Birds · Flightless Seabirds
Emperor Penguin
Aptenodytes forsteri
Near Threatened
Penguins are flightless seabirds found almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere, with species ranging from the Antarctic emperor penguin to the Galápagos penguin near the equator. Their wings have evolved into flippers, making them powerful swimmers.
Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Sphenisciformes
Family: Spheniscidae
Genus: Aptenodytes
Species: forsteri
Related species: Gentoo, king, chinstrap & Galápagos penguins — family Spheniscidae
Height
Up to 4 feet tall — the largest of all penguin species.
Weight
50–100 lbs, heaviest just before molting.
Habitat
Antarctic ice, sub-Antarctic islands, and temperate coastlines.
Description
A black back, white belly, and yellow-orange patches on the neck and ears.
Diet
Carnivore — fish, krill, and squid.
Swimming
Uses flipper-like wings to "fly" through water at speeds up to 22 mph.
Diving ability
Can dive over 1,800 feet — deeper than any other bird.
Incubation
Males incubate the single egg on their feet through the Antarctic winter without eating.
Clutch Size
A single egg, incubated for about 65 days.
Sexually Mature
Around 3–6 years of age.
Life Span
15–20 years in the wild.
Social Structure
Breeds in large, densely packed colonies, huddling together for warmth.
Did You Know?
Emperor penguin males incubate their egg on their feet through the Antarctic winter without eating for months.
Did You Know?
Penguins can drink seawater — a special gland filters out the excess salt.
Did You Know?
Emperor penguins can dive over 1,800 feet deep — deeper than any other bird.
Types of Penguins
Emperor Penguin
Aptenodytes forsteri — largest penguin species
Aptenodytes forsteri — largest penguin species
Gentoo Penguin
Pygoscelis papua — fastest swimming penguin
Pygoscelis papua — fastest swimming penguin
King Penguin
Aptenodytes patagonicus — second largest species
Aptenodytes patagonicus — second largest species
Chinstrap Penguin
Pygoscelis antarcticus — named for its facial marking
Pygoscelis antarcticus — named for its facial marking
Galápagos Penguin
Spheniscus mendiculus — only penguin north of the equator
Spheniscus mendiculus — only penguin north of the equator
Penguin in Foreign Languages
Frenchpingouin / manchot
GermanPinguin
Italianpinguino
Portuguesepinguim
Spanishpingüino
Russianpingvin
Polishpingwin
Japanesepengin
Mandarinqǐé
Koreanpengwin
Dutchpinguïn
Swedishpingvin
Norwegianpingvin
Finnishpingviini
