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© www.photovolcanica.com The Royal Penguin, Eudyptes schlegeli, inhabits the waters surrounding Antarctica. Royals look very much like Macaroni Penguins, but have a white face and chin instead of the Macaronis' black visage. They are about 70 cm (28 in) long and weigh about 6 kg (13 lb). Royal Penguins breed only on Macquarie Island and, like other penguins, spend much of their time at sea, where they are assumed to be pelagic. They are not to be confused with the similar named King Penguin or Emperor Penguin. There is some controversy over whether Royal Penguins are a sub-species of Macaroni Penguins. Individuals of the two groups have been known to interbreed, though this is a relatively rare occurrence. Indeed, other penguins have been known to form mixed-species pairs in the wild. Royal Penguin Colony, Sandy Bay © www.photovolcanica.com Royal Penguins nest on beaches or on bare areas on slopes covered with vegetation. Like most seabirds they are colonial, nesting in scrapes on the ground up to a mile inland. The breeding season begins in September with laying starting in October. Royal Penguins feed on krill, fish, and small amounts of squid.
They build their nest by making a shallow hole in the sand or Royal Penguins are not considered threatened; historically they
were harvested for their oil, between 1870 and 1919 the The scientific name commemorates the German zoologist Hermann
Schlegel. |
ANIMALS over 250 |
BIRDS over 500 |
FLOWERS over 225 |