Penguins are seabirds that have lost the ability to fly, however, their wings are adapted for aquatic life and diving thanks to their completely hydrodynamic shape. While on land these birds may appear clumsy, in the water they are excellent swimmers and their bodies have both morphological and physiological adaptations for aquatic life. They are the only representatives of the order Sphenisciformes, currently it has about 13 species that are distributed mainly in the southern hemisphere, except the Galapagos penguin ( Spheniscus mendiculus ), originating, as its name suggests, from the Galapagos Islands.
If you want to continue knowing these wonderful birds, continue reading this article and we will tell you about the endangered penguins.
Types of endangered penguins
As we mentioned earlier, there are currently 13 species of penguins throughout the southern hemisphere, and they nest on the coasts of Antarctica, New Zealand, southern Australia, South Africa, all the subantarctic islands, Galapagos islands in Ecuador, Peru, Chile and the Argentine Patagonia. Sometimes, when it is not the breeding season, individuals can be found a little further north.
Of the total penguin species, all are protected under legal frameworks within their range, and below we will name the 9 species that are categorized under some threat criteria.
Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri)
It is the largest of the penguins, reaching 120 cm in length with more than 40 kg of weight that varies with sex. It is endemic to Antarctica and is currently categorized as near threatened , since it is considered a species very sensitive to climate change that has been causing drastic changes in its environment, causing a decrease in its food sources, warmer temperatures, reduction of coverage of ice.
This species is considered a “flagship species”, that is, from its conservation, the entire ecosystem where it lives, including other species of animals, is conserved.
Humboldt penguin (Spheniscus humboldti)
Another of the animals in danger of extinction is the Humboldt penguin. It is a medium-sized species measuring 50 to 75 cm. It inhabits the Pacific Ocean, along the west coast of South America in Peru and Chile, which is crossed by the Humboldt Current, being Chile the site with the largest colony of this species.
It is categorized as a vulnerable species and its populations are threatened by the decrease of their food sources, the destruction of their habitat, hunting and illegal trade, being a species that is often caught for pets.
Galapagos Penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus)
It is the second smallest penguin species, reaching about 45 cm in length. Endemic to the Galapagos Islands, it survives thanks to the cold temperatures that come from the Humboldt Current and the great depths brought by the Cromwell Current.
The Galapagos penguin is in danger of extinction, as its populations suffer the changes brought about by the El Niño current, which produces the reduction in the availability of gregarious fish on which it feeds. Also the contamination by hydrocarbons could be causing its drastic decrease.
Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus)
Another of the endangered penguins is the Magellanic penguin. It is a medium-sized penguin species that measures 30 to 45 cm in length. It nests in the Falkland Islands and on the coasts and islands of Patagonia in Argentina and Chile. Then, it migrates north in winter, reaching the waters of Uruguay and southeastern Brazil with warmer waters.
In Punta Tombo, in Argentina, there are the largest and most abundant colonies of this species, and it is the area where thousands of individuals gather to reproduce. This species is found as near threatened and protected in the Natural Reserves of Argentina and Chile, regulating the entry of tourists in the nesting areas.
Antipodean Penguin (Eudyptes sclateri)
Among the penguin species in danger of extinction is the antipodean penguin, a medium sized penguin measuring 50 to 70 cm. It lives in New Zealand, in the archipelagos of the Antipodes Islands and the Bounty Islands.
It is in danger of extinction, since having a very restricted breeding area, its populations are very vulnerable to changes in the environment, so this causes its decline.
Macaroni or orange plume penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus)
Medium penguin about 50 to 70 cm in length, very similar to the Rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome). It is distributed and reproduces in southern Chile, in the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, the South Orkney Islands and the South Shetland Islands, Bouvet Island, South Africa’s Prince Edward Islands, the Crozet Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Heard and McDonald Islands and sometimes in the Antarctic Peninsula.
Despite the fact that it is a species that has very large populations, it is categorized as vulnerable, being the main threat, as well as for most species in the South Seas, the impact of industrial fishing and oil pollution.
Northern Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes moseleyi)
We continue this list of types of penguins in danger of extinction with the northern rock-jumping penguin, a species whose population nests in the Tristán de Acuña Archipelago and the island of Gough, in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is categorized as in danger of extinction, since its current population has decreased by 90% since the last decades, possibly due to climate change, which produces changes in the marine ecosystem and the overexploitation of commercial fishing.
On the other hand, other factors that could be affecting this species are pollution (oil spills), disturbance by ecotourism, egg collection, predation by mice and the predation and competition of the subantarctic sea bear.
Rockhopper Penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome)
This is the smallest of the crested penguins and is around 50 cm in length. There are two subspecies that are distributed in different areas: the subspecies Eudyptes chrysocome chrysocome inhabits southern Chile, the Falkland Islands, and other islands in southern Argentina; on the other hand, the subspecies Eudyptes chrysocome filholi breeds in the Prince Edward Islands, the Crozet Islands, the Kerguelen Islands, Heard Island, Macquarie Island, Campbell Islands, New Zealand and the Antipode Islands.
It is categorized as vulnerable due to factors similar to the rest of threatened species and that are very sensitive to changes in the temperature of ocean waters.
Snares Penguin (Eudyptes robustus)
Finally, another of the endangered penguin species is the Snares penguin. It is a species very similar to the previous one. It measures 50 to 70 cm and is native to New Zealand, although it can occasionally be seen off the coasts of Tasmania, South Australia, the Chatham Islands and Stewart Island.
It is categorized as vulnerable because its breeding area is limited to a small group of islands. Other possible threats include the introduction of new predators, over fishing that reduces their food sources, global warming and pollution.
