Southern Rockhopper Penguinミナミイワトビペンギン
Eudyptes chrysocomeVU— Vulnerable
The southern rockhopper penguin is a small crested penguin that breeds on the Falkland Islands and islands off the southern coast of Patagonia. It gets its name from its habit of hopping over rocks with both feet together rather than waddling like other penguins, and feeds mainly on krill, squid, and small fish. Although the global population is estimated at around one million pairs, numbers have declined by roughly a third over the past three decades, leading to its Vulnerable status.
Southern Rockhopper Penguin (reference photo)
Species Data
- Classification
- Sphenisciformes / Spheniscidae Source
- Size
- Total length 45–58 cm
- Weight
- 2–3.4 kg (large individuals may reach 4.5 kg)
- Lifespan
- The longest record in captivity is 29 years 4 months (an individual at Bergen Aquarium)
- Diet
- Piscivore Eats krill, squid, octopus, fish such as lanternfish, mollusks, and crustaceans
- Distribution
- Breeds on the Falkland Islands and islands off Patagonia in subantarctic waters around South America's southern coast; global population approximately 1 million pairs. Source
- Sources
- en.wikipedia.org
Did You Know?
- Formerly considered conspecific with the eastern rockhopper penguin, it was separated as a distinct species in 2021 based on molecular phylogenetic analysis. Source
- Rather than waddling like other penguins, rockhoppers move over rocky ground by hopping with both feet together, which is how they got their name. Source
- The population has declined by roughly one-third over thirty years, earning the species Vulnerable status from the IUCN. Source
Where to See This Species
Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 5
How to tell Penguins apart →Asahiyama ZooHokkaidoOpened in 1967
Tokyo Sea Life ParkTokyoOpened in 1989
Osaka Aquarium KaiyukanOsakaOpened in 1990
SENDAI UMINO-MORI AQUARIUMMiyagiOpened in 2015
Nagasakipengin SuizokukanNagasakiOpened in 2001
Source links to official sites, official YouTube channels, and news aggregators such as Zoo Ring. Visit the publisher for the full item.
Conservation Story
Conservation Status
Vulnerable (VU)
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FAQ
- Why is it called the rockhopper penguin?
- Unlike most penguins, which waddle or slide on their bellies, it moves over rocky terrain by hopping with both feet together. Source
- Where does the southern rockhopper penguin breed?
- It breeds on the Falkland Islands and on islands off the Patagonian coast of South America. Source
- Is the southern rockhopper penguin endangered?
- It is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN after a roughly one-third population decline over the past 30 years. Source
- How many operating facilities are registered here?
- Operating facilities registered on this site: Japan 5 Source
Books & gear
Source: www.city.asahikawa.hokkaido.jp www.tokyo-zoo.net www.kaiyukan.com www.kaiyukan.com www.iucnredlist.org