, D. Penguins. San Diego. SeaWorld, Inc.
1996. |
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|
Peterson, R.T. Penguins. Boston. Houghton
Mifflin Co. 1979. |
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| http://www.audubon.org/bird/BoA/BOA_index.html |
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| www.birdlife.org |
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