Saturday, June 23, 2012

Rockhopper Penguin Unique


Animals Unique | Rockhopper Penguin Unique |
The rockhopper penguin is a group of penguins are closely related and That share the same love of jumping over rocks to get about, rather sliding around on Their bellies penguin in the normal fashion. There are three different species of rockhopper penguins are the which the western rockhopper penguin, the eastern rockhopper penguin and the northern rockhopper penguin.

Rockhopper penguins are found throughout the sub-Antarctic and in regions of the southern Indian and Pacific Oceans. The regions Occupied by the rockhopper penguins depend on the species. The western rockhopper is found around the tip of the South America; the eastern rockhopper breeds on sub-Antarctic islands of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans and the northern rockhopper penguin breeds on islands of Tristan da Cunha as well as on Amsterdam and St Paul Islands .

The rockhopper is a small sized species of penguin That is similar in appearance to the slightly larger royal penguin and the macaroni penguin. Rockhopper penguins have black-gray upper parts and a straight, bright yellow eyebrow ending in long Yellowish Plumes projecting sideways behind a red eye. Their beaks are usually orange / red in color.

All penguins are fantastic swimmers and the rockhopper penguin is no exception. Rockhopper penguins Their use powerful flippers and streamlined bodies, aided by Their webbed feet to Soar through the water. Their unique way of moving about on land also means the rockhopper penguin That is Able to Inhabit even more extreme environments than other penguin species.

The rockhopper penguin is a Carnivorous animal, that like all other penguin species, survives on a diet comprised That is only of marine animals. Krill and small crustaceans make up the bulk of the rockhopper penguin's diet along with larger organisms Including Various species of squid and fish. Rockhopper penguins can be at sea for days at a time whilst hunting and Their catch food by diving deep into the water for minutes at a time.

The rockhopper penguin has no natural land-based predators due to the fact That Inhabit rockhopper penguins pretty harsh environments, uninhabitable to other animals. Large leopard seals hunt the rockhopper penguin in the water along with large sharks and killer whales. Rockhopper penguin population have also been seriously affected by human hunting, and are easily affected by changes in the water from oil spills and chemical pollutants.

Rockhopper penguins nest on beaches, high up on the cliffs and on islands throughout inland Sometimes the sub-Antarctic (these sites are known as rookeries). The female rockhopper penguin lays two eggs are incubated for the which just over a month and usually Fledge (leave the nest) when They are Between 2 and 3 months old.

Today, the rockhopper Populations throughout the southern hemisphere have been drastically declining species and all three are now at risk. The northern rockhopper penguin is classified as endangered, where the others are not quite in as much danger.

Rockhopper Penguin Unique Facts
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Sphenisciformes
Family: Spheniscidae
Genus: Eudyptes
Scientific name: Eudyptes Chrysocome
Type: Bird
Diet: Carnivore
Size (H): 45cm - 58cm (18in - 23in)
Weight: 2kg - 5kg (4.4lbs - 11lbs)
Life Span: 15-20 years
Lifestyle: Colony
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Colour: Black, White, Grey
Skin Type: Feathers
Favourite Food: Krill
Habitat: Rocky Antarctic Islands
Average Litter Size: 2
Main Prey: Krill, Fish, Shrimp
Predators: Leopard Seal, Killer Whale, Sharks
Distinctive Features: Red beaks and eyes, with yellow head feathers

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