Emperor Penguin
Emperor Penguin Facts
| Size | 3.6-4.2 feet (110-130 cm) |
| Speed | Up to 15 mph (24 km/h) (in water) |
| Weight | Up to 100 pounds (45 kg) |
| Lifespan | 15-20 years |
| Food | Fish, krill, jellyfish |
| Predators | Southern giant petrels, leopard seals, orcas |
| Habitat | Antarctic |
| Order | Penguins |
| Family | Penguins |
| Scientific name | Aptenodytes forsteri |
| Characteristics | Largest and heaviest penguin species in the world |
Main Characteristics
The emperor penguin is a flightless bird. It is the largest and heaviest penguin in the world. Its most striking features include its distinctive black-and-white plumage and its orange ear and throat patches. Emperor penguins inhabit the frigid Antarctic region near the South Pole, making them the southernmost living birds.
Species
The Emperor Penguin is one of 18 species of penguins. Along with the King Penguin, it is classified as one of the "great penguins."
Distribution and Habitat
Emperor penguins reside in Antarctica, specifically in areas covered by snow and frozen ice. They dive into the ocean to hunt and travel 120 miles (200 km) inland to breed.
Way of Life
Emperor penguins are active during the day. They're very social creatures and live in large colonies with thousands of others. Despite this, they quickly find their mates again, as they can recognize each other by their calls. They spend a lot of time hunting for fish, as they need plenty of energy to cope with the extreme cold.
Anatomy and Appearance
Size and Weight
The Emperor Penguin stands 3.6-4.2 feet (110-130 cm) tall and can weigh up to 100 pounds (45 kg), making it the largest and heaviest penguin species. In contrast, the Little Penguin measures only 12-16 inches (35-40 cm) in height and weighs around 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg), making it the smallest of all penguins.
Plumage
The outer layer of feathers on emperor penguins is waterproof, keeping them dry while they swim in the water. Beneath this outer layer, the downy (plumule and filoplume) feathers help to keep them warm and cozy.
Color
The emperor penguin has a white chest and belly. Its back is covered in dark gray to black plumage. There is an orange patch behind its ears and on its throat.
Bill
The bill of the emperor penguin is short, narrow, and curved downward. On both sides, it features an orange stripe.
Feet
The Emperor penguin's feet are not particularly well-suited for moving on land. However, it does have webbed toes that assist it in swimming swiftly underwater.
Tongue
The emperor penguin has backward-facing spines on its tongue that help it grip its prey securely.
Emperor Penguin vs. King Penguin – What's the Difference?
Emperor and king penguins look quite similar at first glance. However, with a little practice, you can easily tell them apart. The emperor penguin is significantly larger, but the most noticeable difference lies in the feathers on their heads and necks. The king penguin features orange feathers with a distinct black edge, along with a prominent silver-gray, tight "collar" that extends to the middle of its throat. Furthermore, the king penguin has a longer bill, whereas the emperor penguin's is shorter and curves downward at the tip. There are even more differences: emperor penguin chicks are gray, while king penguin chicks are brown.
Adaptations to the Cold
Snuggling to Keep Warm
To combat the biting cold, emperor penguins have a clever yet simple strategy: they huddle closely together in a large circle, sharing warmth with one another. However, the colony is always on the move. The penguins on the outer edge gradually shift from the windy side to the sheltered side, and they also move from the outside to the center. This way, everyone gets a chance to enjoy the cozy warmth in the middle.
Warm Down Feathers
It was previously believed that emperor penguins had the highest density of feathers of all birds. However, a study done in 2022 showed that this is not true. The real reason emperor penguins can withstand the extreme cold without freezing is due to the fluffy down (plume) and hairlike (filoplume) feathers beneath their outer plumage. These inner layers are four times warmer than the outer ones.
Warming Fat Layer
A well-nourished emperor penguin has a layer of fat that can be up to 1.1 inches (3 cm) thick. This layer keeps it warm in the frigid cold.
Tail Feathers as a Support
Emperor penguins can lean back and balance on their heels thanks to their short, stiff tail feathers. By minimizing contact with the cold ground, they reduce heat loss.
Diet
Emperor penguins are carnivores. They primarily feed on fish, but they also enjoy krill, other crustaceans, and squid.
Locomotion
In the Water
Emperor penguins are exceptional swimmers. Their streamlined bodies allow them to glide effortlessly through the water. Their wings resemble flippers, providing propulsion, while their feet and tail feathers assist in steering.
From Water Onto Ice
How do emperor penguins get from the water onto the ice? Do they pull themselves out with their bills? Do they use their flippers? Not quite! They have a pretty neat trick. First, they dive underwater and then swim up to the surface at high speed. Just before reaching the edge of the ice, they launch themselves into the air and land belly-first on the ice. They slide a bit and try to push themselves along with their feet for as long as they can. After that, they stand up on their legs and waddle away.
Moving on Land
Emperor penguins are quite agile in the water, but when it comes to land, they aren't the best walkers. As a result, they tend to cover only short distances. Most of the time, they slide on their bellies and push off with their legs to gain speed. It often resembles a fun sledding adventure!
From Land Into Water
When emperor penguins want to enter the water, they simply drop onto their bellies and slide off the edge of the ice into the sea.
Senses and Abilities
Swimming
Emperor penguins are exceptional swimmers. They have a streamlined body that allows them to glide effortlessly through the water. Their wings serve as their propulsion. When hunting or escaping from predators, they can swim at speeds of up to 15 mph (24 km/h), while their usual pace ranges from 3-6 mph (5-10 km/h).
Diving
The emperor penguin is the best diver among all seabirds, capable of reaching impressive depths. In 1994, one individual managed to dive to 1,850 feet (564 meters) in just 21 minutes. Once submerged, it can hold its breath for up to 32 minutes.
Flying
Emperor penguins are unable to fly. They are too heavy, and their wings are not strong enough. However, they often glide briefly through the air when they leap out of the water to reach the land.
How Do Emperor Penguins Recognize Each Other?
When emperor penguins return to their colony, they are surrounded by thousands of their fellow penguins. How do they find their partner among them? They do this by producing trumpet-like calls. Each penguin has a unique pitch, making it easy for them to identify one another.
Life Expectancy
Emperor penguins typically live for about 15-20 years.
Enemies and Threats
Natural Enemies
The main enemies of emperor penguins are leopard seals and orcas. For the chicks, giant petrels and skuas pose a significant threat.
Human Impact
Climate Change
Climate change poses the greatest threat to emperor penguins. It leads to the melting of ice masses in Antarctica, which in turn reduces their habitat significantly.
Fishing
Emperor penguins get caught in the large nets of fishing boats and drown because they're unable to free themselves.
How Many Emperor Penguins Are Left?
According to a 2019 estimate by the IUCN, there are approximately 256,000 breeding pairs of emperor penguins. Currently, they aren't considered endangered.
Reproduction
Growing Up in Antarctica
Emperor penguins are incredibly devoted parents, which is no small feat in Antarctica. They can't even build nests on the ice since there are no plants available for that purpose. Yet, they bravely incubate their eggs in temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius and face fierce winds reaching speeds of 200 km/h. Truly fearless!
Mating and Breeding Season
Emperor penguins require a location where the ice remains intact for raising their chicks. As a result, they travel up to 120 miles (200 km) inland over the ice in April. Once a pair has formed and mated, they remain loyal to each other for life. They begin incubating their eggs between May and June. Incubating the Eggs
Incubating the Eggs
• Father's Role
After the mother lays an egg, she hands it over to the father. He gently rolls the egg with his feet into his brood pouch to keep it warm. For two months, he remains in one spot to incubate it. During this time, he can't hunt for fish and relies on his fat reserves. By the end of the incubation period, he weighs only half of his original weight. Only when the mother returns can he dash back to the sea, completely exhausted, to find something to eat.
• Mother's Role
While the male is busy incubating, the female is in the sea, where she first replenishes her energy with fresh fish. Once the chick hatches, she comes back to feed it with partially digested fish from her stomach.
Raising the Chicks
After the chicks hatch, the parents take turns hunting to provide food for their little ones. In about six months, the chicks grow strong enough to fend for themselves.
Smallest Number of Chicks
Emperor penguins and king penguins lay only one egg each year, while other species typically lay two.
The Emperor Penguin Is Related To:
- King Penguin
Animals in the Same Biome:
- Albatross
- Blue Whale
- Giant Petrel
- Great Skua
- Humpback Whale
- Leopard Seal
- Orca
- Sea Lion
- Sperm Whale
Sources:
- „Extreme dives by free-ranging emperor penguins“ (https://link.springer.com)
- „Hidden keys to survival: the type, density, pattern and functional role of emperor penguin body feathers“ (https://royalsocietypublishing.org)
- „Most southerly bird tracks“ (https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com)
- „Lowest temperature endured by a bird“ (https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com)
- „Longest time without food, bird species“ (https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com)
- „Longest dive underwater by a bird (duration)“ (https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com)
- „Deepest dive by a bird“ (https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com)
- „Fast ice variability in East Antarctica: observed repercussions for emperor penguins“ (https://www.int-res.com)
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