Southern Rockhopper Penguin

Overview

The western rockhopper penguin, Eudyptes chrysocome, is a small yellow-crested penguin formerly known as the southern rockhopper penguin. It is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List, with populations having declined by roughly one-third over the last thirty years.

Identification

• The smallest of the yellow-crested, black-and-white penguins, measuring 45–58 cm in length and weighing typically 2–3.4 kg.
• Slate-grey upper parts with straight, bright yellow eyebrows ending in long yellowish plumes that project sideways behind a red eye.

Habitat

Occurring in subantarctic waters around the southern coast of South America and nearby islands, it breeds on the Falkland Islands and islands off Patagonia. During the non-breeding season, these penguins roam the offshore waters near their colonies.

Diet

The species feeds primarily on crustaceans, along with krill, squid, octopus, lantern fish, mollusks, plankton, and cuttlefish. They employ both pelagic and benthic diving strategies, with benthic dives reaching depths of up to 100 m to access food near the seafloor.

Did you know?

A rockhopper penguin named 'Rocky' at the Bergen Aquarium in Norway lived to 29 years and 4 months, setting an age record for the species and possibly the oldest penguin known.