Skip to main content

Macaroni Penguin

Eudyptes chrysolophus
What would an Antarctica Theme be without a Penguin? Today we have a seriously awesome looking species-- the Macaroni Penguin. What a wonderful hairdo!

Of course, that isn't really hair, just long feathers forming a vibrant crest. But it is that crest that gives the species its common name. Macaroni was an 18th and early 19th century term for a flamboyant fashion style that used excessive amounts of ornamentation. British soldiers traveling in the Falkland Islands (where these guys live, in addition to Antarctica) coined the common name.

Macaroni Penguins are, like most Penguins, very social birds. They forage (almost exclusively for Krill) and nest together, and have developed a large number of communication displays because of the large population size. These birds take on specific poses and mannerisms depending on the situation-- aggression, submission, courtship, etc-- and they also have a large repertoire of cries and brays.

Most Macaroni Penguins are monogamous and stay with the same partner season to season. Weirdly, these birds lay two eggs each season, and the first of which is usually smaller and underdeveloped. It is believed that the parents abandon the first egg once the second, stronger egg is laid.

Macaroni Penguins are listed as Vulnerable even though it is estimated that there are around 18 million birds. Why the designation? Rapid population decline. Groups in certain areas have decreased in number by 50% since the 1970s-- a drop that is very concerning. It is believed that climate changes and a decrease in Krill are to blame.
IUCN Status : Vulnerable
Location : Antarctica, South America
Size : Length up to 28in (.7m), Weight up to 12lbs (5.5kg)
Classification : Phylum : Chordata -- Class : Aves -- Order : Sphenisciformes
Family : Spheniscidae -- Genus : Eudyptes -- Species : E. chrysolophus
Image :  Liam Quinn
Labels:

Comments

  1. cv writing serviceAugust 2, 2017 at 8:07 AM

    I am honestly not an animal person but there are two animals that i find are very adorable, Pandas and penguins. Thanks a lot for this informative post

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bornean Orangutan

The Bornean Orangutan is one of two extant Orangutan species in the world. It is the third largest primate (after Gorillas) and is the largest primarily tree-dwelling animal in the world. Males are substantially larger than females, and average at around 165lbs. Bornean Orangutans are largely solitary. A handful might live within a small range but they will seldom interact with one another. Males and females only meet up to breed, which happens only once every several years. A young Orangutan will stay with it's mother for about five years, and the females tend to go about eight years between births. That is the longest interim period of any animal! Sadly, the Bornean Orangutans are in a lot of trouble. They need large forests in order to thrive, and deforestation and habitat degradation has left many homeless. They are also hunted for meat and for traditional medicines. Conservation areas are being established to help these guys in the wild, and it is believed that there are a...
59 comments
Read more

Halloween Crab

Gecarcinus quadratus The Halloween Crab goes by many names, including the Red Land Crab, Whitespot Crab, and Moon Crab. I personally like Halloween Crab though, since it really reflects the interesting colors. They have black carapaces, orange-red legs, and purple claws! Halloween Crabs live in the Pacific coast mangroves and forests of Central and South America. They actually live in the forests as adults, and return to the ocean in order to reproduce. Did you know that they live as far away as 18 miles (30km)  from water? Not where you normally think Crabs to be! While living in the forest, the Crabs forage nocturnally for different plant matter, including leaves and sapling. They also dig long burrows into the ground for protection. These burrows can measure nearly 5 ft long! Halloween Crabs are sometimes kept in captivity, and can be very tricky pets due to their excellent climbing skills. IUCN Status :  Not Listed ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Four!

For anyone who was counting, yesterday was our birthday-- four years! Four years filled with animals from A to Z, more than 1,100 of them! I can't thank my readers enough, it's been wonderful! And in celebration of that milestone... I'm taking a break. Hopefully not forever, but for a little bit at least. In the mean time I plan on getting a new layout out, along with some updates to some of the older articles. I'll post updates here and on the Facebook page, I'm also brainstorming some new animal-related projects, so keep an eye out! Thanks again for four awesome years!
18 comments
Read more