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[[File:Emperor Penguins-Snow Hill Island.jpg|thumb|right|Adult and juvenile emperor penguins ]] | [[File:Emperor Penguins-Snow Hill Island.jpg|thumb|right|Adult and juvenile emperor penguins ]] | ||
The '''emperor penguin''' (''Aptenodytes forsteri'') is the tallest and heaviest of all living penguin species and is endemic to [[Antarctica]]. The male and female are similar in plumage and size, reaching 122 cm (48 in) in height and weighing from 22 to 45 kg (49 to 99 lb). The dorsal side and head are black and sharply delineated from the white belly, pale-yellow breast and bright-yellow ear patches. Like all penguins it is flightless, with a streamlined body, and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat. | The '''emperor penguin''' (''Aptenodytes forsteri'') is the tallest and heaviest of all living [[penguin]] species and is endemic to [[Antarctica]]. The male and female are similar in plumage and size, reaching 122 cm (48 in) in height and weighing from 22 to 45 kg (49 to 99 lb). The dorsal side and head are black and sharply delineated from the white belly, pale-yellow breast and bright-yellow ear patches. Like all penguins it is flightless, with a streamlined body, and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine habitat. | ||
Its diet consists primarily of fish, but can also include crustaceans, such as [[krill]], and cephalopods, such as squid. In hunting, the species can remain submerged up to 18 minutes, diving to a depth of 535 m (1,755 ft). It has several adaptations to facilitate this, including an unusually structured haemoglobin to allow it to function at low oxygen levels, solid bones to reduce barotrauma, and the ability to reduce its metabolism and shut down non-essential organ functions. | Its diet consists primarily of fish, but can also include crustaceans, such as [[krill]], and cephalopods, such as squid. In hunting, the species can remain submerged up to 18 minutes, diving to a depth of 535 m (1,755 ft). It has several adaptations to facilitate this, including an unusually structured haemoglobin to allow it to function at low oxygen levels, solid bones to reduce barotrauma, and the ability to reduce its metabolism and shut down non-essential organ functions. | ||
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==Distribution and habitat== | ==Distribution and habitat== | ||
[[File:Empereur ranges.png|thumb|right|Emperor penguin range. Breeding areas in green]] | [[File:Empereur ranges.png|thumb|right|Emperor penguin range. Breeding areas in green]] | ||
The emperor penguin has a circumpolar distribution in the [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] almost exclusively between the 66° and 77° south latitudes. It almost always breeds on stable [[pack ice]] near the coast and up to 18 km (11 mi) offshore. Breeding colonies are usually located in areas where ice cliffs and [[ | The emperor penguin has a circumpolar distribution in the [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] almost exclusively between the 66° and 77° south latitudes. It almost always breeds on stable [[pack ice]] near the coast and up to 18 km (11 mi) offshore. Although they are known to hunt and swim around Westarctica, there are currently no known breeding colonies within the nation's borders. Breeding colonies are usually located in areas where ice cliffs and [[iceberg]]s shelter them from the wind. Three land colonies have been reported: one (now disappeared) on a shingle spit at the Dion Islands on the [[Antarctic Peninsula]], one on a headland at Taylor Glacier in Victoria Land, and most recently one at Amundsen Bay. Since 2009, a number of colonies have been reported on [[ice-shelf|shelf ice]] rather than sea ice, in some cases moving to the shelf in years when sea ice forms late. | ||
The northernmost breeding population is on Snow Island, near the northern tip of the Peninsula. | The northernmost breeding population is on Snow Island, near the northern tip of the [[Antarctic Peninsula]]. | ||
The total population was estimated in 2009 to be at around 595,000 adult birds, in 46 known colonies spread around the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic; around 35% of the known population lives north of the [[Antarctic Circle]]. Colonies are known to fluctuate over time, often breaking into "suburbs" which move apart from the parent group, and some have been known to disappear entirely. The Cape Crozier colony on the Ross Sea dropped drastically in size between the first visits by the Discovery Expedition in 1902–03 and the later visits by the Terra Nova Expedition in 1910–11; it was reduced to a few hundred birds, and may have come close to extinction due to changes in the position of the ice shelf. By the 1960s it had rebounded dramatically, but by 2009 was again reduced to a small population of around 300. | The total population was estimated in 2009 to be at around 595,000 adult birds, in 46 known colonies spread around the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic; around 35% of the known population lives north of the [[Antarctic Circle]]. Colonies are known to fluctuate over time, often breaking into "suburbs" which move apart from the parent group, and some have been known to disappear entirely. The Cape Crozier colony on the Ross Sea dropped drastically in size between the first visits by the Discovery Expedition in 1902–03 and the later visits by the [[Terra Nova Expedition]] in 1910–11; it was reduced to a few hundred birds, and may have come close to extinction due to changes in the position of the ice shelf. By the 1960s it had rebounded dramatically, but by 2009 was again reduced to a small population of around 300. | ||
===Conservation status=== | ===Conservation status=== | ||
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===Predators=== | ===Predators=== | ||
The emperor penguin's predators include birds and aquatic mammals. [[Southern giant | The emperor penguin's predators include birds and aquatic mammals. [[Southern giant petrel]]s are the predominant land predator of chicks, responsible for up to 34% of chick deaths in some colonies though they often scavenge dead penguins as well. The [[south polar skua]] mainly scavenges for dead chicks, as the live chicks are too large to be attacked by the time of its annual arrival in the colony. Occasionally, a parent may defend their chick from attack, although it may be more passive if the chick is sickly. | ||
The only known predators thought to attack healthy adults, and who attack emperor penguins in the water, are both mammals. The first is the [[leopard seal]]), which takes some adult birds, as well as fledglings soon after they enter the water. [[Orca|Orcas]], mostly take adult birds, although they will attack penguins of any age in or near water. | The only known predators thought to attack healthy adults, and who attack emperor penguins in the water, are both mammals. The first is the [[leopard seal]]), which takes some adult birds, as well as fledglings soon after they enter the water. [[Orca|Orcas]], mostly take adult birds, although they will attack penguins of any age in or near water. | ||
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===Feeding=== | ===Feeding=== | ||
The emperor penguin's diet consists mainly of fish, crustaceans and cephalopods, although its composition varies from population to population. Fish are usually the most important food source, and the [[Antarctic silverfish]] makes up the bulk of the bird's diet. Other prey commonly recorded include other fish of the family Nototheniidae, the [[glacial squid]], and the hooked squid species ''Kondakovia longimana'', as well as [[Antarctic krill]]. The emperor penguin searches for prey in the open water of the [[Southern Ocean]], in either ice-free areas of open water or tidal cracks in [[pack ice]]. One of its feeding strategies is to dive to around 50 m (160 ft), where it can easily spot sympagic fish like the [[bald notothen]] swimming against the bottom surface of the sea-ice; it swims up to the bottom of the ice and catches the fish. It then dives again and repeats the sequence about half a dozen times before surfacing to breathe. | The emperor penguin's diet consists mainly of fish, crustaceans and cephalopods, although its composition varies from population to population. Fish are usually the most important food source, and the [[Antarctic silverfish]] makes up the bulk of the bird's diet. Other prey commonly recorded include other fish of the family Nototheniidae, the [[glacial squid]], and the hooked squid species ''Kondakovia longimana'', as well as [[Antarctic krill]]. The emperor penguin searches for prey in the open water of the [[Southern Ocean]], in either ice-free areas of open water or tidal cracks in [[pack ice]]. One of its feeding strategies is to dive to around 50 m (160 ft), where it can easily spot sympagic fish like the [[bald notothen]] swimming against the bottom surface of the sea-ice; it swims up to the bottom of the ice and catches the fish. It then dives again and repeats the sequence about half a dozen times before surfacing to breathe. | ||
==National Symbol of Westarctica== | |||
As the [[National Symbols of Westarctica|national symbol]] of [[Westarctica]], the emperor penguin has been used in many ways as a representation of Westarctica's solitary dominance over the icy realm of western [[Antarctica]]. It appears on many of the nation's [[Stamps of Westarctica|stamps]] and [[Coins of Westarctica|coins]] as well as on the [[Crown Jewels of Westarctica|Seal of the Grand Duke]] | |||
[[Category:Penguins]] | [[Category:Penguins]] | ||
[[Category:Animals of Westarctica]] | [[Category:Animals of Westarctica]] | ||
[[Category:Symbols of Westarctica]] | [[Category:Symbols of Westarctica]] | ||
[[Category:Featured Articles]] | |||