Scientific Name: Eudyptes chrysolophus
Population: Estimated at close to 18 million globally
Regions: Sub-Antarctic islands, Antarctic Peninsula, southern Chile, South African coasts (non-breeding)
Destinations: Falkland Islands, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, Argentina
Average Length: Adult: ~0.7 m (2.3 ft); Newborn: ~8–10 cm (3.1–3.9 in)
Average Weight: Adult: ~5.5 kg (12.1 lbs) (range: 3.2–6.4 kg / 7–14 lbs); Newborn: ~100 g (0.22 lbs) (estimated)
Diet Habits: Primarily crustaceans (especially Antarctic krill), cephalopods and small fish
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Sphenisciformes
Family: Spheniscidae
Genus: Eudyptes
Species: E. chrysolophus
English: Macaroni Penguin
Danish: Guldlokpingvin
Chinese: 马可罗尼企鹅
Swedish: Guldlokspingvin
Finnish: Kuningastöyhtöpingviini
Norwegian: Gulltopp-pingvin
Polish: Pingwin złotoczuby
Japanese: マカロニペンギン
Spanish: Pingüino macaroni
French: Manchot macaroni
The macaroni penguin's habitat includes rocky, coastal terrains on Sub-Antarctic islands such as South Georgia and the South Shetland Islands, as well as the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland Islands, and parts of southern Chile. Outside the breeding season, they can be found as far north as the coasts of South Africa.
One of the most identifiable macaroni penguin characteristics is its distinctive orange-yellow crest, red eyes, and reddish bill.
Considered medium-sized compared to other species, the macaroni penguin measures approximately 70 cm in height, with an average weight of around 5.5 kg.
If you think it’s related to the pasta dish, you're mistaken! It actually comes from a historical reference. It was inspired by a fashion trend from the 18th century that originated in Italy, where young men wore flamboyant, feathered hats that resembled the appearance of this crested seabird. When explorers from England discovered these animals in Antarctica and saw their distinctive yellow crest, they named them after the “macaronis” fashion trend back in Europe.
In the wild, the macaroni penguin's lifespan typically ranges from 8 to 15 years. However, when cared by humans, these penguins can live longer, reaching 20 years or more.
The macaroni penguin's diet mainly consists of krill, which can constitute over 90% of their total diet, but they also feed on cephalopods and small fish. This iconic Southern Ocean animal is considered the seabird that consumes the largest amount of seafood, with an estimated 9.2 million tonnes of crustaceans annually!
The macaroni penguin predators are both in the sea and on land. At sea, animals such as leopard seals, Antarctic fur seals, and killer whales pose as their greatest threats. On land, the most vulnerable are the baby emperor penguins and the eggs, which can be easy targets for opportunistic predators such as skuas, giant petrels, snowy sheathbills, and gulls.
Fact #1: Their colonies can reach up to an astonishing 100,000 individuals.
Fact #2: This medium-sized animal is slightly smaller than other penguin species, such as the Emperor or King penguins, but larger than the Rockhopper species.
Fact #3: They breed annually.
Fact #4: They are the most numerous penguin in the world.
Fact #5: The macaroni penguin life cycle consists of courtship, egg laying, chick rearing, moulting and feeding at sea.
Fact #6: Usually lay two eggs in the months of October and November.
Fact #7: This red-eyed seabird threat status is at ‘Vulnerable’ according to the IUCN Red List.
Fact #8: Usually, a macaroni penguin baby becomes independent around 9 to 10 weeks of age.
Fact #9: Both females and males incubate eggs.
Fact #10: This crested seabird belongs to the genus Eudyptes, which also includes six other penguin species.
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