Fiordland penguin
Fiordland penguin | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Aves |
Order: | Sphenisciformes |
Family: | Spheniscidae |
Genus: | Eudyptes |
Species: | E. pachyrhynchus
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Binomial name | |
Eudyptes pachyrhynchus G. R. Gray, 1845
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Current breeding range |
The Fiordland penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus), also known as the Fiordland crested penguin (in
Taxonomy
The Fiordland crested penguin was described in 1845 by English zoologist George Robert Gray, its specific epithet derived from the Ancient Greek pachy-/παχυ- "thick" and rhynchos/ρύγχος "beak".[5] It is one of six species in the genus Eudyptes, the generic name derived from the Ancient Greek eu/ευ "good" and dyptes/δύπτης "diver".[5]
Description
This species is a medium-sized, yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin, growing to approximately 60 cm (24 in) long and weighing on average 3.7 kg (8.2 lb), with a weight range of 2 to 5.95 kg (4.4 to 13.1 lb).[6] It has dark, bluish-grey upperparts with a darker head, and white underparts. Its broad, yellow eyebrow-stripe extends over the eye and drops down the neck. It can be distinguished from the similar erect-crested penguin (Eudyptes sclateri) and Snares penguin (Eudyptes robustus) in having no bare skin around the base of its bill.[7] Female Fiordland penguins lay a clutch of two eggs where the first-laid egg is much smaller than the second egg, generally hatches later, and shows higher mortality, demonstrating a brood reduction system that is unique from other avian groups.[8] The Fiordland crested penguin has a much higher breeding success than most other Eudyptes species, even at sites with introduced and/or native predators.
Distribution and habitat
This penguin nests in colonies among tree roots and rocks in dense temperate coastal forest. It breeds along the shores in the West Coast of the South Island, south of about
Diet
The main prey species reported are cephalopods (85%, mainly arrow squid, Nototodarus sloanii), followed by crustaceans (13%, primarily krill, Nyctiphanes australis) and fish (2%, mainly red cod and hoki). However, the importance of cephalopods might be exaggerated.[12] Prey taken seems to vary between Codfish Island and northern Fiordland.[13]
Conservation
Fiordland crested penguins are classed as near threatened by the IUCN,[1] and their status was changed from vulnerable to endangered by the Department of Conservation in 2013.[13] Surveys in the 1990s counted 2,500 pairs, though this was likely an underestimate; based on historic trends, the population is probably continuing to decline. The main threats are introduced predators such dogs, cats, rats, and especially stoats. They are also vulnerable to human disturbance, fleeing nests and leaving chicks exposed to predators.[13]
References
- ^ . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ISBN 978-0-253-34034-4.
- ^ ISBN 0-253-34034-9.
- ^ "Rare penguins' Aussie arrival not a good sign, researcher says". ABC News. 11 July 2023.
- ^ ISBN 0-19-910207-4.
- ISBN 978-0-8493-4258-5.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-143-57092-9.
- S2CID 189890803– via JSTOR.
- ^ Worthy, Trevor H. (1997). "The identification of fossil Eudyptes and Megadyptes bones at Marfell's Beach, Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand". New Zealand Natural Sciences. 23: 71–85.
- ^ Fanning, L., Larsen, H., & Taylor, P. S. (2020). A preliminary study investigating the impact of musical concerts on the behavior of captive fiordland penguins (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) and collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu). Animals, 10(11), 2035.
- ^ Theresa L Cole, Jonathan M Waters, Lara D Shepherd, Nicolas J Rawlence, Leo Joseph, Jamie R Wood; Ancient DNA reveals that the ‘extinct’ Hunter Island penguin (Tasidyptes hunteri) is not a distinct taxon. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, zlx043, https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlx043
- ^ van Heezik, Y (1989). "Diet of the Fiordland Crested penguin during the post-guard phase of chick growth". Notornis. 36: 151–156.
- ^ a b c Ellenberg, U. (2013). Miskelly, C.M. (ed.). "Fiordland crested penguin". New Zealand Birds Online. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
External links
- State of Penguins: Fiordland penguin – detailed and current species account of (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus) Archived 14 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine
- The Tawaki Project - Current research project on Fiordland penguins
- Fiordland penguins from the International Penguin Conservation website
- Penguin World: Fiordland penguin
- www.pinguins.info information about all species of penguins
- Roscoe, R. "Fiordland Crested Penguin". Photo Volcaniaca. Retrieved 13 April 2008.
- Fiordland penguin - www.penguins.com.au
- Fiordland penguin discussed on RNZ Critter of the Week, 24 March 2017
- Fiordland Crested Penguin, New Zealand Birds Online