Great penguins
Published: January 15, 2010, 12:00 am
Updated: November 27, 2011, 3:45 pm
This article has been reviewed by the following Topic Editor:
C Michael Hogan
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Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:--- Chordata
Class:------ Aves (Birds)
Order:-------- Sphenisciformes
Family:-------- Spheniscidae (Penguins)
Genus:-------- Aptenodytes (Great Penguins)
Species:
1. Aptenodytes forsteri G. R. Gray, 1844 (Emperor Penguin)
2. Aptenodytes patagonicus (King Penguin)
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The Great penguins (scientific name: Aptenodytes) are a genus of two penguin species within the penguin family of seventeen species - Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) and King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus).
Like all penguins, Great penguins are characterized by their erect posture, stiff wings, excellent swimming ability, awkward movement out of water, and coloring.The black backs and white fronts, make all penguins difficult to see when swimming, blending against the sea from above and the sky from below.
The Great penguins are notable in several ways:
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They are the largest penguins
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Long slender bills
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Distinct dark yellow coloring on parts of the upper body
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Can dive longer and deeper than other penguins
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Build no nest, but balance the egg on their feet
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Circumpolar distribution: the King Penguin in the sub-Antarctic, restricted to islands; the Emperor penguin in the high Antarctic.
The conservation status of both species is Least Concern .
The Great penguins (scientific name: Aptenodytes) are a genus of two penguin species within the penguin family of seventeen species - Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) and King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus).
Detailed species information
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Emperor Penguin. Source: Rebeca Zapata Guardiola/WoRMS/Encyclopedia of Life
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King Penguin. Source: Yan Ropert-Coudert/WoRMS/Encyclopedia of Life
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Further Reading
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Aptenodytes Penguinworld.com (accessed March 29, 2009)
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[www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2009/ Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2009 Annual Checklist]. Bisby FA, Roskov YR, Orrell TM, Nicolson D, Paglinawan LE, Bailly N, Kirk PM, Bourgoin T, Baillargeon G., eds (2009), Species 2000: Reading, UK.
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Citation
Peter Saundry, Encyclopedia of Life (Lead Author);C Michael Hogan (Topic Editor) "Great penguins". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth January 15, 2010; Last revised Date November 27, 2011; Retrieved May 19, 2013 <http://www.eoearth.org/article/Great_penguins>
The Authors
Stewardship Committee
The Encyclopedia of Earth
Dr. Peter Saundry is the Executive Director of the National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE), a nonpartisan organization working to improve the scientific basis of environmental decision making. The NCSE works closely with the many communities that create and use environmental knowledge to make and shape environmental decisions, including academic, scientific, environmental, and business organizations, as well as federal, state ... (Full Bio)
The Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) is an ambitious, even audacious project to organize and make available via the Internet virtually all information about life present on Earth. At its heart lies a series of Web sites—one for each of the approximately 1.8 million known species—that provide the entry points to this vast array of knowledge. The entry-point for each site is a species page suitable for the general public, but with several linked pages aimed at more specialized users. The sites spark ... (Full Bio)
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Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:--- Chordata
Class:------ Aves (Birds)
Order:-------- Sphenisciformes
Family:-------- Spheniscidae (Penguins)
Genus:-------- Aptenodytes (Great Penguins)
Species:
1. Aptenodytes forsteri G. R. Gray, 1844 (Emperor Penguin)
2. Aptenodytes patagonicus (King Penguin)
|
The Great penguins (scientific name: Aptenodytes) are a genus of two penguin species within the penguin family of seventeen species - Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) and King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus).
Like all penguins, Great penguins are characterized by their erect posture, stiff wings, excellent swimming ability, awkward movement out of water, and coloring.The black backs and white fronts, make all penguins difficult to see when swimming, blending against the sea from above and the sky from below.
The Great penguins are notable in several ways:
-
They are the largest penguins
-
Long slender bills
-
Distinct dark yellow coloring on parts of the upper body
-
Can dive longer and deeper than other penguins
-
Build no nest, but balance the egg on their feet
-
Circumpolar distribution: the King Penguin in the sub-Antarctic, restricted to islands; the Emperor penguin in the high Antarctic.
The conservation status of both species is Least Concern .
The Great penguins (scientific name: Aptenodytes) are a genus of two penguin species within the penguin family of seventeen species - Emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) and King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus).
Detailed species information
|
Emperor Penguin. Source: Rebeca Zapata Guardiola/WoRMS/Encyclopedia of Life
|
King Penguin. Source: Yan Ropert-Coudert/WoRMS/Encyclopedia of Life
|
Further Reading
-
Aptenodytes Penguinworld.com (accessed March 29, 2009)
-
[www.catalogueoflife.org/annual-checklist/2009/ Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2009 Annual Checklist]. Bisby FA, Roskov YR, Orrell TM, Nicolson D, Paglinawan LE, Bailly N, Kirk PM, Bourgoin T, Baillargeon G., eds (2009), Species 2000: Reading, UK.
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