Fiordland Penguin
Encyclopedia
The Fiordland Crested Penguin (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus), also known as Tawaki (Maori
), is a species of crested penguin from New Zealand
. It breeds along the Fiordland
coast and its outlying islands as well as on Stewart Island/Rakiura
.
, its specific epithet derived from the Ancient Greek
pachy-/παχυ- 'thick' and rhynchos/ρυνχος 'beak'. It is one of six species in the genus Eudyptes, the generic name derived from the Ancient Greek eu/ευ 'good' and dyptes/δυπτης 'diver'.
coast and its outlying islands as well as on Stewart Island/Rakiura
.
, Nototodarus sloanii), followed by crustaceans (13%, primarily Krill
, Nyctiphanes
australis) and fish (2%, mainly Red Cod
and Hoki
). However, the importance of cephalopods might be exaggerated.
s, cat
s, stoat
s and rat
s.
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
), is a species of crested penguin from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It breeds along the Fiordland
Fiordland
Fiordland is a geographic region of New Zealand that is situated on the south-western corner of the South Island, comprising the western-most third of Southland. Most of Fiordland is dominated by the steep sides of the snow-capped Southern Alps, deep lakes and its ocean-flooded, steep western valleys...
coast and its outlying islands as well as on Stewart Island/Rakiura
Stewart Island/Rakiura
Stewart Island/Rakiura is the third-largest island of New Zealand. It lies south of the South Island, across Foveaux Strait. Its permanent population is slightly over 400 people, most of whom live in the settlement of Oban.- History and naming :...
.
Taxonomy
Also known as the Fiordland Crested Penguin, the Fiordland Penguin was described in 1845 by English zoologist George Robert GrayGeorge Robert Gray
George Robert Gray FRS was an English zoologist and author, and head of the ornithological section of the British Museum, now the Natural History Museum, in London for forty-one years...
, its specific epithet derived from the Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
pachy-/παχυ- 'thick' and rhynchos/ρυνχος 'beak'. It is one of six species in the genus Eudyptes, the generic name derived from the Ancient Greek eu/ευ 'good' and dyptes/δυπτης 'diver'.
Description
They are medium-sized, yellow-crested, black-and-white penguins, growing to approximately 60 cm (24 in) long and weighing on average 3.7 kg (8.2 lbs), with a weight range of 2 to 5.95 kg (4.4 to 13.1 lb). It has dark, bluish-grey upperparts with a darker head, and white underparts. It has a broad, yellow eyebrow-stripe which extends over the eye and drops down the neck. Most birds have 3-6 whitish stripes on the face.Distribution and habitat
This penguin nests in colonies in dense temperate forest. It breeds along the FiordlandFiordland
Fiordland is a geographic region of New Zealand that is situated on the south-western corner of the South Island, comprising the western-most third of Southland. Most of Fiordland is dominated by the steep sides of the snow-capped Southern Alps, deep lakes and its ocean-flooded, steep western valleys...
coast and its outlying islands as well as on Stewart Island/Rakiura
Stewart Island/Rakiura
Stewart Island/Rakiura is the third-largest island of New Zealand. It lies south of the South Island, across Foveaux Strait. Its permanent population is slightly over 400 people, most of whom live in the settlement of Oban.- History and naming :...
.
Diet
The main prey species reported for Fiordland penguins are cephalopods (85%, mainly Arrow squidArrow squid
Arrow squid may refer to:*Loligo plei, Slender Inshore Squid*Loligo bleekert*Nototodarus gouldi, Gould's Squid, caught in Australia and New Zealand*Nototodarus sloanii, caught in New Zealand...
, Nototodarus sloanii), followed by crustaceans (13%, primarily Krill
Krill
Krill is the common name given to the order Euphausiacea of shrimp-like marine crustaceans. Also known as euphausiids, these small invertebrates are found in all oceans of the world...
, Nyctiphanes
Nyctiphanes
Nyctiphanes is a genus of krill, containing the following species:*Nyctiphanes australis G. O. Sars, 1883*Nyctiphanes capensis Hansen, 1911*Nyctiphanes couchii *Nyctiphanes simplex Hansen, 1911...
australis) and fish (2%, mainly Red Cod
Red codling
The red codling or hoka, Pseudophycis bachus, is a morid cod of the genus Pseudophycis, found around southern Australia and New Zealand, from the surface to 700 m. Its length is up to 90 cm. P. bachus is a food source for the diving Yellow-eyed Penguin, Megadyptes antipodes-References:* Tony...
and Hoki
Blue grenadier
The blue grenadier, hoki, blue hake, New Zealand whiptail, whiptail or whiptail hake, Macruronus novaezelandiae, is a merluccid hake of the family Merlucciidae found around southern Australia and New Zealand at depths of between . Its length is between...
). However, the importance of cephalopods might be exaggerated.
Conservation
The current status of this penguin is threatened due to its small population. Current population estimates range between 2,500-3,000 pairs and is thought to have declined since the late 1980s by around 33%. It is under threat from introduced predators including dogDog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s, cat
Cat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
s, stoat
Stoat
The stoat , also known as the ermine or short-tailed weasel, is a species of Mustelid native to Eurasia and North America, distinguished from the least weasel by its larger size and longer tail with a prominent black tip...
s and rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
s.