Fast Facts: King Penguin

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HAPPY FEET!!!

The King Penguin : Aptenodytes patagonicus

Description: As the world's second-largest penguin, the King Penguin weighs around 30-45 pounds and ranges around 30-40 inches. Distinguishable by their upper-chest yellow-orange feathers, the King Penguin also has bright yellow patches on the sides of their heads that stand out against their standard black and white bodies. Males are typically larger than females, and chicks weigh around 300 grams at birth. King Penguin chicks have a fluffy brown coat that has actually led scientists in the past to incorrectly identify them as a separate species, Woolly penguins.

Habitat: Although Penguins are thought to be primarily found in the Antarctic region, the King Penguin can be considered as an Atlantic creature as it resides in the South Atlantic regions of the Falkland, South Georgia, and other temperate islands. These areas, north of Antarctica but located in the Atlantic waters, are known as Subantarctic areas. King Penguins relies on both land and sea to thrive; a majority of a King Penguin's life is spent in the water. On land, these penguins prefer snowless beaches and slopes that provide close access to the water. 

Diet: King Penguins are carnivores and rely heavily on fish as the main aspect of their diet. Squid, crustaceans, and krill serve as supplements. A single King Penguin adult may eat anywhere from 450-2000 individual fish per day!

Behavior: Hundreds of thousands of King Penguins can make up a single colony. In these densely populated areas, King Penguins spend much of their day socializing and hunting. Despite the many members of their community, King Penguins are monogamous, committing to one mate for each breeding season. In some cases, depending on the season and location, breeding pairs may even stay the same for multiple years. As part of their social behavior, individuals may dance by flapping their wings or sing to attract mates. These specific songs, or calls, remain important even after the breeding season ends. Breeding pairs learn to identify their mate's specific call so they can locate one another in their colonies. 

Chicks also learn to identify their parents' calls. For around 13 months, chicks are reliant on their parents; this is because they need waterproof feathers before they become independent. Although these penguins typically lay one egg per year, they may end up caring for two chicks during some years. Even before they are hatched, King Penguin parents take much care of their egg. These penguins don't build nests for their eggs, but instead cradle them with their feet. 

Conservation Status: More than three million individuals make up the King Penguin population. This species is listed as Least Concern, and its population is still increasing. 

Unique Traits: King Penguins are one of the animals that can consume saltwater, because it possesses a supraorbital gland that filters out the salt and makes the remaining water drinkable. This is also why penguins are able to eat prey such as squid which are largely made out of saltwater. 

These penguins are known for their ability to dive depths of down to 1000 meters. Their sleek body design and flippers allow them to stay submerged for around five minutes before they come back up for air again. Diving allows penguins to find prey they otherwise wouldn't find closer to the surface. 



https://www.atacamaphoto.com/king-penguin-south-georgia-island/

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/facts/king-penguin?loggedin=true&rnd=1678198137928

https://animalia.bio/king-penguin#:~:text=The%20King%20penguin%20possesses%20a%20supraorbital%20gland%2C%20filtering,is%20able%20to%20drink%20salty%20ocean%20water.%20References

https://www.penguinsinternational.org/2019/08/14/penguin-parenting-super-parents/#:~:text=The%20parents%20spend%20one%20summer%20and%20two%20winters,A%20second%20peak%20occurs%20at%20around%20ten%20months.

https://seaworld.org/animals/facts/birds/king-penguin/


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