Snares Penguins
The Snares Penguin is a member of the crested group of penguins. The Snares Penguin is referred to by the indigenous Maori people of New Zealand as pokotiwha.
Estimated Population:
32,000 breeding pairs
Weight and height:
2.8 kg – 3.1 kg, 51 cm - 61 cm
Lifespan:
12-20 years
Prey/Diet:
Crustaceans, fish, and cephalopods
Conservation Status:
Vulnerable
Source: Shannon Derthick
Population trends:
Distinguishing physical characteristics:
Bright yellow crests begin near the nostril and pass above the eye, with plumes extending from the head. Bill is large and heavy and orange-brown in color with a pink gape. Feet and legs are pink, eyes are pinkish red to reddish brown. Very similar to the Fiordland Penguin, best differentiated by the presence of the pink gape in Snares Penguins as well as a more bulbous upper mandible in the Snares Penguin.
Source: Pooja's Laboratory
Geographic Breeding Range:
New Zealand (Snares Island)
