King Penguin

Aptenodytes patagonicus

The above picture was taken at Indianapolis zoo, in April, 2001. Look at the dinosaur-like feet of this penguin, indicating its evolutionary ancestors. Note that the two shorter penguins with the different plumage and pink feet belong to a different species, the Rockhopper Penguin.

King penguins live in the shores of Antarctica, eating small fish and squids. They are excellent divers, and can stay over an hour in the water to find food. A colony of King penguins may consist of over a million individuals. They do not build nests, probably due to the crowded conditions in their colony; instead, they carry their egg around on top of their feet.

Another picture of a single individual (same place, April 1999) is shown below.

Genus Aptenodytes
Family Spheniscidae
Order Sphenisciformes
Class Aves
Subphylum Vertebrata
Phylum Chordata
Kingdom Animalia
Life on Earth
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