Penguin of the Week: Emperor
August 3, 2007The Emperor Penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species. It is endemic to Antarctica and the only penguin species that breeds during the Antarctic winter. Emperor Penguins mainly eat crustaceans (such as krill) but also occasionally take small fish and squid. In the wild, Emperor Penguins typically live for 20 years, but some records indicate a maximum lifespan of around 40 years. The Emperor Penguin should not be confused with the closely related King Penguin or the Royal Penguin.
Adults average 1.3 m (4 ft) in length and weigh between 20 and 45 kg (44 to 99 lb), making this penguin the 5th heaviest existing bird. The largest known individual was about 46 kg (101 lb). The head and wings are black, the abdomen white, the back bluish-gray and the bill is purplish-pink. On the sides of the neck there are two golden circular stripes. As in the King Penguin, a male Emperor Penguin has an abdominal fold, the “brood pouch”, between its legs and lower abdomen.
The Emperor Penguin has a thick coat of feathers that insulate the entire body, excluding only the legs and the undersides of the wings. The feathers provide a waterproof layer around its body.
Emperor Penguin chicks are covered with a thick layer of light gray down. This covering ensures that they retain as much heat as possible, vital at this early stage when they are not capable of maintaining their body temperature. In addition, the infant Emperor Penguin’s orbital area is covered in white downy feathers, unlike the all-black feathered head of the adult.
Males and females can be distinguished by their call. Each call is distinct. They also are related to the King and the Chinstrap Penguin.
