Emperor Penguins

Aptenodytes forsteri

The Emperor Penguin is the largest penguin, in both body mass and height.

Common Name: Emperor Penguin

Scientific name: Aptenodytes forsteri

Population: 120,000 breeding pairs (in 2012)

Weight and height: 32-40 kg, 1.2 meters

Lifespan: 20 years

Conservation status: Near Threatened

Population Trend: Unknown

Geographic Breeding Range: Antarctica

Prey/diet: Variety of fish, cephalopods and krill

Distinguishing physical characteristics: The largest of all penguin species, distinguished by faint yellow auricular patches which become more orange near the ear. Faint yellow coloration across the upper chest. Face is black, upper mandible of the bill is black, with pink to orange on the lower mandible. Legs are feathered, feet are black. Eye is dark brown.

Fun Fact:

They were probably first sighted on the second voyage of Captain James Cook (1773-1775). Emperor Penguins have only one chick per season and are the only species to incubate their eggs during the Antarctic winter. Emperors do not build a nest, but incubate their egg on their feet to keep the egg warm.

Current Conservation Status

Emperor Penguin
population trends:

Unknown

Current estimates of Emperor Penguin populations are unknown due to the lack of data on actual population sizes in difficult-to-access regions of Antarctica. Populations of Emperor Penguins are expected to decrease, however, due to effects of global warming on the Antarctic region.