The avian family Spheniscidae consists of penguins. Spheniscidae is the only family classified in the order Sphenisciformes.
Physical Characteristics
All penguins are flightless but are quite adept at swimming. All species have webbed feet which help them swim. Just about all penguins have white bellies and black blacks. All the species classified in the genus Eudyptes are crested. A Penguin has the least pneumatized bones of any bird. A penguin’s dark colored back helps it blend in with the dark ocean, and its white belly help’s it blend in with the light-surface waters. This type of camouflage is known as countershading.
Habitat
All penguins inhabit areas near an ocean.
Breeding
Penguins mate for life and both the mother and father care for the chicks. Species classified in the genus Aptenodytes lay only one egg per clutch; all other penguins lay 2 eggs.
Diet
Penguins eat fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods.
Predators
Animals that prey on penguins include skuas, petrels, Killer Whales, and seals.
Genera and Species
Genus-Aptenodytes
Aptenodytes forsteri-Emperor Penguin
Emperor Penguins live in Antarctica. Emperor Penguins can grow to heights of 115 centimeters (3 feet, 9.3 inches). The Emperor Penguin is the largest species classified in Spheniscidae; Emperor Penguins weigh up to 46 kilograms(101.4 pounds).
Aptenodytes patagonicus-King Penguin
King Penguins breed on many of the sub-Antarctic islands. King Penguins can grow to heights of 100 centimeters(3 Feet, 3.4 Inches) tall, and can weigh up to 18 kilograms(39.7 pounds).
Genus-Eudyptes
Eudyptes chrysocome-Southern Rockhopper Penguin
Southern Rockhopper Penguins live year round in Argentina, French Southern Territories, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, on the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), and on Heard Island and on the McDonald Islands. This species breeds in Australia; during the non-breeding time of the year Southern Rockhopper Penguins can be seen in Antarctica. This species can grow to 62 centimeters(2 feet, 0.4 inches) tall, and weigh up 4.5 kg (9.9 lbs.).
Eudyptes chrysolophus-Macaroni Penguin
The Macaroni Penguin’s breeding range: Antarctica, Bouvet Island, Chile, Malvinas, French Southern Territories, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, South Africa, and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. This species can also be seen in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Saint Helena, and Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Macaroni Penguins are about 70 centimeters(2 feet, 3.6 inches)tall, and weigh up to 6.6 kilograms(14.6 pounds)
Eudyptes moseleyi-Moseley’s Rockhopper Penguin
The Moseley’s Rockhopper Penguin is also known as the Northern Rockhopper Penguin, or simply the Moseley’s Penguin. The Mosely’s Rockhopper Penguin’s year round range: French Southern Territories; French Southern Territories (Amsterdam-St. Paul Is.); Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Breeding Range: French Southern Territories (Kerguelen). This species can also be seen in; New Zealand, South Africa, and near the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). Moseley’s Rockhopper Penguins can reach heights of 62 centimeters(2 feet, 0.4 inches) and can weigh up to 4.3 kilograms(9.5 pounds).
Eudyptes pachyrhynchus-Fiordland Penguin
The Fiordland Penguin is also known as the Fiordland Crested Penguin, or New Zealand Crested Penguin. The Fiordland Penguin is native to New Zealand but can also be seen in Australia. Fiordland Penguins can grow to heights of 71 centimeters(2 feet, 3.9 inches), and can weigh up to 5.95 kilograms(13.1 pounds).
Eudyptes robustus-Snares Penguin
The Snares Penguin is also known as the Snares Crested Penguin, or the Snares Islands Penguin. The Snares Penguin can be seen in Australia, Argentina,and near the Falkland Islands, but breeds in New Zealand. The Snares Penguin can grow to 73 centimeters(2 feet, 4.7 inches)tall, and can weigh up to 4.3 kilograms(9.5 pounds).
Eudyptes schlegeli-Royal Penguin
The Royal Penguin can be seen near the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and can also be seen in Argentina. However this species breeds in Australia. The Royal Penguin can grow to 76 centimeters(2 feet, 5.9 inches)tall, and can weigh up to 8.1 kilograms(17.86 pounds).
Eudyptes sclateri-Erect-Crested Penguin
The Erect-Crested Penguin lives all year round in New Zealand; but can also be seen in Australia, Argentina, Antarctica, and near the Falkland Islands. The Erect-Crested Penguin can grow to heights of 70 centimeters(2 feet, 3.6 inches) and can weigh up to 7 kilograms(15.4 pounds).
Genus-Eudyptula
Eudyptula minor-Little Penguin
The Little Penguin is also known as the Little Blue Penguin, or the Blue Penguin. Little Penguins live year round in Australia and New Zealand; but can also occasionally be seen in Chile. A Little Penguin can grow to heights of 45 centimeters(1 foot, 5.7 inches) and can weigh up to 2.1 kilograms(4.6 pounds).
Genus-Megadyptes
Megadyptes antipodes-Yellow-Eyed Penguin
The Yellow-Eyed Penguin lives in New Zealand year round. The Yellow-Eyed Penguin can grow to 79 centimeters tall(2 feet, 7.1 inches), and can weigh up to 8.9 kilograms(19.6 pounds).
Genus-Pygoscelis
Pygoscelis adeliae-Adelie Penguin
The Adelie Penguin can be seen in; Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand, but can also be seen near the Falkland Islands, French Southern Territories and Heard Island and the McDonald Islands. However Adelie Penguins breed in Antarctica, and the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The Adelie Penguin can grow to heights of 73 centimeters(2 feet, 4.7 inches) and can weigh up to 8.2 kilograms(18.1 pounds).
Pygoscelis antarcticus-Chinstrap Penguin
The Chinstrap Penguin can be seen in Argentina, Australia, Chile, French Southern Territories, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, and New Zealand. The Chinstrap Penguin can also be seen near the Falkland Islands, and Heard Island and McDonald Islands. The Chinstrap Penguin breeds in Antarctica, and also breeds on Bouvet Island, and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The Chinstrap Penguin can grow to 77 centimeters(2 feet, 6.3 inches)tall, and can weigh up to 5.3 kilograms(11.7 pounds).
Pygoscelis papua-Gentoo Penguin
The Gentoo Penguin’s breeding range consists of: Australia; Falkland Islands, French Southern Territories, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, South Africa, and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Gentoo Penguins live year round in Argentina, and on the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Gentoo Penguins can also be seen in Chile, New Zealand; Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, and on Bouvet Island. Gentoo Penguins can grow to heights of 90 centimeters(2 feet, 11.4 inches) and can weigh up to 8.5 kilograms(18.7 pounds).
Genus-Spheniscus
Spheniscus demersus-African Penguin
The African Penguin is also known as the Cape Penguin, or the South African Penguin. The African Penguin lives year round in Namibia, and South Africa. This species can also be seen in Angola, DRC, Gabon, and Mozambique. The African Penguin can grow to heights of 70 centimeters(2 feet, 3.6 inches) and can weigh up to 3.7 kilograms(8.2 pounds).
Spheniscus humboldti-Humboldt Penguin
The Humboldt Penguin breeds in Chile and Peru. This species can also be seen in Colombia, Ecuador, and Alaska, U.S.A. The Humboldt Penguin can grow to heights of 70 centimeters(2 feet, 3.6 inches) and weigh up to 6 kilograms(13.2 pounds).
Spheniscus magellanicus-Magellanic Penguin
The Magellanic Penguin lives year round in Argentina and Chile. This species also breeds on the Falkland Islands; during the non-breeding time of the year Magellanic Penguins can also be seen in Brazil, Peru, and Uruguay; and can also occasionally be seen in Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. The Magellanic Penguin can grow to lengths of 76 centimeters(2 feet, 5.9 inches), and can weigh up to 7.8 kilograms(17.2 pounds)..
Fun Facts
- Penguins can not fly, but the way they swim is like they are flying through the water.
- Emperor Penguins can dive to depths of 535 m (1,755 ft).
