Emperor Penguins: Captivating Giants of the Penguin Species

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Captivating Giants of the Penguin Species

EMPEROR

PENGUINS

Anatomical adaptations allow Emperor penguins to survive the harshest, most punishing Antarctic conditions. Within this circumpolar high-latitude distribution, they almost always breed on stable, fast ice near the coast. Emperor penguins are incredibly vulnerable to climate change.

How Emperor Penguins Are Unique

Largest of the penguins

EMPEROR

KING

GENTOO

MACARONI

CHINSTRAP

ADELIE

115cm (45in) 30kg (66lb)

70–100cm (28–39in) 9.3–18kg (21–40lb)

51–90cm (20–35in) 4.9–8.5kg (11–19lb)

70cm (28in) 5.5kg (12lb)

72cm (28in)

70cm (28in) 6kg (2.2lb)

3–5kg (6.6–11lb)

Adult male size comparison

595 THOUSAND

is the total estimated population of adult Emperor penguins

EMPERORS ARE

the weight of King penguins, the next largest of the species

19 %

is the estimated survival rate of Emperor chicks in their first year

Emperor’s do not build nests; the male incubates the egg on his feet and his brood pouch keeps the egg warm.

Emperors huddle to conserve heat.

Emperors raise 1 chick per year.

Emperors produce one of the smallest eggs relative to body size of any bird.

22 mins.

Emperor penguin chicks huddle in crèches while parents fish.

1lb

Emperors are winter breeders.

The adults can dive to 564m (1850 ft) and stay underwater for up to 22 minutes.

Every winter (which begins in March in Antarctica), emperor penguins traverse up 80 km (50 mi.) across the ice to reach stable breeding grounds. Circumpolar, they breed right up against the continent. There are approximately 4,000 breeding pairs of Emperor penguins near Snow Hill on the frozen Weddell Sea ice.

The Journey of Emperor Penguins

SNOW HILL

BREEDING PAIRS

DOWNLOAD IT HERE! Snow Hill Brochure

Travel.QuarkExpeditions.com/SnowHill OR VISIT US AT

*Sources: Fabrice Genevois, Orinthologist PenguinWatch.org | CoolAntarctica.com | EOL.org

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