![]() If both mates do not arrive at the colony at the same time, breeding can be delayed or a new mate may be chosen.įemales appear to be more selective than males when choosing a mate, but both sexes seem to choose a mate based on their plumage. If they begin storing fat too late, they may not return to the colony at the same time as their mate. Fat storage plays a role in the low monogamy rate because if the penguins begin storing fat too early they become more vulnerable to predators. Currently, there is no definitive answer as to why this occurs however, two explanations have merit: 1) mates not arriving to the colony at the same time, and 2) the amount of fat the penguin has stored. King penguins have a lower rate of monogamy than smaller penguin species. Average basal metabolic rate 25.889 W AnAge.( Jouventin, et al., 2005 McGonigal and Woodworth, 2001 Nolan, et al., 2010 Putz and Bost, 1994 Shirihai, 2008) There is no evidence of physical differences between the two subspecies. Prior to the first molt, the chicks are simply dark brown. They do not reach full adult coloration until three years of age. Juvenile king penguins are similar to adults, but their coloration isn't as vivid. King penguins are sexually monomorphic in plumage, but males are slightly larger. The front edge of the flipper also has a black line that extends to a black tip. The sides are separated from the ventral side by a narrow, black line. The dorsal side of the body and flippers consist of gray and black feathers with a silvery sheen. This UV reflective beak spot does not differ between sexes.Īdult king penguins have a dark, nearly black head with orange to orange-yellow, spoon-shaped spots on either side of the head and an orange area that is most intense at the throat and fades down the upper breast into pale yellow then finally a white ventral side. Neither the beak spot nor UV reflectance are seen in chicks. The spot, without UV reflectance, is found in juveniles. The function of this beak spot is unclear, but it is thought to signal sexual maturity, health and/or social standing. This bill has a stripe on the lower mandible that ranges in color from pinkish-red to orange-yellow and exhibits ultraviolet (UV) reflectance. Average adult weight has been found to be 11.8 kg.Īlthough they are easily confused with emperor penguins ( Aptenodytes forsteri), king penguins are more colorful and have a longer, more slender bill. Their documented height ranges from 85 to 95 cm and weight is between 9.3 and 17.3 kg. ![]() However, no specific female measurements have been recorded. Females are noted to be slightly smaller than males. King penguins are the second largest of all penguin species. They have been known to dive to a maximum of 322 meters. While king penguins prefer to live on islands south of the Polar Front, they prefer to fish in waters just north of it where surface air temperatures are around 4.5 degrees C. Islands like Macquarie (433 meters above sea level) have some flowering plants and ferns and the air temperature only varies a few degrees between the summer and winter seasons. In the locations not covered in ice, bryophytes are the primary vegetation. As in the case of South Georgia, the bays freeze over and the island is over half covered in ice during the winter months. ![]() These islands are still out of reach of the Antarctic pack ice, but icy conditions are still prevalent. For example, Heard Island is 2745 meters above sea level. The islands south of the Polar Front are typically more glaciated and at higher altitudes. King penguins spend a lot of time in the ocean feeding, but their primary habitats are sparsely vegetated areas of islands in the southern oceans and sub-Antarctic. ( McGonigal and Woodworth, 2001 Shirihai, 2008) ![]() patagonicus halli, is only found on Crozet, Heard, Kerguelen, Macquarie and Prince Edwards islands. Another genetically unique subspecies, A. This subspecies is only found on South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. Andrews Bay to 9,000 pairs located at Royal Bay. Colony sizes range from approximately 39,000 breeding pairs at both Salisbury Plains and St. On South Georgia Island over 30 colonies of A. Some lone wanderers have been found as far north as Brazil and South Africa and as far south as the Antarctic Coast. Although no colonies have been found south of latitude 60 degrees S, some non-breeding members have taken residence in southern Chile and southern Argentina. Islands include Crozet, Falkland, Heard, Kerguelen, Macquarie, Prince Edward, South Georgia and South Sandwich. Aptenodytes patagonicus (king penguins) colonies are mainly located on islands surrounding Antarctica. ![]()
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