General Description
A medium-sized penguin with a black to brownish back, white belly, black head, white patch above the eye and an orange-red and black bill. Orange-pink feet. Weight up to 5.5 kg, head-body length up to 75 cm.
Biology
Uses pursuit-diving technique to catch fish underwater. Fishes inshore in groups. Starts breeding at 2-3 years of age, nesting on rocky coasts.
Distribution
Southern Ocean, subantarctic, southern South America
Habitat
Marine, rocky coasts
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Fast Fact
When coming to shore, birds jump out of the water or climb ashore, move away from the sea, then preen before continuing. Birds only rarely swim on the surface, primarily porpoising underwater.
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Brief Id
Medium-sized penguin with black back and head and white belly with white patch extending above the eye.
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Colours
Black, White, Orange
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Maximum Size
75 cm
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Habitats
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When Active
Diurnal
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Diet
Carnivore
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Diet Categories
Krill, Fish, Cephalopods, Crustaceans, Polychaete worms
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Endemicity
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, FFG Threatened List: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Least Concern
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Depths
Shallow (1-30 m)
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Water Column Locations
Midwater, Surface
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Taxon Name
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Common Name
Gentoo Penguin
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Class
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Order
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Family
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Genus
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Species Name
papua