Penguin

There are seventeen different species of penguins split across six genus. They are:

• Aptenodytes

  Emperor Penguin (Aptenodytes Forsteri)

  The largest of the penguin species, the Emperor Penguin can be up to 1.2 meters tall. Male Emperor Penguins care for and incubate the eggs during the harsh, Antarctic winter.

  King Penguin (Aptenodytes Patagonicus)

  King Penguins are the second largest species of penguin. They are a popular species for parks and zoos because they are able to acclimatize themselves to a wide range of temperatures. Although not endangered today, early in the 20-th century, King Penguins were almost hunted to extinction by whalers who would use their oil for fuel and flesh for food.

• Pygoscelis

  Adelie Penguin (Pygoscelis Adeliae

  The only other species of penguin (other than the Emperor) that breeds on Antarctica. Adelie Penguins are the proto-typical penguin with the plain white front and black back and head.

  Chinstrap Penguin (Pygoscelis Antarctica)

  Chinstrap Penguins are so named because of the thin, black stripe that runs from the sides of their heads across the top of their throat.

  Gentoo Penguin (Pygoscelis Papua)

  The Gentoo's distinguishing characteristic are the white band on its head that goes from eye-to-eye.

• Eudyptes

  Erect Crested Penguin (Eudyptes Sclateri)

  The Erect Crested Penguin has a pair of large yellow/orange crests that go up the head in parallel like a dual mohawk. They are known to fight amongst themselves for nesting space.

  Fiordland Penguin (Eudyptes Pachyrhynchus)

  Another of the crested penguins, the Fiordland Penguin lives only along the south-western coast of New Zealand. They nest in the dense, costal rain forests among bushes and roots.

  Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes Chrysolophus)

  Another common zoo penguin. The Macaroni Penguin has a bright orange/yellow crest that flares out from the forehead.

  Royal Penguin (Eudyptes Schlegeli)

  Royal Penguins are found only on Macquarie Island, south of Australia. Some people think that Royal Penguins should be classified as Macaroni Penguins.

  Snares Penguin (Eudyptes Robustus)

  Snares Penguins live only on the Snares Island, south of the New Zealand mainland. There is some debate as to whether Snares Penguins are an actual species themselves or whether they are a sub-species of the Fiordland Penguin.

  Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes Chrysocome)

  The Rockhopper Penguin usually gets around on land by hopping.

• Spheniscus

  Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus Mendiculus)

  The northernmost species of penguin, practically living on the equator. Galapagos Penguins are an endangered species.

  Humbolt Penguin (Spheniscus Humboldti)

  Humbolt Penguins live along the coasts of Peru and Chile in South America. They can (and do) breed year-round.

  African Penguin (Spheniscus Demersus)

  Also known as the "Jackass Penguins", the African Penguin lives along the southern tip of Africa.

  Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus Magellanicus)

  The Megellanic Penguin is also sometimes known as the "Jackass Penguin". They are distinguished by their two black neck-bands.

• Megadyptes

  Yellow-eyed Penguin (Megadptes Antipodes)

  Yellow-eyed Penguins live and breed in New Zealand. The maori name for them is "Hoiho". Yes, the eyes really are yellow.

• Eudyptula

  Little-Blue Penguin (Eudyptula Minor)

  The smallest of the penguin species at around ten-inches tall. The Little-Blue Penguin lives and breeds in New Zealand and the south coast of Australia. They are sometimes called "Fairy Penguins". In Australia, my mom saw "Warning: Little-Blue Penguin-Crossing" traffic signs.

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Pen"guin (?), n. [Perh. orig. the name of another bird, and fr. W. pen head + gwyn white; or perh. from a native South American name.]

1. Zool.

Any bird of the order Impennes, or Ptilopteri. They are covered with short, thick feathers, almost scalelike on the wings, which are without true quills. They are unable to fly, but use their wings to aid in diving, in which they are very expert. See King penguin, under Jackass.

Penguins are found in the south temperate and antarctic regions. The king penguins (Aptenodytes Patachonica, and A. longirostris) are the largest; the jackass penguins (Spheniscus) and the rock hoppers (Catarractes) congregate in large numbers at their breeding grounds.

2. Bot.

The egg-shaped fleshy fruit of a West Indian plant (Bromelia Pinguin) of the Pineapple family; also, the plant itself, which has rigid, pointed, and spiny-toothed leaves, and is used for hedges.

Arctic penguin Zool., the great auk. See Auk.

© Webster 1913.