Gentoo Penguin
The gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) is the fastest swimming penguin, reaching about 35 kilometers per hour. It is recognized by the white patch above each eye and an orange bill.
The gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) is the fastest swimming penguin, reaching about 35 kilometers per hour. It is recognized by the white patch above each eye and an orange bill.
🧬 Field Guide Specimen: Open Gentoo Penguin in the CRV Science Field Guide to log the specimen, see its place among the Reptilia lineages in the Cladogram Explorer, and test your recall in the Red List conservation game.
Pebbles for Love
Gentoos build nests of stones, and males present pebbles to females as part of courtship. Stealing pebbles from neighbors is common. The pebbles raise the nest above meltwater.
Moving South
On the Antarctic Peninsula, gentoo populations are increasing and moving south as the climate warms, while Adélie and chinstrap penguins that depend on sea ice decline. See Adelie Penguin.
Foraging
Gentoos feed on krill, fish and squid, usually in shallow dives close to shore, and sometimes forage at night.
Gentoo Penguin at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pygoscelis papua |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Sphenisciformes |
| Family | Spheniscidae |
| Field Guide group | Reptilia: Aves (Birds) |
| Diagnostic feature (Field Guide) | Black-and-white flightless swimmer with a white patch over each eye and a bright orange bill and feet; the fastest underwater swimmer of its family at up to 36 km/h. |
| IUCN Red List status | Least Concern (LC), assessed 2020 |
| Swimming speed | About 35 km/h |
| Nest | Pebbles |
See Also
- Adelie Penguin — an ice-dependent penguin
- King Penguin — a larger penguin