🐧 Penguins 🐧
• About Penguins •
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Penguins are aquatic, flightless seabirds in the family Spheniscidae. They
live
almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, the Galápagos penguin, is the only penguin
found
north of the
Equator. Although penguins have lost the ability to
fly,
they are skilled swimmers. A penguin’s powerful wings are adapted for “flying” through the water rather than
through
the
air.
The black and white coloration of penguins is called countershading, it is a means of
camouflage that conceals an
animal from both above and below. (While a penguin is swimming, its pale undersides conceal it against the
sky,
while
its dark back conceals it against the sea bed.)
Penguins hunt at sea, using their excellent swimming abilities to capture their prey, which includes ocean
animals
such
as krill, fish and squid. Predators of penguins include sharks, killer whales
(orcas) and leopard
seals.
Although many penguins live on cold, inhospitable Antarctic and subantarctic coastlines, some penguin
species are
found
in temperate regions further north.
In total, there are around nineteen different types of penguins. The exact number of penguin species is disputed
because
some penguins are very closely related to others, making it difficult to classify them such as the
Rockhopper Penguins.
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• My Favourite Penguins •
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-
Gentoo Penguin
- Scientific name: Pygoscelis Papua
- Type: Brush-Tailed Penguin
- Max weight: 8.5 kg / 19 lb
- Max height: 90 cm / 35 in
- Conservation status: Least Concern
-
Population: Stable
over 600,000 to date (2022) and climbing!
The Gentoo Penguin is the third-largest species of penguin. It can be identified by the distinctive white stripe that runs from eye to eye over the top of the head. Other distinguishing features include a bright orange bill and orange feet.
The Gentoo penguin is found on several island groups in the sub-Antarctic region, including the Falkland Islands and South Georgia in the southern Atlantic Ocean, and the Kerguelen Islands (also known as the Desolation Islands) in the southern Indian Ocean.
The Gentoo penguin’s closest relative is the Adélie penguin.
These penguins can swim at speeds of up to 36km/h! That's 4 times faster than any Olympic swimmer!
Learn more about them on: Wikipedia -
Macaroni Penguin
- Scientific name: Eudyptes Chrysolophus
- Type: Crested Penguin
- Max weight: 6.4 kg / 14 lb
- Max height: 71 cm / 28 in
- Conservation status: Vulnerable
-
Population: Rapidly Decreasing!
estimated 6.3 million breeding pairs.
The Macaroni Penguin has a yellow crest, a black face and red bill. The species was named by English sailors; the penguin’s bright yellow crest reminded them of ‘macaronis’ – followers of an 18th century fashion where men wore large wigs and flamboyant clothing with ornate feathers.
The Macaroni penguin is found in several locations in the Indian and South Atlantic Oceans, including the Crozet, Kerguelen, Heard, South Georgia and Prince Edward Island groups.
Macaroni Penguin's are the world’s most common penguin, with a global population of around 6.3 million breeding pairs. Despite its relative abundance, the species’ conservation status is ‘Vulnerable’ due to a sharp population decline that has taken place over the last 30-50 years.
Learn more about them on: Wikipedia
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-
Emperor Penguin
- Scientific name: Aptenodytes Forsteri
- Type: Great Penguin
- Max weight: 45.4 kg / 100 lb
- Max height: 130 cm / 51 in
- Conservation status: Near Threatened
-
Population: Decreasing
approximately 595,000 adults in Antarctica
The Emperor Penguin is not only the largest type of penguin, being both the heaviest and the tallest member of the family Spheniscidae, but also the fifth-largest of all birds and found only on the continent of Antarctica.
The Emperor Penguin’s distinguishing features include orange-yellow feathers around its ears and shoulders, and the orange-pink color of its lower bill.
They breed during the Antarctic winter, and are one of the only two living members of the “Great Penguin” genus, Aptenodytes.
They can reach depths of over 500m and stay underwater for up to 22 minutes!
Learn more about them on: Wikipedia -
Galápagos Penguin
- Scientific name: Spheniscus Mendiculus
- Type: Banded Penguin
- Max weight: 2.5 kg / 5.5 lb
- Max height: 49 cm / 19 in
- Conservation status: Endangered
-
Population: Decreasing
about 1,800 and around 1,200 mature penguins left!
The Galápagos Penguin is only found on the Galápagos Islands, which is a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean famous for providing the inspiration for Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution.
The Galápagos Islands lie on the Equator, thereby making the Galápagos penguin the only penguin found in the northern hemisphere.
The Galápagos penguin is the second-smallest type of penguin. It has a black face ringed by a narrow white line. Surrounding its white chest is a black band.
It is currently the rarest penguin species!
Learn more about them on: Wikipedia
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• Adopt A Penguin •
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Organisations like WWF (The World Wildlife Fund) help
local communities
conserve the natural resources they depend upon; transform markets and policies toward
sustainability; and protect and restore species and their habitats.
Climate change is reducing the amount of sea ice in parts of the Antarctic Peninsula. One of the
penguins main food
sources - krill - breeds and feeds under the sea ice.
Climate change is also one of the big reasons for the rapidly decreasing
population of penguins such as Adélie Penguins, Macaroni
Penguins, Emperor Penguins, and the Galápagos
Penguins.
Animal Adoptions and Donations give a huge boost towards trying to find ways to
help increase their population. They not only help
fund projects to
monitor penguins and
their movements and see how they're being affected by climate change but also fund other vital work around the
world.
WWF are involved in helping improve the way Antarctica is managed through the Antarctic Treaty and the Commission
for the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). They ensure that fisheries
are sustainable and aim to
eliminate illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
By adopting a penguin, your donation can help an organisation like WWF improve the management of
Antarctica’s resources
and safeguard its wildlife, reduce illegal and unsustainable fishing practices and fund other essential work
around the
world.
Check out their website: WWF
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↓↓ If you would like to learn more about other Penguin Species click the button! ↓↓