There are seventeen (17) penguin species in the world, classified
into six (6) groups (genera). All of these species live in the
southern hemisphere (below the equator).
Penguin species differ in size, colors, habits and habitat. Species of penguins living more southerly (colder areas) tend to be larger than species living in warmer areas.
Below is an overview of the seventeen species together with their lengths and weights. More data and penguin pictures will be added later.
The Great Penguins : genus Aptenodytes - "Flightless Diver"
Emperor penguin - Aptenodytes forsteri
Fact sheet
| Length |
100-130 cm |
| Weight |
27-41 kg |
| Average swimming speed |
8.5-12 km/h |
| Distribution |
Circumpolar on Antarctic continent, within limits of pack ice |
| Diet |
Fish, squid and krill |
| Distinguishing features |
Largest of all penguins. Has yellow, open ear patches (at both sides of the neck) |
King penguin - Aptenodytes patagonicus
King penguin
© Thomas De Schampheleire
Fact sheet
| Length |
85-95 cm |
| Weight |
13.5-16 kg |
| Average swimming speed |
7.5 km/h |
| Distribution |
Sub-Antarctic islands and peninsulas |
| Diet |
Mainly fish |
| Distinguishing features |
Smaller than the Emperor penguin. Has orange, closed ear patches. |
The Brush-tailed Penguins : genus Pygoscelis - "Bottom-legged"
Adelie penguin - Pygoscelis adeliae
Fact sheet
| Length |
70 cm |
| Weight |
3.6-4.5 kg |
| Average swimming speed |
8-16.5 km/h |
| Distribution |
Circumpolar on Antarctic continent, within limits of pack ice |
| Diet |
Mainly krill |
| Distinguishing features |
All of its feathers are either black or white. Has a white ring around the eye. |
Chinstrap penguin - Pygoscelis antarctica
Fact sheet
| Length |
71-76 cm |
| Weight |
4 kg |
| Distribution |
Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands |
| Diet |
Mainly krill, fish |
| Distinguishing features |
Has a white head and a small black band running over its chin (hence the name). |
Gentoo penguin - Pygoscelis papua
Fact sheet
| Length |
75-90 cm |
| Weight |
5.5-6.4 kg |
| Distribution |
Circumpolar in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters |
| Diet |
Mainly krill, fish |
| Distinguishing features |
Has white patches behind the eyes and its bill has bright orange-red sides. |
The Crested penguins: genus Eudyptes - "Good Diver"
Rockhopper penguin - Eudyptes chrysocome
Rockhopper penguin
© Dave Houston (Used w/ permission)
Fact sheet
| Length |
45-58 cm |
| Weight |
2.3-2.7 kg |
| Average swimming speed |
7.5 km/h |
| Distribution |
Sub-Antarctic islands |
| Diet |
Mainly krill, also fish |
| Distinguishing features |
Smallest of the crested penguins. Has red eyes and drooping crests. The yellow stripes that runs from the start of the crests almost join at the bill. |
Erect-crested penguin - Eudyptes sclateri
Fact sheet
| Length |
67 cm |
| Weight |
2.7-3.5 kg |
| Distribution |
Antipodes, Bounty and Campbell Islands (around New Zealand) |
| Diet |
No studies; reported as krill and squid |
| Distinguishing features |
The only crested penguin with an erect crest: no part of the crest comes below the bird's eye level (when the crest is dry; it droops when it is wet). |
Macaroni penguin - Eudyptes chrysolophus
Fact sheet
| Length |
71 cm |
| Weight |
4.5 kg |
| Average swimming speed |
7.5 km/h |
| Distribution |
Sub-Antarctic islands in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans |
| Diet |
Mainly krill, some fish |
| Distinguishing features |
Plumes are orange rather than yellow, extending backward rather than outward. |
Fiordland penguin - Eudyptes pachyrhynchus
Fact sheet
| Length |
55 cm |
| Weight |
2.7-3 kg |
| Distribution |
New Zealand |
| Diet |
Little known; one study suggests mainly krill |
Snares penguin - Eudyptes robustus
Fact sheet
| Length |
51-61 cm |
| Weight |
2.7-3 kg |
| Distribution |
only on Snares Island, south of New Zealand |
| Diet |
Little known; mainly krill, also squid and fish |
Royal penguin - Eudyptes schlegeli
Fact sheet
| Length |
65-75 cm |
| Weight |
5.5 kg |
| Distribution |
Mainly on Macquerie Island, also Campbell Island and New Zealand |
| Diet |
Krill and fish |
The Yellow-Eyed Penguin : Megadyptes - "Large Diver"
Yellow-eyed penguin - Megadyptes antipodes
Fact sheet
| Length |
56-78 cm |
| Weight |
6 kg |
| Distribution |
South-east New Zealand |
| Diet |
Mainly fish, squid |
The Banded Penguins : Spheniscus - "Wedge-like"
African penguin (Jackass penguin) - Spheniscus demersus
Fact sheet
| Length |
70 cm |
| Weight |
3 kg |
| Average swimming speed |
3.5-6.5 km/h |
| Distribution |
South African coast |
| Diet |
Mainly fish |
Galapagos penguin - Spheniscus mendiculus
Fact sheet
| Length |
53 cm |
| Weight |
2.5 kg |
| Distribution |
Galapagos Islands, just below the equator |
| Diet |
No detailed studies; mainly fish |
Humboldt penguin - Spheniscus humboldti
Humboldt penguin
© Thomas De Schampheleire
Fact sheet
| Length |
65 cm |
| Weight |
4 kg |
| Average swimming speed |
1.5-8.5 km/h (in captivity) |
| Distribution |
Along the coast of Peru and Chile (west coast of South America) |
| Diet |
Small fish |
Magellanic penguin - Spheniscus magellanicus
Fact sheet
| Length |
70 cm |
| Weight |
5 kg |
| Average swimming speed |
7.5 km/h |
| Distribution |
Falkland Islands and along the coast of Chile and Argentina |
| Diet |
Fish and squid |
The Little Penguin : Eudyptula - "Little Good Diver"
Little (blue) penguin (Fairy penguin) - Eudyptula minor
Fact sheet
| Length |
40-45 cm |
| Weight |
1 kg |
| Average swimming speed |
5.5-8.5 km/h |
| Distribution |
Southern Australia and New Zealand |
| Diet |
Small fish |
>> Next page: What do penguins look like?
Note: penguin lengths are measured from the tip of the bill to the tip of
the tail, when the penguin is stretched out.
Lengths taken from: Williams, Tony D. The Penguins. New York-. Oxford University Press, 1995.
Weights taken from: Seaworld Penguin Info Book - http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/info-books/penguin/appendix-species.htm
