Although they prefer to stay close to shore, gentoos have been spotted as far as 26 km (16 miles) out to sea. These flightless birds can grow to a length of 30 inches (76 cm). The eggs hatch after 34 to 36 days. They have streamlined bodies and strong, paddle-shaped flippers that propel them up to 22 miles an hour, faster than any other diving bird. The gentoo penguin (/ˈdʒɛntuː/ JEN-too) (Pygoscelis papua) is a penguin species in the genus Pygoscelis, most closely related to the Adélie penguin (P. adeliae) and the chinstrap penguin (P. antarcticus). At breeding time, both parents will work to build a circular nest of stones, grass, moss, and feathers. In South Georgia, for example, breeding colonies are 2 km inland. [21] As embryos, gentoos require a lot of energy in order to develop. The species has been listed as near threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species since 2004. Get kids back-to-school ready with Expedition: Learn! Have we discovered all the land on Earth? Gentoo penguins are monogamous and have up to three breeding seasons, but generally they find new partners after that. Skuas and giant petrels regularly kill many chicks and steal eggs; Petrels will kill injured and sick adult gentoos. Males have a maximum weight of about 8.5 kg (19 lb) just before molting, and a minimum weight of about 4.9 kg (11 lb) just before mating. Weddell Sea, This Polar Circle and Antarctic Peninsula cruise passes through waters travelled by Humpback, Minke and Fin whales. [4][5][6] The Johnny rook, a predator, is likely named after the Johnny penguin. The stones are jealously guarded and their ownership can be the subject of noisy disputes and physical attacks between individuals. Adult Gentoo Penguins only venture about 24 kilometres (15 miles) from the colony in search of food for their chicks. Gentoo parents, which often form long-lasting bonds, are highly nurturing. Adults average 75 cm (about 30 inches) in length, although some individuals with lengths of 95 cm (37 inches) have been observed. These charismatic waddlers, who populate the Antarctic Peninsula and numerous islands around the frozen continent, are the penguin world’s third largest members, reaching a height of 30 inches and a weight of 12 pounds. The only other association with the word came from the 1630s, when it was an Anglo-Indian term used to distinguish Indian Hindus from Indian Muslims. Magellanic penguins can live up to 30 years – the longest lifespan of any penguin around the world – while little blue penguins have the shortest lifespan of up to six years.. with Gentoo Penguin, The cruises on oceanwide-expeditions.com have received an average, Antarctica - Discovery and learning voyage, Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands - South Georgia - Elephant Island - Antarctica - Polar Circle, Nobody is exactly sure why the word “gentoo” was applied to this particular penguin.
Photograph by Joel Sartore, National Geographic Photo Ark, Gentoo penguins photographed at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium in Nebraska, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/g/gentoo-penguin.html.

HDS32-21. [1], The Linux distribution Gentoo Linux is named after the Gentoo penguin. If you have a tablet or smartphone, you can also download the digital version onto your iOS or Android device. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins. Gentoo penguins are the only penguin species in the Antarctic Peninsula region that are expanding both in numbers and in distribution. [3], It may also be a variation of another name for this bird, "Johnny penguin", Johnny being Juanito in Spanish and sounds vaguely like gentoo. Here’s a look at how their parents give them the best start in life…, This article was originally published in How It Works issue 89, written by Jackie Snowden.

Gentoo penguins choose shallow coastal areas for their breeding grounds, building nests among tufts of grass or rocky ground. Hatchlings remain in the nest for up to a month, and the parents alternate foraging and brooding duties. For females, the maximum weight is 8.2 kg (18 lb) just before molting, but their weight drops to as little as 4.5 kg (9.9 lb) when guarding the chicks in the nest. What would happen if I fell into the centre of the Earth? Falkland Islands, Skuas on King George Island have been observed attacking and injuring adult gentoo penguins in apparent territorial disputes. It has pale whitish-pink webbed feet and a fairly long tail – the most prominent tail of all penguin species. Most penguins swim underwater at around four to seven miles per hour (mph), but the fastest penguin—the gentoo (Pygoscelis papua)—can reach top speeds of 22 mph! Gentoo penguins live about 15 to 20 years in the wild. ; They weigh around 8.5 kg (19 lb), with the minimum weight is 4.9 kg (10.8 lb).They are believed to be the third largest species after the Emperor and King Penguins. This Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands cruise delivers you into a landscape of dark rugged rock, pure white snow, and a fantastic variety of wildlife. Come say hello to whales, seals, and thousands of penguins. How many Chinstrap Penguins are there today? There is a large variety in egg-laying times depending on where a particular gentoo penguin is found. 09/12/2019. After breeding, female gentoos lay two eggs that weigh about 130g each (4.6 ounces). Gentoo Penguin Facts. If a female gentoo penguin chooses a male, both sexes point their bills at the nest the female has built. [9], The gentoo penguin is one of three species in the genus Pygoscelis. They are, however, opportunistic feeders, and around the Falklands are known to take roughly equal proportions of fish (Patagonotothen sp., Thysanopsetta naresi, Micromesistius australis), squat lobsters (Munida gregaria), and squid (Loligo gahi, Gonatus antarcticus, Moroteuthis ingens). [7], The specific name papua is a misnomer; in the original description, Johann Reinhold Forster, a naturalist who had circumnavigated the world with Captain James Cook, mistakenly assumed that the species occurred in Papua (New Guinea), the closest gentoos actually being over 6000 km to the south (on Macquarie Island). On land, no predators of full-grown healthy gentoo penguins exist. Other seabirds like skuas steal eggs and try to make off with gentoo chicks. The courtship ritual and nesting activities of these penguins are a pleasure to watch. Unlike certain other penguin species, gentoos do not have a yearly migration cycle. Male gentoos attract females with gifts of stones and also by “trumpeting” skyward. Adults spend the entire day hunting, usually close to shore, but occasionally ranging as far as 16 miles out. If the previous year’s nesting area is covered with waste or too trampled, gentoo penguins will locate the next year’s area somewhere else along the coastline.

Young gentoo penguins become sexually mature at two years of age, and many individuals live as long as 13 years. Both parents take turns incubating the eggs over the following 34–37 days. Ross Sea, The breeding colonies of gentoo penguins are located on ice-free surfaces.
The weight and height of gentoos are found to increase the farther they live from the Antarctic Peninsula. [17] They are the fastest underwater swimmers of all penguins, reaching speeds of up to 36 km/h (22 mph).

© 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, © 2015- 09/12/2019. The earliest scientific description was made in 1781 by Johann Reinhold Forster with a type locality in the Falkland Islands. [20], Gentoo penguins do not store as much fat as the Adelie penguin, their closest relative: gentoos require less energy investment when hunting because the net gain of energy after hunting is greater in gentoos than Adelies. [19] Nests are usually made from a roughly circular pile of stones and can be quite large, 20 cm (7.9 in) high and 25 cm (9.8 in) in diameter. Gentoo parents, which often form long-lasting bonds, are highly nurturing. All Rights Reserved. Like many other penguin species, they subsist on small fish, cephalopods, and krill (Euphausia) and other crustaceans. Waddling across the rocks of the Antarctic Peninsula, gentoo penguins gather for the annual breeding season. Gentoo penguins … Gentoos breed on many sub-Antarctic islands. This is a nod to the fact that the penguin is the fastest swimming penguin, as Gentoo Linux aims to be a high performance operating system. 2020 National Geographic Partners, LLC. [10], Two subspecies of this penguin are recognised: Pygoscelis papua papua and the smaller Pygoscelis papua ellsworthi.

The breeding season begins as early as late June and may last until November, depending on the location of the colony and the ability of the breeding pair to produce a second clutch of eggs if the first one is lost. Gentoo penguins only breed in areas free of snow and ice. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Chicks have grey backs with white fronts.


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