Lincoln Park Zoo

Common name: Rockhopper penguin
Latin Name: Eudyptes chrysocome

Class: Birds
Order:    Sphenisciformes

Description
The rockhopper penguin stands about two feet high and has large, yellow tufts of feathers extending behind each eye. Like most penguins, it features a black back and white stomach.

Range
One of the more northerly penguin species, the rockhopper penguin can be found on island groups near South America, the southern Indian Ocean and Australia and New Zealand.

Status
The rockhopper penguin is vulnerable, with population declines taking place worldwide over the past 30 years. Commercial overfishing is thought to be a role in the species’ decline.

Habitat
Rockhopper penguins gain their name from their favored habitats: rocky shorelines. The birds rear their eggs on land, but after breeding season is over, they take to the ocean for months at a time to feed.

Niche
Like all penguins, the rockhopper penguin is flightless; the bird’s reduced wings are used to quickly paddle through the water. The bird’s favored prey includes krill, squid and crustaceans.

Life History
Rockhopper penguins breed in large colonies, with the female laying one–two eggs. If two eggs are laid, the first is typically smaller, serving as a substitute if the second, larger egg is lost. The male is responsible for egg incubation and warms eggs with a special brood pouch for four months until hatching. During this incubation period, the male is fed by the female or, if she is unavailable, he fasts.

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Special Adaptations

  • The rockhopper penguin is able to withstand swimming in cold waters due to its tightly packed feathers, which provide a waterproof coat. Thick blubber deposits provide insulation as well, and blood vessels in the flippers and legs have evolved intricate structures to preserve heat.
  • The rockhopper penguin’s black-and-white plumage helps camouflage it in the water from predators, such as seals. When seen from above, the bird’s black back blends into the dark water below, while the bird’s underside blends into the sunshine above when seen from below.