Little Penguin
Adelaide Zoo, Australia.
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Sphenisciformes Family: Spheniscidae Genus: Eudyptula Species: E. minor
Binomial name
Eudyptula minor (J.R.Forster, 1781)

The Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) is the smallest species of penguin being about 43 cm (16 in) tall. It is found on the coastlines of southern Australia and New Zealand, with possible records from Chile. Adelaide Zoo is Australias second oldest zoo, located in Adelaide, South Australia and the only major metropolitan zoo in Australia to be owned and operated on a non-profit basis. ... The conservation status of a species is an indicator of the likelihood of that species remaining extant either in the present day or the near future. ... Image File history File links Status_iucn3. ... Least Concern (LC) is an IUCN category assigned to extant species or lower taxa which have been evaluated but do not qualify for any other category. ... The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... Scientific classification redirects here. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... This article is about penguin birds. ... This article is about penguin birds. ... Species Eudyptula minor Eudyptula albosignata The genus Eudyptula (good little diver) contains two species of penguin. ... Latin name redirects here. ... Johann Reinhold Forster (October 22, 1729 - December 9, 1798) was a Polish born naturalist of German descent. ... 1781 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ... Modern genera Aptenodytes Eudyptes Eudyptula Megadyptes Pygoscelis Spheniscus For prehistoric genera, see Systematics Some penguins are curious. ...

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. This article is about the Māori people of New Zealand. ...

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. Johann Reinhold Forster Johann Reinhold Forster and Georg Forster in Tahiti, by John Francis Rigaud (1742-1810), 1780. ... This article is about the zoological term. ... Binomial name Eudyptula albosignata Finsch, 1874 The White-flippered Penguin (Eudyptula albosignata) is the smallest species of penguin, found in New Zealand. ... A Morph, meaning form (from the Latin morpha), is a zoological term that descibes local populations or subpopulations of a single species of animal that may or may not be phenotypically distinct from the larger population as a whole. ... In zoological nomenclature, a specific name is the second part (second name) in the name of a species (a binomen). ...

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] In cell biology, a mitochondrion is an organelle found in the cells of most eukaryotes. ... HeLa cells stained for DNA with the Blue Hoechst dye. ...

Description

Little Penguin

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] Mid-19th century tool for converting between different standards of the inch An inch is an Imperial unit of length. ...

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] Bird ringing (also known as bird banding) is an aid to studying wild birds, by attaching a small individually numbered metal or plastic ring to their legs or wings, so that various aspects of the birds life can be studied by the ability to re-find the same individual...

Distribution and habitat

See also: List of Little Penguin colonies

The Little Penguin breeds along the entire coastline of New Zealand, the Chatham Islands, Tasmania, and southern Australia. This page lists the locations of known colonies of the Little Penguin. ... The Chatham Islands from space. ... Slogan or Nickname: Island of Inspiration; The Apple Isle; Holiday Isle Motto(s): Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Peter Underwood Premier David Bartlett (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2006-07)  - Product...

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). Isla Chañaral from space Isla Chañaral (sometimes referred to as Isla Chanaral or Chanaral Island), Chile is located 6 km off-shore from the northern Central Chilean coast, some 100 km north of the city of La Serena. ... San Antonio is a commune and city in central Chile administered by the Municipality of San Antonio. ... is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Vagrancy is a phenomenon in biology whereby individual animals appear well outside their normal range; individual animals which exhibit vagrancy are known as vagrants. ... Patagonia, as most commonly defined (in orange). ...

Behaviour

Chick in nest burrow

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 1402 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Little Penguin User:Glen Fergus/Bird photos Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 1402 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Little Penguin User:Glen Fergus/Bird photos Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital...

Diet

These birds feed by hunting fish, squid, and other small sea animals, for which they travel and dive quite extensively. For other uses, see Fish (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Squid (disambiguation). ...

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

Little Penguins

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 Phillip 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. It has been suggested that Pyramid Rock, Philip Island be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the Australian city; the name may also refer to City of Melbourne or Melbourne city centre (also known as The CBD). ...

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] Linus Benedict Torvalds ( ; ; born December 28, 1969 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish software engineer best known for initiating the development of the Linux kernel. ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ... A kernel connects the application software to the hardware of a computer. ... Tux, as originally drawn by Larry Ewing Tux (also known as Tux the Penguin) is the official mascot of the Linux kernel. ...

Penny the Little Penguin was the mascot for the 2007 FINA World Swimming Championships held in Melbourne, Victoria.^[8][9] Fédération Internationale de Natation The International Swimming Federation (French Fédération Internationale de Natation, FINA) organizes and regulates international swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, water polo and open water swimming championships. ...

Sea World

Little Penguins at Sea World, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia (photo 2005)

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] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1875x635, 167 KB)Fairy Penguins at Sea World, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia ( this photograph was taken by Figaro ) This image has been (or is hereby) released into the public domain by its creator, Figaro. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1875x635, 167 KB)Fairy Penguins at Sea World, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia ( this photograph was taken by Figaro ) This image has been (or is hereby) released into the public domain by its creator, Figaro. ... Sea World is a marine park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. ... Gold Coast redirects here. ... For other uses, see Queensland (disambiguation). ... Sea World is a marine park on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. ... Gold Coast redirects here. ... For other uses, see Queensland (disambiguation). ...

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] Binomial name Arctocephalus fosteri Lesson, 1828 The New Zealand (or Southern) Fur Seal (Arctocephalus fosteri, Maori name kokono) is a species of fur seal found around the south coast of Australia, the coast of the South Island of New Zealand, and some of the small islands to the south and... Granite Island (35°33′S 138°37′E) is a small island next to Victor Harbor, South Australia, not far from South Australias Capital city, Adelaide. ...

Gallery

At the Henry Doorly Zoo Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1250x927, 169 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Little Penguin Henry Doorly Zoo User:Cburnett ... The Henry Doorly Zoo is a zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. ...	Little Penguins in an older-style enclosure at Taronga Zoo Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 500 pixelsFull resolution (1025 × 640 pixel, file size: 84 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Giraffes in front of Sydneys skyline. ...	Little Penguin climbing to its nest on the St Kilda breakwater Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 777 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1752 × 1352 pixel, file size: 353 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Little Penguin St Kilda, Victoria Metadata... St Kilda is a inner city suburb of the Victorian capital of Melbourne, Australia. ...	Little Penguins, Melbourne Zoo Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 534 pixelsFull resolution (1600 × 1067 pixel, file size: 466 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Fairy Penguin, Melbourne Zoo If you are a (commercial) publisher and you want me to write you an email or paper mail giving you an authorization...
Little Penguins in the wild calling, Dunedin, New Zealand	A group at Adelaide Zoo, Australia.	Feeding time at Melbourne Zoo

References

• BirdLife International (2004). Eudyptula minor. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 9 May 2006.

A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Era (or Anno Domini), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 80th day of the year (81st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 176th day of the year (177th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 283rd day of the year (284th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (also known as the IUCN Red List and Red Data List), created in 1963, is the worlds most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species and can be found here. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ...

Cited text

• Williams, Tony D. (1995). The Penguins. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-854667-X. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Little Penguin

• 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. Retrieved on 13 April 2008.