Penguim emperor

Penguim emperor

Latin Name	Aptenodytes forsteri
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Location	Circumpolar around Antarctica
Colour	Black & White
Height	1.1 m (3.5 ft)
Weight	Up to 37 Kgs (82 lbs)
Life Expectancy	Approx. 20 Yrs

Habitat: Emperor Penguins are found circumpolar around Antarctica. They are social birds and they feed, travel and nest in groups. They are active during the day or night and from January to March they disperse into the ocean.

Diet: Emperor Penguins feed on small fish, squid and crustaceans. They mainly dive to around 50 m (164 ft) to forage for food and one of their feeding strategies is to blow bubbles into cracks in the ice to flush out any fish that may be hiding.

Breeding: Emperor Penguins breed in winter and will travel approximately 90 km (56 miles) inland to their breeding site. In May or June the female will lay 1 egg that weighs approximately 450g (1 lb) then she leaves it with the male while she goes out to sea to feed and build up her nutritional reserves.

Curiosities

• The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest of all known penguins. They reach up to 122 cm in height and weight anywhere from 22 to 45kg. Heavier than that, they are put on a strict diet.

• Though it’s considered a bird and has wings – highest feather density of any bird species, it cannot fly.

• The emperor penguin is a great traveler. Every year, adults take exhausting journeys to mate and feed their offspring.

• The female emperor lays one single egg and then leaves for the sea to feed.

• During the incubation period, the male emperors prove to be great babysitters. Their job is to keep the egg warm.

• An Emperor Penguin can hold its breath anywhere up to 20 minutes, and dive over 550 meters (1,800 ft).

• Emperor Penguins rely only on vocal calls for individual recognition between parents, offspring, and mates.

• They can only be found in the Southern Hemisphere.