Adélie penguin

Pygoscelis adeliae · The Adélie penguin is a species of penguin common along the entire coast of Antarctica, where it is the most widespread penguin species.

Also called Adelie penguin.

Adélie penguin
Photo: Jason Auch, CC BY 2.0
Adélie penguin
Photo: ravas51, CC BY-SA 2.0
Adélie penguin
Photo: Murray Foubister, CC BY-SA 2.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderSphenisciformes
FamilySpheniscidae
GenusPygoscelis
SpeciesPygoscelis adeliae

Where it lives

Coasts and pack ice all around Antarctica.

Fun facts

  • Adélie penguins in the Ross Sea region migrate about 13,000 km each year, following the sun between their breeding colonies and winter feeding grounds.
  • Adélie penguins can leap about 3 metres out of the water to land on rocks or ice.
  • A bold Adélie once charged a giant petrel and stood between it and a group of emperor penguin chicks until the predator retreated.
  • A parent sitting on the eggs does not even leave to go to the toilet; it shoots its droppings away from the nest instead.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).