How did the macaroni penguin get its name?

It is named after the orange crest feathers above its eyes, which recalled the flamboyant "macaroni" fashion style of 18th-century England.

What does the macaroni penguin eat?

It feeds mainly on krill and other crustaceans, along with small fish and squid, and is estimated to consume 9.2 million tonnes of krill annually.

Why is the macaroni penguin listed as Vulnerable despite being so numerous?

Although it is the most numerous penguin species with about 18 million individuals, regional populations such as South Georgia's declined by 50% between the mid-1970s and mid-1990s.

Macaroni Penguinマカロニペンギン

Eudyptes chrysolophusVU— Vulnerable

The macaroni penguin is a crested penguin found across a wide range from the Subantarctic to the Antarctic Peninsula, easily identified by the bright orange plumes above its eyes. It feeds mainly on krill, taking an estimated 9.2 million tonnes a year, making it the largest single consumer of marine resources among seabirds. Although it remains the most numerous penguin species with around 18 million individuals, sharp regional declines—such as a 50% drop in the South Georgia population between the mid-1970s and mid-1990s—have led to its Vulnerable listing.

Macaroni Penguin (reference photo) — Photo: Jerzy Strzelecki / CC BY 3.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Sphenisciformes / Spheniscidae Source
Distribution: Ranges from the Subantarctic to the Antarctic Peninsula, with colonies in South America, Antarctica, and remote Indian Ocean islands such as Kerguelen and Heard Islands. Source

Did You Know?

With an estimated 18 million individuals, it is the most numerous penguin species in the world. Source
It is considered the largest single consumer of marine resources among all seabirds, taking an estimated 9.2 million tonnes of krill a year. Source

Where to See This Species

3 facilities · 0 individuals

How to tell Penguins apart →

長崎ペンギン水族館 (Nagasakipengin Suizokukan)NagasakiOpened in 2001

公式サイトで飼育情報を確認できる（主な飼育施設）。 Source

市立しものせき水族館海響館 (Shiritsu Shimonoseki Suizokukan Kaikyoukan)YamaguchiOpened in 2001

マカロニペンギンのWikipedia記事に飼育施設として記載 Source

箱根園水族館 (Hakoneen Suizokukan)Kanagawa

マカロニペンギンのWikipedia記事に飼育施設として記載 Source

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNで危急種（VU）。個体数は世界最多級だが、主要繁殖地で減少傾向にある。

Habitat

亜南極の島々。額のオレンジ色の飾り羽が特徴。

Threats

餌となるオキアミ・魚類の変動
気候変動による海洋環境の変化

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

飼育下個体群の維持と普及啓発
繁殖地の長期モニタリング

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org www.iucnredlist.org

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FAQ

How did the macaroni penguin get its name?: It is named after the orange crest feathers above its eyes, which recalled the flamboyant "macaroni" fashion style of 18th-century England. Source
What does the macaroni penguin eat?: It feeds mainly on krill and other crustaceans, along with small fish and squid, and is estimated to consume 9.2 million tonnes of krill annually. Source
Why is the macaroni penguin listed as Vulnerable despite being so numerous?: Although it is the most numerous penguin species with about 18 million individuals, regional populations such as South Georgia's declined by 50% between the mid-1970s and mid-1990s. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org