Gentoo Penguins
Scientific name: Pygoscelis papua
Total length: 29.5 inches
Weight: 13 pounds
Markings are a white triangular flash
across the forehead form eye to eye, also a brilliant coral-red
bill plates.
Gentoos are one of the less aggressive penguins and one of
most difference penguins to study because they will keep their
distance from humans when people are around. Their are two
different kinds of Gentoos. One that breed on the South Orkney
and South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula is know as the
Southern Gentoo. They are smaller in size, weighting an average
5.5 kilogram, with short, stubby flippers, feet and bill than the
Northern Gentoo. The southern Gentoos form mixed colonies between
the Adelie and Chinstrap penguins. They start laying their eggs
in early November, little bit after the Adelie penguins and a
little bit before the Chinstrap penguins.
The northern Gentoos are larger, weighing an average 6.2
kilograms and up to 8 kilograms or more. They breed on the South
Georgia and the other northern island making their nest on the
beaches. They are the only penguins to move their colony site
form year to year because of the ticks and parasites which live
in the nesting materials.
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