Emperor penguin
The emperor penguin is a tall flightless seabird of Antarctica. It is a strong swimmer and hunts fish and krill in the cold Southern Ocean.
Key numbers
Scientific name: Aptenodytes forsteri
| Height | 1–1.3 m (3–4 ft)(animaldiversity.org) |
|---|---|
| Weight | 25–45 kg (55–99 lb)(animaldiversity.org) |
| Lifespan (wild) | 15–20 years(animaldiversity.org) |
| Lifespan (human care) | 20–34 years(animaldiversity.org) |
| Top speed | up to 20 km/h (12 mph)(animaldiversity.org) |
| Diet | Eats mainly fish and krill, plus other crustaceans and molluscs. An adult eats roughly 2 to 3 kg of food a day.(animaldiversity.org) |
| Habitat | Polar: Antarctica; breeding colonies along the coast between about 66° and 78° S.(animaldiversity.org) |
Sources give different figures for some of these numbers; we show the range they support.
Our full emperor penguin profile is on the way. Meanwhile, see it next to a person, to scale.