Chinstrap penguin
| Chinstrap Penguin | |
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| Species: | P. antarcticus
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| Binomial name | |
| Pygoscelis antarcticus (Forster, 1781)
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The Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) is a species of penguin which is found in the South Sandwich Islands, Antarctica, the South Orkneys, South Shetland, South Georgia, Bouvet Island and Balleny. Their name derives from the narrow black band under their heads which makes it appear as if they are wearing black helmets, making them one of the most easily identified types of penguin. Other names for them are "Ringed Penguins", "Bearded Penguins", and "Stonecracker Penguins" due to their harsh call.
Description
Chinstrap Penguins grow to 68 cm (27 in) in length, and a weight of 6 kg (13.2 lbs) [2], however weight can drop as low as 3 kg (6.6 lbs) based on where the penguin is in the breeding cycle. Males are both larger and heavier than females.[3][4] Their diet consists of krill, shrimp and fish.
They live both on barren islands and large icebergs of the sub-Antarctic Region and the Antarctic Peninsula, however, they require solid, snow-free ground to nest on. The chinstrap penguin eats mostly krill and some fish, while their primary predator is leopard seals. There are about 12 to 13 million chinstrap penguins, and have an average life span of 15 to 20 years.
Behavior
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On land they build circular nests from stones, and lay two eggs, which are incubated by both the male and the female for shifts of 6 days. They can also breed on icebergs, though they prefer non-icy conditions. The chicks hatch after about 37 days, and have fluffy gray backs and white fronts. The chicks stay in the nest for 20–30 days before they go to join a creche. At around 50–60 days old, they moult, gaining their adult feathers and go to sea.
Chinstrap penguins swim up to 50 miles off-shore each day to feed on fish, squid and krill.
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Roy and Silo
In 2004, two male chinstrap penguins named Roy and Silo in Central Park Zoo, New York City, formed a pair-bond and took turns trying to “hatch” a rock; this was substituted by a keeper for a fertile egg, and the pair subsequently hatched and raised the chick. Penguins, by their nature, hatch eggs and are social creatures. A children's book, And Tango Makes Three, was written based on this event.
References
- ^ Template:IUCN2006 Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
- ^ Weight of Chinstrap Penguin
- ^ http://www.mhcbe.ab.ca/St_Francis/gr1/Webquests/chinstrap_penguin%20student.htm
- ^ http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Pygoscelis_antarcticus.html
External links
