Facts about Gentoo Penguins
They are the fastest underwater swimming penguins, reaching speeds of 36 km/h. Adult Gentoo Penguins reach a height of 75 to 90 cm (20-36 in), making them the largest penguins outside of the two giant species, the Emperor Penguin and the King Penguin. Male Gentoos have a maximum weight of about 8.5 kg (18.8 lbs) just before moulting, and a minimum weight of about 4.9 kg (10.8 lbs) just before mating. Their nests are usually made from a roughly circular pile of stones and can be quite large, 20 cm high and 25 cm in diameter. The stones are 'jealously guarded' and their ownership can be the subject of noisy disputes between individual penguins. They are also prized by the females, even to the point that a male penguin can obtain the favors of a female by offering her a nice stone. The Gentoo Penguins lay two eggs, both weighing around 500 g. Gentoos breed on many sub-Antarctic islands and on the Antarctic Peninsula in small to large colonies. Larger populations of gentoo penguins are found at South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and the Iles Kerguelen. The eggs hatch after 34 to 36 days. Unlike other penguin species, gentoo penguins may breed as early as two years of age. Their eggs take as much as 5 months to hatch. Gentoo penguins are the least abundant of the penguins found on the sub-Antarctic islands, with a total breeding population of approximately 314 000 pairs. Gentoos live mainly on crustaceans such as krill, with fish making up only about 15% of the diet. Female Gentoo Penguins attain the maximum weight is 8.2 kg (18 lbs) just before moulting, but their weight drops to as little as 4.5 kg (10 lbs) when guarding the chicks in the nest. After hatching their chicks remain in the nests for about 30 days before forming creches. |
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