Penguin
About Penguins

Penguins are the most perfect seabirds that have ever lived, as beautifully designed for aquatic life as whales or seals. All penguin species share certain traits; stiff flippers instead of wings, tiny, densely packed feathers for insulation, and their unique, upright stance.

Yet there is also considerable variety among the seventeen penguin species; the following chart may help you keep them all straight, and tell you something about them. Also, just click on the English name for each bird, you will see a picture and some additional information about that species!


Common name Latin name Size Diet Estimated
Population
Status

The Great Penguins : Aptenodytes - "Flightess Diver"

Emperor Penguin Aptenodytes forsteri 115 cm (45") Fish 350,000 Stable
King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus 95 cm (37") Fish 2,000,000+ Stable

The Brush-tailed Penguins : Pygoscelis - "Bottom-legged"

Adelie Penguin Pygoscelis adeliae 71 cm (28") Krill 5,000,000 Stable
Chinstrap Penguin Pygoscelis antarctica 77 cm (30") Krill 13,000,000 Stable
Gentoo Penguin Pygoscelis papua 81 cm (32") Fish, Krill 600,000 Stable

The Crested Penguins : Eudyptes - "Good Diver"

Erect-crested Penguin Eudyptes sclateri 68 cm (27") Squid, Shrimp 400,000 Vulnerable
Fiordland Penguin Eudyptes pachyrhynchus 71 cm (28") Squid, Fish 2,000 Vulnerable
Macaroni Penguin Eudyptes chrysolophus 71 cm (28") Krill 23,000,000 Stable
Rockhopper Penguin Eudyptes chrysocome 62 cm (24") Krill, Fish 7,000,000 Declining
Royal Penguin Eudyptes schlegeli 76 cm (30") Krill, Fish 1,750,000 Stable
Snares Penguin Eudyptes robustus 73 cm (29") Shrimp, Fish 45,000 Stable

The Yellow-Eyed Penguin : Megadyptes - "Large Diver"

Yellow-eyed Penguin Megadyptes antipodes 76 cm (30") Fish 3,000 Threatened

The Banded Penguins : Spheniscus - "Wedge-like"

African Penguin Spheniscus demersus 53 cm (21") Small fish < 1,000 Vulnerable
Galapagos Penguin Spheniscus mendiculus 70 cm (27") Fish 150,000 Declining
Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti 70 cm (27") Fish 10,000 Vulnerable
Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus 76 cm (30") Fish 4,000,000 Stable

The Little Penguin : Eudyptula - "Little Good Diver"

Little
(or Blue) Penguin
Eudyptula minor 45 cm (18") Small fish 1,050,000 Stable


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