Emperor Penguin
The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest penguin on Earth, with heights reaching 125cm and weights of up to 45kg.
Facts about Emperor Penguin
Emperor Penguin Quick Overview:
Scientific Name: Aptenodytes forsteri
Population: Estimated at ~500,000 individuals globally
Regions: Antarctica
Destinations: South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia
Average Length: Adult: Males: ~1.20–1.25 m (3.9–4.1 ft), Females: ~1.10–1.20 m (3.6–3.9 ft); Newborn: ~30–35 cm (1–1.1 ft)
Average Weight: Adult: Males: ~38–45 kg (84–99 lbs); Females: ~25–35 kg (55–77 lbs); Newborn::~315–500 g (0.7–1.1 lbs)
Diet Habits: Primarily fish, cephalopods and crustaceans
Emperor Penguin Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Sphenisciformes
Family: Spheniscidae
Genus: Aptenodytes
Species: Aptenodytes forsteri
Emperor Penguin Explorer Passport
English: Emperor Penguin
Danish: Kejserpingvin
Chinese: 皇帝企鹅
Swedish: Kejsarpingvin
Finnish: Keisaripingviini
Norwegian: Keiserpingvin
Polish: Pingwin cesarski
Japanese: コウテイペンギン
Spanish: Pingüino emperador
French: Manchot empereur
Unlocking the Secrets of the Emperor Penguin
How tall is an emperor penguin?
The emperor penguin height is up to 125 cm (4.1 ft) tall. His size is so remarkable that if you place an emperor penguin next to a human, it can be almost as tall as a young child!
How much does an emperor penguin weigh?
Emperor penguins weigh between 22 and 45 kg (49–99 pounds), making them the largest and by far the heaviest of all penguins. Additionally, males can lose nearly half of their body weight size during the incubation period.
What does an emperor penguin eat?
The emperor penguin diet is mainly based on fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Uniquely among birds, males can produce a nutritious, milk-like substance to feed their chicks if the female hasn’t returned from the sea, which is a highly unusual trait.
Where does the emperor penguin live?
The emperor penguin habitat is usually the pack ice near the coast of Antarctica. On our ships, you can spot these lovely penguins in areas such as the South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, and South Georgia!
King penguin vs Emperor penguin: What’s the difference
Even though these two precious penguins are very similar to each other and can often be mistaken for one another during our voyages, they have many differences. Emperor penguins are larger but have shorter bills and flippers compared to the king penguin. Also, emperor penguins have yellow-orange patches on their necks with a black collar, whereas the king penguin has brighter orange and yellow ear patches along with a more orange chest. Lastly, while emperor penguins breed on the Antarctic ice, king penguins are found on the sub-Antarctic islands.
How long does an emperor penguin live?
Emperor penguin lifespan ranges from 15 to 20 years, but they may live much longer.
What are the main emperor penguin predators?
Emperor penguin predators in the sea are usually killer whales and leopard seals, while on land they include the Southern giant petrels and South polar skuas, which prey on weak or dead emperor penguin chicks.
Is the emperor penguin endangered?
According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the emperor king is classified as ‘Near Threatened’, with their population declining over the years.
An emperor penguin on the icy terrain of Charlotte Bay, Antarctica.
How Many of These 10 Emperor Penguin Facts Did You Already Know?
Emperor Penguin Fact #1:
In May and June, emperor penguins lay a single large egg weighing nearly half a kilogram.
Emperor Penguin Fact #2:
Their nesting occurs on stable pack ice close to the Antarctic coast.
Emperor Penguin Fact #3:
The male Emperor penguins are the ones that incubate the egg for two months during the cold and harsh winter months.
Emperor Penguin Fact #4:
Emperor penguin's baby size is quite small (10cm, 365 grams) despite its large adult size.
Emperor Penguin Fact #5:
One of the most characteristic adaptations of emperor penguins is that they are the only penguin species that breed during the Antarctic winter.
Emperor Penguin Fact #6:
Emperor penguin sounds are high-pitched, deep, and resemble trumpets, which are vital within their crowded colonies for recognising each other and locating the baby emperor penguins.
Emperor Penguin Fact #7:
Emperor penguins don't build nests. Instead, they place the egg on their feet, covered by a skin fold to keep it warm.
Emperor Penguin Fact #8:
In sporadic cases, the emperor penguin's life expectancy can be up to 50 years!
Emperor Penguin Fact #9:
The emperor king's life cycle involves breeding during the winter.
Emperor Penguin Fact #10:
Male emperor penguins size can diminish by half of their original weight during egg incubation.
Join on an Arctic adventure with Albatros Expeditions and witness the wonders of Arctic wildlife!
