King Penguin
The king penguin stands out not only for its striking orange markings but also for its large, fluffy brown chicks, often mistaken for a different species.
Facts about King Penguin
- Antarctica
- Antarctic Peninsula
- Falkland Islands
- South Georgia
- South Shetland Islands
- South America
- Argentina
King Penguin Quick Overview
Scientific Name: Aptenodytes patagonicus
Population: Estimated at approximately 2.25 million individuals and increasing
Regions: Sub-Antarctic islands and southern oceanic regions
Destinations: Falkland Islands, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, Argentina
Average Length: Adult: Males: ~1 m (3.3 ft), Females: ~0.95 m (3.1 ft); Newborn: ~10–12 cm (4–5 in)
Average Weight: Adult: Males: ~13–18 kg (29–40 lbs), Females: ~9–13 kg (20–29 lbs); Newborn: ~300 g (0.7 lbs)
Diet Habits: Primarily small fish and squid; fewer crustaceans compared to other penguin species
King Penguin Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Sphenisciformes
Family: Spheniscidae
Genus: Aptenodytes
Species: Aptenodytes patagonicus
King Penguin Explorer Passport
English: King Penguin
Danish: Kongepingvin
Chinese: 国王企鹅
Swedish: Kungspingvin
Finnish: Kuningaspingviini
Norwegian: Kongepingvin
Polish: Pingwin królewski
Japanese: オウサマペンギン
Spanish: Pingüino rey
French: Manchot royal
Unlocking the Secrets of the King Penguin
How big is a king penguin?
Adult king penguins weigh between 9–18 kg (20–40 lbs) with males being slightly heavier than females. Regarding baby king penguins, they typically weigh less than 500 grams.
How tall is a king penguin?
King penguin height is similar to that of the emperor penguin, but most adults stand between 90 and 100 cm tall (35–39 inches). This makes them the second-largest species of penguin.
What does a king penguin look like?
King penguin characteristics are of sleek black-and-white body, bright orange-yellow colouring on their neck, beak, and chest, along with a long, slender beak. Furthermore, it is worth noting that king penguin babies are usually brown, which can often lead to they being mistaken for a different species.
Why are king penguin chicks so big and brown?
Their large size helps them store fat during the cold Antarctic months when food is scarce. Additionally, the king penguin brown plumage color, which is very visible and different from when they are mature, is explained by the fact that the coat is used for insulation during their development.
What does a king penguin eat?
The king penguin's diet mainly consists of small fish and squid, with fewer crustaceans than other penguin species.
Where does the king penguin live?
King penguin habitats are mainly found on a few northern sub-Antarctic islands, with the largest population on Crozet Island (nearly half a million pairs), as well as on the Prince Edward Islands, Kerguelen Islands, and South Georgia Island. They are also seen as far north as the southern tip of South America, the Falkland Islands, and New Zealand.
How long does a king penguin live?
King penguin lifespan is usually around 15-20 years.
King penguins and their fluffy brown chicks gathered
How Many of These 10 King Penguin Facts Did You Already Know?
King Penguin Fact #1:
King penguin predators are: leopard seals, killer whales, skuas, and giant petrels.
King Penguin Fact #2:
King penguins lay a single egg every 1.5 to 2 years.
King Penguin Fact #3:
Male and female take turns incubating.
King Penguin Fact #4:
King penguins nest in large colonies across the sub-Antarctic islands.
King Penguin Fact #5:
The young penguins do not leave the colony until they are 14-16 months old, so there are birds in the colonies throughout the year.
King Penguin Fact #6:
Compared to the Emperor penguin, the king penguin is noticeably smaller. Its beak, neck, and upper chest display more vivid and orange colouring.
King Penguin Fact #7:
The chick is looked after until it reaches 14-16 months of age before it ventures into the sea independently.
King Penguin Fact #8:
The king penguin reaches sexual maturity at about 4 to 5 years.
King Penguin Fact #9:
Because of the lengthy nurturing period, there are always penguins in the colony.
King Penguin Fact #10:
The king penguin is considered as ‘Least Concern’ in the Red List assessment by IUCN.
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