Penguin Facts

Penguins are an order (Sphenisciformes) of seabird confined almost entirely to the Southern Ocean and comprising between 18-21 species. The vast majority breed on Antarctica, the Sub-Antarctic Islands and the southern portions of Australia, New Zealand, South America, and Africa.

SEE Penguins on these Conservation Adventure:

• Argentina Wildlife Adventure
• South Africa's Penguins

Penguin Facts & Tidbits

• The lifespan of a penguin in the wild is estimated to be between 15 and 20 years depending on the species.
• The heavyweight of this group is undisputedly the Emperor Penguin weighing in at up to 40-45 kilograms (roughly 90-100 lbs) and measuring over 120 centimeters (or 48 inches) tall.
• About 40,000 Magellanic Penguins perish each year along the coast of Argentina, most are found to be soaked in oil.
• The Adelie penguin nests on snow and ice free areas of Antarctica, using stones to build their nests.
• Penguin diets consists of krill, fish, and squid.
• The smallest penguin species is the Little (or Fairy) Penguin weighing just one kilogram (~2 pounds) and averaging just over 43 centimeters (or 17 inches) tall.

Distribution

All penguins are found in the Southern Hemisphere, with the Galapagos Penguin in Ecuador being the northernmost species. All other penguin species are confined to the Southern Ocean, breeding in Antarctica, the Sub-Antarctic Islands, the southern portions of Australia, New Zealand, South America and Africa.

Status

Of the roughly 18-20 extant (living) species of penguins, at least half of these are either threatened or endangered. Of the 18 species listed on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species, 2 are listed as near threatened, 7 as vulnerable, and 4 as endangered. 

To learn more about threats to birds click here.

What Is SEEtheWILD?

We're a non-profit wildlife conservation travel organization that supports local efforts to protect endangered animals.  We work with quality tour operators who have passed our criteria to ensure low environmental impact.  We're part of The Ocean Foundation.

For more information on penguin facts, contacts us.