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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