Penguin
Order: Sphenisciformes
Penguins are birds that have adapted very well to life in the water. Their wing bones are flipper-like and, while useless for flying, are extremely well-suited to swimming. All penguins are “countershaded”, which means that they are darkly colored on their backs and white on their bellies. Countershading helps to camouflage penguins as they swim through the water; predators looking up from below a penguin have trouble seeing their white bellies against the light surface of the water, while predators looking down from above have trouble seeing their black backs against the darkness of the deep water.
Size The fairy penguin is the smallest of the penguin species at 16 inches tall. It weighs about 2.2 pounds. The largest penguin species is the emperor penguin, which is about 3.7 feet tall and weighs between 60 and 90 pounds.
Lifespan 15 to 20 years depending on the species.
Diet
Staples Krill, fish and squid.
In general, penguins closer to the equator eat more fish and penguins closer to Antarctica eat more squid and krill.
Population
The penguin species with the highest population is the Macaroni penguin with 11,654,000 pairs. The species with the lowest population is the endangered Galapagos penguin with between 6,000-15,000 individuals.
Range
Penguins can be found on every continent in the Southern Hemisphere from the tropical Galapagos Islands (the Galapagos penguin) off South America to Antarctica (the emperor penguin). Larger penguin species are found in colder climates where their large body mass enables them to cope with the conditions, while smaller penguins inhabit warmer climates.
Behavior
Penguins can spend up to 75% of their lives in the water. They do all of their hunting in the water. Their prey can be found within 60 feet of the surface, so penguins have no need to swim in deep water. They catch prey in their beaks and swallow them whole as they swim. Some species only leave the water for molting and breeding.
Penguins are social birds. Many species feed, swim and nest in groups. During the breeding season, some species form large groups, or “rookeries”, that include thousands of penguins. Each penguin has a distinct call, allowing individuals to find their mate and their chicks even in large groups.
Mating Season Varies depending on the species, though most breed during spring and summer.
Gestation Varies from 1 month-66 days depending on the species.
Number of offspring King and emperor penguins lay one egg. All other species of penguin lay two eggs.
Threats
Unfortunately, the earth's temperatures are rising at an alarming rate. In Antarctica, home to the famous Emperor Penguin, the annual sea ice melting season has extended by as much as 3 weeks in recent decades. Less ice means less habitat and the loss of critical food, such as shrimp-like krill, which depend on polar ice to reproduce.
Penguin populations have decreased by nearly 80 percent in some areas, and the majority of scientists agree that rising temperature due to climate change is the primary culprit. Defenders of Wildlife is working with leaders on Capitol Hill and elsewhere to stop global warming and save penguins and their habitat.
In addition to global warming and natural predation by sharks, orcas, leopard seals, sea lions and fur seals, other threats to penguins include impacts on habitat due to oil spills, pesticides, construction, destruction of habitat due to introduced herbivores, competition with humans for food and illegal egg harvesting.
Legal Status/Protection
CITES* (The Humboldt penguin is protected under Appendix I and the African penguin is protected under Appendix II), Endangered Species Act** (the Galapagos penguin is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act).
*Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international treaty with more than 144 member countries. Appendix I species cannot be traded commercially. Appendix II species can be traded commercially only if it does not harm their survival.
** The Endangered Species Act requires the US federal government to identify species threatened with extinction, identify habitat they need to survive, and help protect both. In doing so, the Act works to ensure the basic health of our natural ecosystems and protect the legacy of conservation we leave to our children and grandchildren.
How You Can Help
- Help penguins and other wildlife by adopting a penguin today at our Wildlife Adoption Center.
- Take Action for Wildlife at our Wildlife Action Center.
For additional information
Defenders' work on Global Warming
Watch our Public Service Announcement on Penguins and Global Warming
Seaworld's Pages on Penguins
