Emperor penguin

Aptenodytes forsteri · The emperor penguin is the tallest and heaviest living penguin, and it lives only in Antarctica.

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderSphenisciformes
FamilySpheniscidae
GenusAptenodytes
SpeciesAptenodytes forsteri

Where it lives

Sea ice and icy seas all around Antarctica.

Fun facts

  • Emperor penguins can dive as deep as 535 metres and stay underwater for around 20 minutes while hunting.
  • Emperor penguins are the only penguins that breed during the Antarctic winter, trekking 50–120 km over the ice to reach their breeding colonies.
  • Male emperor penguins balance a single egg on their feet for around 65–75 days, and they are the only penguin dads that incubate alone.
  • Dad emperor penguins can make "crop milk" for their newborn chicks, something only pigeons, flamingos and male emperor penguins can do.

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