Little penguin: Difference between revisions
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{{Taxobox |
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| name = Little Penguin |
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| status = LC |
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| image = Little Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor) -Adelaide Zoo.jpg |
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| image_width = 240px |
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| image_caption = [[Adelaide Zoo]], Australia. |
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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia |
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| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]] |
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| classis = [[bird|Aves]] |
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| ordo = [[penguins|Sphenisciformes]] |
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| familia = [[Spheniscidae]] |
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| genus = ''[[Eudyptula]]'' |
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| species = '''''E. minor''''' |
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| binomial = ''Eudyptula minor'' |
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| binomial_authority = ([[J.R.Forster]], [[1781]]) |
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}} |
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The '''Little Penguin''' (''Eudyptula minor'') is the smallest [[species]] of [[penguin]]. It is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile. |
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They have several common names. In Australia, they are often referred to as '''Fairy Penguins''' because of their tiny size. In New Zealand, they are called '''Little Blue Penguins''', or just '''Blue Penguins''', owing to their indigo-blue plumage, and they are called '''Kororā''' in [[Māori]]. |
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==Taxonomy== |
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The Little Penguin was first described by German naturalist [[Johann Reinhold Forster]] in 1781. There are several [[subspecies]] but a precise classification of these is still a matter of dispute. The [[White-flippered Penguin]], is sometimes considered a subspecies, sometimes a distinct species, and sometimes a [[morph (zoology)|morph]]. As the Australian and western South Island Little Penguins seem to be a distinct species<ref>Banks, Jonathan C.; Mitchell, Anthony D.; Waas, Joseph R. & Paterson, Adrian M. (2002): An unexpected pattern of molecular divergence within the blue penguin (''Eudyptula minor'') complex. ''Notornis'' '''49'''(1): 29–38. [http://www.notornis.org.nz/free_issues/Notornis_49-2002/Notornis_49_1_29.pdf PDF fulltext]</ref> to which the [[specific name]] ''minor'' would apply, the White-flippered birds indeed belong to a distinct species, although not exactly as originally assumed. |
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[[Mitochondria]]l and [[Cell nucleus|nuclear]] DNA evidence suggests the split between ''Eudyptula'' and ''Spheniscus'' occurred around 25 million years ago, with the ancestors of the White-flippered and Little Penguins diverging about 2.7 million years ago.<ref>{{cite journal |author=Baker AJ, Pereira SL, Haddrath OP, Edge KA|year=2006|title=Multiple gene evidence for expansion of extant penguins out of Antarctica due to global cooling |journal=Proc Biol Sci. |volume=273 |issue=1582|pages=11-17|doi=10.1098/rspb.2005.3260 |url=http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1560011 |accessdate=2008-03-21}}</ref> |
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==Description== |
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[[Image:Little Penguin-Sydney.jpg|left|thumb|Little Penguin]] |
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The Little Penguin typically grows to 43 cm (16 [[inches|in]]) tall and weighs about one kilogram (2.2 pounds). The male is a little larger than the female, although their plumage is similar. The head and upperparts are indigo in colour, with slate-grey ear coverts fading to white underneath, from the chin to the belly. The flippers are indigo above and white underneath. The dark grey-black bill is 3-4 cm long, the irises pale silvery- or bluish-grey or hazel, and the feet whitish above with black soles and webbing. An immature individual will have a shorter bill and paler upperparts.<ref name=Will230>Williams (''The Penguins'') p. 230</ref> |
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Like most seabirds, they have a long lifespan. The average for the species is 6.5 years, but [[bird ringing|flipper ringing]] experiments have recorded individuals that have lived for over 20 years.<ref name="Dann05">Dann, P. ''et al'' (2005): Longevity in Little Penguins. ''Marine Ornithology'' '''33''': 71–72. [http://www.marineornithology.org/PDF/33_1/33_1_71-72.pdf PDf fulltext]</ref> |
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==Distribution and habitat== |
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{{seealso|List of Little Penguin colonies}} |
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The Little Penguin breeds along the entire coastline of [[New Zealand]], the [[Chatham Islands]], [[Tasmania]], and southern [[Australia]]. |
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Little penguins have also been reported from Chile (where they are known as '''Pingüino pequeño''' or '''Pingüino azul''') ([[Isla Chañaral]] 1996, Playa de Santo Domingo, [[San Antonio, Chile|San Antonio]], [[16 March]] [[1997]]) but it is unclear whether these birds were [[Vagrancy (biology)|vagrants]]. Nevertheless it has been suggested that there might be a yet undiscovered breeding population in the Chilean portion of [[Patagonia]]. Recently, the first record of a living Little Penguin has been reported from [[Namibia]] ([[Ichaboe Island]], April 2005). |
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==Behaviour== |
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[[Image:Little Penguin chick.jpg|thumb|right|Chick in nest burrow]] |
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===Diet=== |
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These birds feed by hunting [[fish]], [[squid]], and other small sea animals, for which they travel and dive quite extensively. |
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===Reproduction=== |
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Little Penguins live year-round in large colonies, with each individual breeding pair forming a burrow in which to raise their chicks (of which two are born at a time). Little Penguins typically return to their colonies to feed their chicks at dusk; the birds will tend to come ashore in small groups to provide some defense against predators which might pick off individuals one by one. In Australia, the strongest colonies are on cat-free and fox-free islands. |
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==Relationship with humans== |
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[[Image:Little pengiun melbourne.jpg|thumb|200px|Little Penguins]] |
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At [[Phillip Island (Victoria)|Phillip Island]], south-east of [[Melbourne]], a viewing area has been set up to allow tourists to view the nightly "penguin parade". Lights and concrete stands have been erected to allow visitors to see but not photograph the birds interacting in their colony, who are not bothered by their spectators. The "parade",which stands as a very popular attraction, brings half a million visitors a year.<ref>[http://www.visitvictoria.com/displayobject.cfm/objectid.136F5EDE-7BC5-46E7-85AF2C935CDEE4B7/vvt.vhtml Visit Victoria, Phillip Island]</ref> Tourists to Perth in Western Australia can also make the short trip to Penguin Island to see the penguins and observe their normal behaviour. The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony<ref>[http://www.penguins.co.nz Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony]</ref> is the New Zealand equivalent to Phillip Island's penguin parade. |
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[[Linus Torvalds]], the original creator of [[Linux]] (a popular operating system [[Kernel (computer science)|kernel]]), was once bitten by a Little Penguin while on holiday in Australia. Reportedly, this encounter encouraged Torvalds to select [[Tux]] as the official Linux mascot/logo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linux.org.au/linux/tux|title="Tux" the Aussie Penguin|publisher=Linux Australia|accessdate=2006-06-25}}</ref> |
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Penny the Little Penguin was the mascot for the 2007 [[International Swimming Federation|FINA]] World Swimming Championships held in Melbourne, Victoria.<ref>[http://melbourne2007.com.au/site/sections/inquiry/inquiry_penny_home.html FINA - Melbourne, 2007]</ref><ref>[http://www.dse.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrenpa.nsf/LinkView/C64420AFE15676A9CA2571FA007DC400BC992A0BE8BCE1E24A256DEA002432FD Protecting our Little Penguins (Victorian Government website)]</ref> |
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== Sea World == |
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[[Image:Fairy-Penguins-at-Sea-World-2.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Little Penguins at [[Sea World]], [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], [[Queensland]], [[Australia]] (photo 2005)]] |
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There is a colony of Little Penguins at [[Sea World]], on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]], in [[Queensland]], [[Australia]]. In early March, 2007, 25 of the 37 penguins died from an unknown toxin following a change of gravel in their enclosure.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1871000.htm Mystery illness kills at least 24 penguins at Sea World]</ref><ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1871956.htm Authorities find unknown toxin in Sea World Penguins]</ref><ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1871062.htm Sea World probes mysterious deaths]</ref> It is still not known what caused the deaths of the Little Penguins, and it was decided not to return the 12 surviving penguins to the same enclosure in which the penguins became ill.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21575234-1248,00.html Penguin deaths remain a mystery]</ref> |
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A new enclosure for the Little Penguin colony was opened at Sea World in 2008. |
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==Predators== |
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Little Penguins in the wild are sometimes preyed upon by [[New Zealand fur seal]]s. A study done by researchers from the South Australian Research and Development Institute found that roughly 40 percent of seal droppings in South Australia's [[Granite Island (Australia)|Granite Island]] area contained Little Penguin remains.<ref>{{citation |last=Littlely |first=Bryan |title=Fur seals threat to Granite Island penguins |newspaper=The Advertiser |date=[[2007-10-10]] |page=23}}</ref> |
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==Gallery== |
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<gallery> |
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Image:Little Penguin.jpg|At the [[Henry Doorly Zoo]] |
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Image:Little-Penguins-at-Taronga-Zoo.jpg|Little Penguins in an older-style enclosure at [[Taronga Zoo]] |
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Image:Little Penguin at St Kilda Breakwater.JPG|Little Penguin climbing to its nest on the [[St Kilda, Victoria|St Kilda]] breakwater |
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Image:Fairy penguin.jpg|Little Penguins, Melbourne Zoo |
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Image:Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor).ogg|Little Penguins in the wild calling, Dunedin, New Zealand |
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Image:Little Blue Penguin (Eudyptula minor) -group at Adelaide Zoo.jpg|A group at Adelaide Zoo, Australia. |
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Image:Fairy penguin feeding - melbourne zoo.jpg|Feeding time at Melbourne Zoo |
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</gallery> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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* {{IUCN2006|assessors=BirdLife International|year=2004|id=49670|title=Eudyptula minor|downloaded=9 May 2006}} |
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=== Cited text === |
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* {{cite book | last=Williams | first=Tony D. | year=1995 | title=The Penguins | location=Oxford, England | publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=0-19-854667-X}} |
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==External links== |
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{{commons|Eudyptula minor|Little Penguin}} |
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*[http://www.penguin.net.nz/species/blue/index.html More Information on Little penguins @ New Zealand Penguins] |
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*[http://www.penguins.cl/little-penguins.htm Little penguins from the International Penguin Conservation Web Site] |
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*[http://www.penguins.org.au/ Philip Island Nature Park Web Site] |
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* [http://www.pinguins.info www.pinguins.info : information about all species of penguins] |
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*[http://www.phillipislandguide.com/ Tourist Information. Plan Your Trip to Phillip Island's Penguin Parade] |
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* [[John Gould|Gould's]] ''[[The Birds of Australia]]'' [http://nla.gov.au/nla.aus-f4773-7-s175-e plate] |
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*[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=817706762965549887&hl=en Fairy Penguin on Google Video] |
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* {{cite web|url =http://www.photovolcanica.com/PenguinSpecies/Little/LittlePenguinPhotos.html| title = Little (Blue) Penguin |publisher = Photo Volcaniaca| author = Roscoe, R|accessdaymonth = 13 April|accessyear = 2008}} |
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[[Category:Birds of New Zealand]] |
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[[Category:Birds of South Australia]] |
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[[Category:Birds of Tasmania]] |
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[[Category:Birds of Western Australia]] |
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[[Category:Eudyptula]] |
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[[Category:Penguins]] |
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[[Category:Flightless birds]] |
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[[Category:Subterranean nesting birds]] |
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[[ar:بطريق قزم]] |
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[[cs:Tučňák nejmenší]] |
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[[da:Dværgpingvin]] |
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[[de:Zwergpinguin]] |
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[[es:Eudyptula minor]] |
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[[eo:Blua pingveneto]] |
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[[fr:Manchot pygmée]] |
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[[it:Eudyptula minor]] |
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[[he:פינגווין זוטר]] |
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[[lt:Mažasis pingvinas]] |
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[[hu:Kék pingvin]] |
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[[mi:Kororā]] |
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[[nl:Dwergpinguïn]] |
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[[ja:コガタペンギン]] |
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[[no:Dvergpingvin]] |
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[[pl:Pingwinek mały]] |
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[[pt:Pinguim-azul]] |
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[[sr:Патуљасти пингвин]] |
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[[fi:Sinipingviini]] |
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[[sv:Dvärgpingvin]] |
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[[zh:小蓝企鹅]] |
Revision as of 16:22, 20 May 2008
Little Penguin | |
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![]() | |
Adelaide Zoo, Australia. | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | |
Phylum: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | |
Genus: | |
Species: | E. minor
|
Binomial name | |
Eudyptula minor (J.R.Forster, 1781)
|
The Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) is the smallest species of penguin. It is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile.
They have several common names. In Australia, they are often referred to as Fairy Penguins because of their tiny size. In New Zealand, they are called Little Blue Penguins, or just Blue Penguins, owing to their indigo-blue plumage, and they are called Kororā in Māori.
Taxonomy
The Little Penguin was first described by German naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster in 1781. There are several subspecies but a precise classification of these is still a matter of dispute. The White-flippered Penguin, is sometimes considered a subspecies, sometimes a distinct species, and sometimes a morph. As the Australian and western South Island Little Penguins seem to be a distinct species[1] to which the specific name minor would apply, the White-flippered birds indeed belong to a distinct species, although not exactly as originally assumed.
Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA evidence suggests the split between Eudyptula and Spheniscus occurred around 25 million years ago, with the ancestors of the White-flippered and Little Penguins diverging about 2.7 million years ago.[2]
Description
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Little_Penguin-Sydney.jpg/220px-Little_Penguin-Sydney.jpg)
The Little Penguin typically grows to 43 cm (16 in) tall and weighs about one kilogram (2.2 pounds). The male is a little larger than the female, although their plumage is similar. The head and upperparts are indigo in colour, with slate-grey ear coverts fading to white underneath, from the chin to the belly. The flippers are indigo above and white underneath. The dark grey-black bill is 3-4 cm long, the irises pale silvery- or bluish-grey or hazel, and the feet whitish above with black soles and webbing. An immature individual will have a shorter bill and paler upperparts.[3]
Like most seabirds, they have a long lifespan. The average for the species is 6.5 years, but flipper ringing experiments have recorded individuals that have lived for over 20 years.[4]
Distribution and habitat
The Little Penguin breeds along the entire coastline of New Zealand, the Chatham Islands, Tasmania, and southern Australia.
Little penguins have also been reported from Chile (where they are known as Pingüino pequeño or Pingüino azul) (Isla Chañaral 1996, Playa de Santo Domingo, San Antonio, 16 March 1997) but it is unclear whether these birds were vagrants. Nevertheless it has been suggested that there might be a yet undiscovered breeding population in the Chilean portion of Patagonia. Recently, the first record of a living Little Penguin has been reported from Namibia (Ichaboe Island, April 2005).
Behaviour
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/Little_Penguin_chick.jpg/220px-Little_Penguin_chick.jpg)
Diet
These birds feed by hunting fish, squid, and other small sea animals, for which they travel and dive quite extensively.
Reproduction
Little Penguins live year-round in large colonies, with each individual breeding pair forming a burrow in which to raise their chicks (of which two are born at a time). Little Penguins typically return to their colonies to feed their chicks at dusk; the birds will tend to come ashore in small groups to provide some defense against predators which might pick off individuals one by one. In Australia, the strongest colonies are on cat-free and fox-free islands.
Relationship with humans
At Phillip Island, south-east of Melbourne, a viewing area has been set up to allow tourists to view the nightly "penguin parade". Lights and concrete stands have been erected to allow visitors to see but not photograph the birds interacting in their colony, who are not bothered by their spectators. The "parade",which stands as a very popular attraction, brings half a million visitors a year.[5] Tourists to Perth in Western Australia can also make the short trip to Penguin Island to see the penguins and observe their normal behaviour. The Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony[6] is the New Zealand equivalent to Phillip Island's penguin parade.
Linus Torvalds, the original creator of Linux (a popular operating system kernel), was once bitten by a Little Penguin while on holiday in Australia. Reportedly, this encounter encouraged Torvalds to select Tux as the official Linux mascot/logo.[7]
Penny the Little Penguin was the mascot for the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships held in Melbourne, Victoria.[8][9]
Sea World
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Fairy-Penguins-at-Sea-World-2.jpg/300px-Fairy-Penguins-at-Sea-World-2.jpg)
There is a colony of Little Penguins at Sea World, on the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia. In early March, 2007, 25 of the 37 penguins died from an unknown toxin following a change of gravel in their enclosure.[10][11][12] It is still not known what caused the deaths of the Little Penguins, and it was decided not to return the 12 surviving penguins to the same enclosure in which the penguins became ill.[13]
A new enclosure for the Little Penguin colony was opened at Sea World in 2008.
Predators
Little Penguins in the wild are sometimes preyed upon by New Zealand fur seals. A study done by researchers from the South Australian Research and Development Institute found that roughly 40 percent of seal droppings in South Australia's Granite Island area contained Little Penguin remains.[14]
Gallery
-
At the Henry Doorly Zoo
-
Little Penguins in an older-style enclosure at Taronga Zoo
-
Little Penguin climbing to its nest on the St Kilda breakwater
-
Little Penguins, Melbourne Zoo
-
Little Penguins in the wild calling, Dunedin, New Zealand
-
A group at Adelaide Zoo, Australia.
-
Feeding time at Melbourne Zoo
References
- ^ Banks, Jonathan C.; Mitchell, Anthony D.; Waas, Joseph R. & Paterson, Adrian M. (2002): An unexpected pattern of molecular divergence within the blue penguin (Eudyptula minor) complex. Notornis 49(1): 29–38. PDF fulltext
- ^ Baker AJ, Pereira SL, Haddrath OP, Edge KA (2006). "Multiple gene evidence for expansion of extant penguins out of Antarctica due to global cooling". Proc Biol Sci. 273 (1582): 11–17. doi:10.1098/rspb.2005.3260. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Williams (The Penguins) p. 230
- ^ Dann, P. et al (2005): Longevity in Little Penguins. Marine Ornithology 33: 71–72. PDf fulltext
- ^ Visit Victoria, Phillip Island
- ^ Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony
- ^ ""Tux" the Aussie Penguin". Linux Australia. Retrieved 2006-06-25.
- ^ FINA - Melbourne, 2007
- ^ Protecting our Little Penguins (Victorian Government website)
- ^ Mystery illness kills at least 24 penguins at Sea World
- ^ Authorities find unknown toxin in Sea World Penguins
- ^ Sea World probes mysterious deaths
- ^ Penguin deaths remain a mystery
- ^ Littlely, Bryan (2007-10-10), "Fur seals threat to Granite Island penguins", The Advertiser, p. 23
{{citation}}
: Check date values in:|date=
(help)
Cited text
- Williams, Tony D. (1995). The Penguins. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-854667-X.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- More Information on Little penguins @ New Zealand Penguins
- Little penguins from the International Penguin Conservation Web Site
- Philip Island Nature Park Web Site
- www.pinguins.info : information about all species of penguins
- Tourist Information. Plan Your Trip to Phillip Island's Penguin Parade
- Gould's The Birds of Australia plate
- Fairy Penguin on Google Video
- Roscoe, R. "Little (Blue) Penguin". Photo Volcaniaca.
{{cite web}}
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ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=
ignored (|access-date=
suggested) (help)