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Adélie penguins and their chicks with Palmer Long Term Ecological Research
station in the background. (Credit: Palmer LTER Outreach)
Adelie Penguin Profile
Pygoscelis adeliae
The Adélie penguin (Phygoscelis adeliae), a warm blooded , flightless bird,
approximately 28 - 30 inches tall weighing up to 12 lbs. depending on the
time of the year, has occupied territory on the western Antarctic
Peninsula near Palmer Station for at least the last 500 years (Smith et al.
1999). Considered true Antarctic species, they are good indicator species,
and exhibit life styles that are closely linked to the presence of sea ice
(Fraser et al. 1992). Scientists from the Palmer Long Term Ecological
research (LTER) project have been studying the Adélie penguin colonies
Habitat Range: Antarctic Ocean
for 30 years. Monitoring and recording their existence, scientists research what they eat, discover when they eat and
where they go on land, closely observe their breeding success and track their geographic range and distribution.
Adélie penguins are magnificently suited for a life in water and show a number of specialized adaptations to restrict heat
loss for life around the Antarctic continent. They’re marine animals and their streamlined shape and short powerful
flippers reduce drag and help propel them through the water. Other warm blooded animals use blubber for insulation but
the penguin’s insulation is primarily furnished by its feathers. The feathers lock together trapping air against their bodies
that is warmed by their own core temperature - a feature that can cause overheating for survival in warmer climates.
Their ability to withstand the cold Antarctic water gives them access to huge food resources to which other birds may not
have as much access.
They typically use sea ice during their foraging trips to find food in the winter and are known to travel great distances and
dive to great depths ( ~ 300 m / 985 feet) to find food. The Adélie can last up to 9 months relying on the pack ice to rest
and huddle with others for warmth during their food-finding excursion. However, that is affected by the changes in the
advance and
retreat of sea ice at different times of the year.
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Adélies feed primarily on krill (Euphausia superba) but are
Fast Facts
also known to eat fish, and squid moving with such
Type: Marine seabird.
purpose seeking areas of high prey availability which only
Diet: Krill (Euphausia superba), fish (family Myctophidae),
squid (and other cephalopods).
occurs in specific regions (Mullen, 2007). The need to eat
and feed their chicks must be balanced with the Adélies’
Lifespan: 5 - 16 years.
ability to find and build good nests on land for breeding
Size: Medium-sized (~ 28-30 inches) tall.
purposes. They lay eggs that must be kept warm.
Weight: 8.5 - 12 lbs.
Therefore, couples come ashore and build nests out of
Breed: Austral spring & summer (October - January).
pebbles in areas where their is little to no snow, no
meltwater from glaciers (Wilson et al. 1990), good
Eggs: Lay 1 - 3 (average 2 ).
commuting distance to a good food supply in nearby
Known Predators: Leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) ,
Killer whales (Orcinus orca), South Polar Skuas
(Stercorarius maccormicki), Sheathbills (Chionis albus).
waters.
Conservation: Low risk
protection from predators and within reasonable
Multimedia
Hear an Adélie penguin
Photo Gallery: Adélie penguins
Adélie penguin printable sheet
Antarctic animals connected to penguins
Kri%
Blue Whale
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Publications
Cerullo, Mary M. & Simmons, Beth E. (2008) Sea Secrets: Tiny Clues to a Big Mystery, Moonlight Publishing,
Lafayette, Colorado. © Text and illustrations: The Regents of the University of California. ISBN: 0-9779603-9-0.
Davis, Lloyd S & Renner, Martin (2003) Penguins, Yale University Press, New Haven and London. ISBN:
0-300-10277-1.
Ducklow et al. (2007) Marine Pelagic Ecosystems: the Western Antarctic Peninsula, Philosophical Transactions of the
Royal Society B, 362, 67 - 94.
Fraser et al. (1992) Increases in Antarctic penguin populations: Reduced competition with whales or a loss of sea ice due to
environmental warming? Polar Biology 11:525-531.
Mullen, William (2007) Penguins’ stru&le is a warning to world: Adélie penguins are early victims of a trend that could
devastate coastlines. Chicago Tribune.com.
Smith et al. (1999) Marine Ecosystem Sensitivity to Climate Change: Historical observations and paleoecological records reveal
ecological transitions in the Antarctic Peninsula region. BioScience Vol. 49 No. 5: pages 393-404.
Wilson et al (1990) The Impact of Man on Adélie penguins at Cape Ha%et, antarctica. Ecological Change and the
Conservation of Antarctic Ecosystems. Proceedings of the SCAR Symposium on Antarctic Biology. Berlin: SpringerVerlag.
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