Gentoo penguin
The Gentoo penguin, a native species of sub-Antarctic islands, is known for its distinctive single white band across the top of its head. As one of the larger penguin species, they measure between 28 to 35 inches tall and weigh between 10 to 20 pounds. Adapted to frigid waters, Gentoo penguins can dive to depths of up to 230 feet and are skilled swimmers, often foraging for their primary diet of krill, along with small fish. They tend to form smaller breeding colonies called rookeries, usually starting in late September to October, where they establish monogamous pairs. Males attract females with stones, and both partners participate in building a nest and caring for their eggs. The incubation period lasts around 34 to 36 days, with both parents involved in feeding and protecting the chicks. While Gentoo penguins face threats from various predators and environmental changes, they are currently not classified as a threatened species and can live up to 15 to 20 years.
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Gentoo penguin
Gentoo penguins are native to the sub-Antarctic islands. Gentoo penguins are fast swimmers and can dive to depths of 230 feet (70 meters), staying underwater for up to two minutes. Gentoo penguins are distinguished from their relatives by the single white bands that run across the tops of their heads between their eyes.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Sphenisciformes
Family: Spheniscidae
Genus: Pygoscelis
Species: Papua
Gentoo penguins range widely through the frigid waters near the Earth's southern pole. Some may swim north to the southern tip of South America or to Tasmania and New Zealand. With their dense, waterproof plumage, or feathering, and layers of blubber, or fat, they are able to spend three to five months of the year in these cold waters.
These penguins measure 28 to 35 inches (70 to 90 centimeters) tall and weigh 10 to 20 pounds (four to 10 kilograms). They are the third largest species of penguin. Their bodies are characteristically black from the tops of their heads to the tips of their tails, except for their white fronts, rumps, and the undersides of their short, slender, flipper-like wings. The distinctive mark of these penguins is the single white band on the top of each penguin's head between its eyes.
The gentoo penguins are less social than their relatives which live in massive colonies. Gentoos feed and breed in smaller colonies, or rookeries. Like the other penguins, however, the largest part of the gentoos' diet is krill. Krill are tiny, marine creatures with hard shells which look like shrimp. These penguins also eat some small fish. They catch krill in short, shallow dives which may last around 30 seconds. Meals of fish come from depths up to 230 feet (70 meters) and dives lasting up to two minutes.
Rookeries form in late September and October, which is late spring in the southern hemisphere, when the snow and ice have melted. However, breeding can occur as early as July and as late as December. The penguins breed and nest slightly inland from the water. The males claim their territories, which are usually old nest sites on flat ground near the beach. Gentoo penguins are generally monogamous. Males attract females with gifts of stones. The females help their mates build a small, shallow nest of stones and grass. Two white eggs rest in the nest and incubate under the warmth of both parents' bodies for 34 to 36 days. Both parents provide food and protection from predators. Three to four weeks after hatching, the penguin chicks move into a nearby group of other young penguins called a creche. By the time they are two months old, the young leave the nest and enter the ocean. They are able to mate when they reach the age of three to four years.
Gentoo penguins may fall prey to leopard seals, sea lions, and orca. The life span of gentoo penguins is between 15 and 20 years. Although the gentoo penguin is affected by pollution, climate change, and human fishing practices, it is not a threatened species.
Bibliography
“Gentoo Penguin.” St. Louis Zoo, 2024, stlzoo.org/animals/birds/penguins/gentoo-penguin. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024.
Sartore, Joel, and William Olson. “Gentoo Penguin.” National Geographic, 2024, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/gentoo-penguin. Accessed 31 Mar. 2024.