10 Types Of Penguins In The World

Inhabiting mainly the majestic continent of Antarctica, Penguins are a diverse and fluffiest animal bunch with about 17 species found across the world. Penguins are amazing creatures and have some of the most distinctive characteristics that make them really unique and worth watching. Penguins are highly adaptable in the water and are also found on land feeding on crustanceans like squids, krills, etc. So here is a list briefly explain about the top ten types of penguins found across the world.

Types Of Penguins

1. The Emperor penguin

The emperor Penguins are mainly found in the East Antarctica region and are the hardest to spot on the Antarctic mainland. The Emperor Penguin is the emblematic largest bird species (Penguin) forming large colonies on the sea ice. The emperor penguins mostly feed on crustaceans, squids, fishes, etc.

Also, the Emperor Penguin is the only Penguin species in Antarctica that periods during the winter. Moreover, the interesting thing about this species is that they dive deeper and longer than any Bird reaching over 200 meters and staying underwater for up to 18 minutes.

2. The Adelie penguin

The Adelie penguin is one of the most well-known black and white animals (Antarctic Penguin species) found on the Antarctic continent Peninsula and its surrounding Islands. The Adelie penguin is a stereotypical-looking Penguin having a tuxedo shirt front and a white ring around its eyes.

Also, it has a reddish beak with a black tip. The Adelie penguin mainly feeds upon fishes, krills, squids, etc..and can dive up to 175 m to catch their meals near the surface. Also, the Adelie Penguins are found in large colonies numbering thousands.

Image Source: Oregon State University

3. The Chinstrap Penguin

The Chinstrap Penguin is one of the most distinguishable Penguin species having a thin black line running across its cheeks. The Chinstrap Penguin is also one of the most abundant penguin species in the world, breathing in large colonies. Even at times, they live on icebergs floating in the open ocean.

The Chinstrap Penguin is also an aggressive Penguin species often getting into fights with other penguins. Moreover, they have short dives and seldom dive to depths of more than 60 meters, and live on a diet of fish and krill.

4. The Gentoo penguin

Mainly found on the sub-Antarctic Island, the Gentoo Penguins have a distinctive white patch around and behind the eye. Also, they are capable of making 450 dives per day and forage mainly on krills, squids, etc.

The Gentoo penguin is also the third-largest penguin species living in large, gregarious breeding colonies along the coastline of the northern Antarctic Peninsula. The interesting thing about this species is that they build nests on beaches and in grass tussocks and are highly aggressive in defending their turf.

5. The King Penguin

Found mainly on the sub-antarctic Island, King Penguins are the second largest Penguin species only just after the emperor penguins. The King Penguins are mostly found along the coastlines of the sub-antarctic Islands and feed on squids and fishes.

Also, the king Penguin is the most Marine of all Penguins and spends more time at sea than any other Penguin species. Moreover, take dives up to a depth of more than 300 in pursuit of their prey and can stay underwater for up to 9 minutes. Also, the king Penguin is a highly social Penguin species forming large colonies.

6. The Macaroni Penguin

The macaroni Penguins are one of the most abundant species found in the sub-Antarctic Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. It is a distinctive Penguin species having Orange feather plumes on its head in a thick Red Bill. Also, the macrame Penguins feed on a variety of crustaceans like krills, small fishes, etc.. the makronia Penguins also form huge colonies ranging in number from hundreds to thousands usually on hillsides as well as Rocky cliffs.

Image Source: Wikimedia

7. The Rockhopper penguin

The Rockhopper Penguin is also a majestic Penguin species having distinctive yellow and black feather plumes on its head. Also, they have blood-red eyes and are considerably shorter than other Penguins species.

The interesting thing about this species is that the rockhopper penguin often burst from the water near the shore and land on rocks with a belly flop. the rockhopper penguin is also one of the smallest Penguin species and also the smallest of the crested penguins. the interesting thing about this species is that they usually stick to shallow water but can dive up to 100 to forage on fish, krill, and small crustanceans.

8. The Fairy Penguin

Also known as little blue penguins, the Fairy Penguins are the smallest of all the penguin species found on the Antarctic continent. They are called fairy Penguins because of their small size. The fairy Penguin has a blue color on its head that goes down to its backside. In addition to Antarctica, the species of fairy Penguin is also found in New Zealand, Chile, and Australia. Also, the fairy Penguin feeds upon crustanceans including krills, squids, etc.

Image Source: Wikimedia

9. The Snares Island Penguin

Unlike other Penguin species, the snares island Penguin species are commonly found under the canopy of Olearia Forest and coastal rocks. The snares island Penguin has yellow feather plumes and a conical bill. The snail’s island Penguins have a crest of yellow plumes that extend behind the eyes.

Also, they have bare pink skin at the base of their large Red Brown bill. Moreover, the snares island Penguin nest in small to large colonies and mainly feed upon krill, squids, and small fishes. However, this species is rated as vulnerable by the IUCN.

Image Source: Wikimedia

10. The yellow-eyed penguins

The yellow-eyed Penguins are also one of the most amazing types of Penguins species having a distinctive yellow eye stripe. Most commonly found in New Zealand, the yellow-eyed Penguin is a tall, heavy Penguin with a distinctive pale yellow and crested band of feathers passing across the nape and around the eyes.

The yellow-eyed penguins feed primarily on red cod, opal, fish, sprat, and squid. However, the yellow-eyed penguins have been seriously 3810 because of loss of natural breeding habitat resulting from sea temperature changes driven by global warming.