Gentoo Penguin
~Animal of the Arctic~
Description
- Classification: Bird (National G)
- Scientific Name: Pygoscelis papua (National G)
- Weight (Male): 4.9 - 8.5 kg. (ARK)
- Weight (Female): 4.5 - 8.2 k.g (ARK)
- Height: 73-81 cm. (ARK)
- Communicates by loud trumpeting when its head is thrown back. (ARK)
- Has black head and throat. (ARK)
- Sometimes includes scattering white feather-caps on the head. (ARK)
- White patches are seen above each eye. (ARK)
- Back is a bluish black. (ARK)
- Webbed feet are peach colored. (National G)
- Tail is long and feathery. (What's)
Photo: Boxley, Paul
Habitat
- Lives in:
- Antarctic Peninsula (ARK)
- Sub-Antarctic Islands (ARK)
- South Georgia (IUCN)
- Falkland Islands (IUCN)
- sheltered valleys (National G)
- cliffs (National G)
- coastal plains (National G)
- Terrain includes:
- rocky areas (ARK)
- ice (ARK)
- water (National G)
- low lying gravel beach (IUCN)
- dry moraines (IUCN)
- Home is a circular nest built out of stone, feathers, seaweed, pebbles, or other materials the penguin can find. (What's)
Photo: Serene Blue
Food Chain
- Carnivore (National G)
- Hunts in the ocean (National G)
- Predator to: fish, squid, and crustaceans. (IUCN)
- Prey to: Leopard seals, sea lions, orcas, and humans. (National G)
- Chicks are prey to: Skuas, caracos. (National G)
- Diets vary depending on the penguins' locations. (ARK)
Swimming Antractic Gentoo Penguins
Video: Swimming Antractic
Adaptions
- When in danger, the Gentoo Penguin will run away. (What's)
- Their colonies are small. (What's)
- These penguins also rarely come back to the same nesting area every year. (What's)
- For hunting, the Gentoo Penguins have stream-like bodies and paddle-shaped flippers. (National G)
- These Penguins usually spend the whole day hunting. (National G)
- They are also able to remain in the water for up to seven minutes, and are able to dive up do 200 meters. (National G)
Endangerment and Critical Information
- Protection Status: None (IUCN)
- Received "Near Endangered" status in 2007, and latest check was in 2010. (IUCN)
- They are endangered because: (IUCN)
- adults are harvested for oil and skin
- eaten by leopard seals, sea lions, and orcas
- local pollution
- egg collection
- tourism disturbance lowers breeding
- interaction with fisheries
- associated marine traffic
- What can be done to save the penguins: (IUCN)
- long-term monitering
- decrease in oil pollution or other types of pollution
- minimize the amount of tourism around breeding colonies
Photo: Kinmartin, Scott