The Fiordland penguin, aka Fiordland crested penguin, tawaki, pokotiwha, or New Zealand crested penguin, hails from New Zealand. They are also sometimes found in southern Australia. They are threatened by invasive species, in the form of stoats, habitat division, at the hands of roads and railroads, that can divide their territory and result in vehicle strike (being hit by vehicles), overfishing, which can deplete their food source and result in being trapped and drowned in fishing nets and long lines, recreational activities, that can interrupt their breeding, water pollution, in the form of oil spills, and climate change, such as El Niño events that can drive away their food source. These penguins are listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. Their population trend is listed as decreasing.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Eudyptes pachyrhynchus
Weight: Up to 11 lbs.
Length: Up to 24 inches
Wingspan: Up to 20 inches
Lifespan: Up to 20 years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) These penguins were first described in 1845 by English zoologist George Robert Gray.
2.) Their generic name hails from the Ancient Greek eu/ευ meaning “good” and dyptes/δύπτης meaning “diver”.
3.) The bulk of their diet consists of cephalopods (such as squid), while the remaining portion of their prey includes krill and various codfish.
4.) On land they face predators such as stoats, dogs, cats, and ferrets, as well as native birds like wekas and skuas. At sea, they face off with leopard seals, New Zealand fur seals, New Zealand sea lions, and sharks.
5.) Display calls include a series of loud barks and braying sounds, as well as a short, high bark used as a contact call.
But wait, there’s more on the Fiordland penguin!
6.) They are known to nest in colonies among tree roots and rocks in dense temperate coastal forests.
7.) Females lay up to 2 eggs each season that hatch in up to 36 days.
Did you know…?
As of 2020, there were just 50,000 individuals remaining.
8.) These penguins are nocturnal (active at night).
9.) They can swim up to 15 mph.
10.) Fiordlands can dive up to 65.62 feet and hold their breath for several minutes.
Now a Short Fiordland Penguin Video!
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Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN
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