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Of the approximately 17 species of penguins, four live on continental Antarctica and an additional three inhabit the surrounding islands. Ross Island supports the southernmost penguin colony, with approximately half a million Adelie penguins living on rocky Cape Royds. Certain species of penguin travel great distances between feeding and breeding grounds, including the emperor penguin. Rockhopper penguins have the largest temperature range tolerance and are found on islands near New Zealand, South Africa and South America.
Juvenile penguins disperse when they leave their colonies and may wander thousands of miles, returning to where they were hatched to molt and breed. Leslie Darling has been a writer since , writing regularly for "Mississippi Magazine" and "South Mississippi Living," specializing in food and wine, animals and pets, and all things Southern.
She is a graduate of the University of New Orleans. Emperor penguins are the exception to this incubation period. While the female goes to sea to feed for several weeks, the male incubates the egg. When the female returns to her mate, the egg is typically about to hatch. During the courtship, nesting, and incubation periods, the male fasts and lives off reserves of body fat. Penguins are among the most social of all birds.
All species of penguin are colonial, meaning that they live in large groups. During the breeding season, penguins come ashore and nest in huge colonies called rookeries. Rookeries can consist of hundreds of thousands of birds and span over hundreds of square miles. Penguins often swim and feed in groups, but some may dive for prey alone.
Emperor penguins have been observed feeding in groups with coordinated diving. Penguins also communicate with each other and exhibit intricate courting and mate-recognition behavior. Penguins have been observed using displays in partner and chick recognition, as well as in defense against intruders. The average life expectancy of penguins is likely around 15 to 20 years, with some individuals live considerably longer. There is a high mortality rate among the young.
Penguins have predators both on land and in the water. In the water, penguins may become prey to leopard seals, fur seals, sea lions, sharks, or killer whales. On land, penguin chicks and eggs may be hunted by foxes and snakes, as well as introduced predators like feral dogs and cats.
Predatory birds, including sheathbills and giant petrels, also prey on penguin chicks and eggs. Climate change is another major threat to penguins living in Antarctica like emperor penguins and Adelie penguins. As sea ice melts due to warmer temperatures related to climate change, these species are losing their habitat.
Other major human threats to penguin species include overfishing, bycatch, hunting, and pollution. According to WWF, commercial fishing in the Southern Ocean region can increase competition among penguin species, as the number of available fish to eat declines.
Commercial fishing can also lead to the accidental capture and drowning of penguins in fishing nets. Penguin conservation status varies on species. All species of penguins are legally protected from hunting and egg collecting by the Antarctic Treaty, which was signed by 12 nations in It was reauthorized in to protect Antarctica and preserve its living resources.
The Treaty makes it illegal to harm, or in any way interfere with, a penguin or its eggs. Skip to main content Skip to footer site map.
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