Emperor penguin

Aptenodytes forsteri

Photo by Martha de Jong-Lantink (Fotopedia)

Common name:
emperor penguin (en); pinguim-imperador (pt); manchot empereur (fr); pingüino emperador (es); kaiserpinguin (de)

Taxonomy:
Order Sphenisciformes
Family Spheniscidae

Range:
This species is only found in Antarctica and in the surrounding polar waters.

Size:
These large penguins are 110-130 cm long and weigh 22-45 kg.

Habitat:
The emperor penguin breeds on stable pack ice near coastal areas and up to 18 km offshore, usually in areas where ice cliffs or icebergs shelter them from the wind. They forage on the cold water of the Antarctic Ocean, ranging as far north as 65º S.

Diet:
They feed on small pelagic fishes, crustaceans and cephalopods, namely Antarctic krill Euphausia superba, amphipods, glacial squid Psychroteuthis glacialis, hooked squid Kondakovia longimana, Antarctic neosquid Alluroteuthis antarcticus and fishes such as Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum, Trematomus sp., Pagothenia sp. Antarctic jonasfish Notolepsis coatsi, Electrona antarctica and various Channichthyidae.

Breeding:
Emperor penguins are monogamous, but pair bonds usually only last 1 year. They breed in March-January. The female lays a single white egg, which is immediately transferred to the male’s feet where it is kept warm under a pouch of feathery skin. The female then departs for the sea to feed, and doesn’t return until spring, whilst the male incubates the egg alone in the constant darkness of the Antarctic winter for 62-67 days. The female arrives soon after the chick hatches and starts feeding it, while the male goes out to sea. The chick is fed by both parents, which take turns, and joins a crèche of hundreads or thousands of chicks at about 45-50 days of age, but continue to be fed by the parents until fledging. They fledge 4-5 months after hatching and reach sexual maturity at 3 years of age.

Conservation:
IUCN status - NT (Near-Threatened)
This species has a relatively large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 475.000 individuals. The emperor penguin is expected to suffer a moderate decline in the near future as global warming reduces the availability of stable pack ice in the more northern breeding colonies. When Earth's tropospheric temperature reach 2º C above pre-industrial levels, all colonies north of 68ºS will possibly be lost and all colonies north of 70ºS will suffer negative impacts. Human disturbance may also be a problem in some areas due to the proximity of scientific bases and aircraft movements, but it is strictly regulated.

her Trematomus species, Pagothenia species, Notolepis coatsi, Electrona antarctica, and fish in the family Channichthyidae

Alluroteuthis antarcticus

Adelie penguin

Pygoscelis adeliae

Photo by Sten Shebs (Wikipedia)

Common name:
Adelie penguin (en); pinguim-de-Adélia (pt); manchot Adélie (fr); pingüino de Adelia (es); Adeliepinguin (de)


Taxonomy:
Order Sphenisciformes
Family Spheniscidae


Range:
This species is found on the coasts of Antarctica and in nearby islands such as the South Shetlands, the South Orkneys, Bouvet, Balleny and Peter Island.


Size:
These birds are 60-75 cm long and weigh 3,6-6 kg.


Habitat:
The Adelie penguin spends the winter in large coastal ice platforms, from which he dives in the sea in search of food. During the season they are found in beaches, rocky islands and other other areas free of ice.


Diet:
They catch their prey by pursuit diving, usually less than 20 m down. They mainly eat krill, but also fishes such as Myctophidae and the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma antarcticum, squids and amphipods.


Breeding:
Adelie penguins breed in October-February. They are monogamous and mate for life. The nest is a pile of stones on the ground, where the female lays 1-2 eggs. The eggs are incubated by both parents for 24-43 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and remain in the nest for 4 weeks, after which they join a creche of other juvenile while still receiving food from the parents. The chicks become independent about 2 months after joining the creche. Each pair raises a single clutch per season.


Conservation:
IUCN status - LC (Least concern)
This species has an extremely large breeding range and the global population is estimated at 4-5,2 million individuals. The population is suspected to be stable in the absence of evidence for any declines or substantial threats.

Chinstrap penguin

Pygoscelis antarctica

(Photo from Antarctic Field Guide)

Common name:

chinstrap penguin (en); pinguim-de-barbicha (pt); manchot à jugulaire (fr); pingüino barbijo (es); zügelpinguin (de)

Taxonomy:

Order Sphenisciformes

Family Spheniscidae

Range:

The chinstrap penguin breeds mostly on islands of the southern seas, namely in South Orkney, South Shetland, South Georgia and South Sandwich, and on the Antarctic Peninsula as far south as Anvers. They winter in the seas around the pack ice of Antarctica.

Size:

These penguins are 68-76 cm long. Their weight has large variations throughout the yearly cycle, ranging from 3-6 kg.

Habitat:

They live both on barren islands and large icebergs of the sub-Antarctic and Antactic regions. However, they require solid, snow-free ground to nest on. They mostly forage near the pack ice and are only occasionally found foraging further out to sea.

Diet:

The chinstrap penguin mostly feeds on krill. They also eat other small crustaceans, small fish and squids. When hunting they can dive up to 60 m for about 60 seconds.

Breeding:

They use stones to build circular nests on the ground. In November-December the females lay 2 eggs. The eggs are incubated by both the male and the female for shifts of 6 days. The chicks hatch after 37 days and stay in the nest for another 20-30 days before joining a creche. At around 50-60 days old they are able to go out to sea.

Conservation:

IUCN status - LC (Least Concern)

With a very large breeding range and a population estimated at 8 million, the chinstrap penguin is not threatened at present. Despite this, commercial krill fishing and tourist activities are regulated near their breeding colonies to minimize impacts on the species.