Eudyptes robustus, Snares Penguin [+]
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Aves
Order Ciconiiformes
Family Spheniscidae
Genus Eudyptes
species: Eudyptes robustus [+ITIS +WoRMS]
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Description & Behavior
The Snares penguin, Eudyptes robustus (Oliver, 1953), aka Snares crested penguin or Snares Islands penguin, is a crested penguin that stands 40 cm tall and weighs about 3 kg. They are often confused with the Fiordland crested penguin, however the patch of skin at the base of the bill helps distinguish the Snares from the Fiordland. Snares penguins have a black head, throat and back with white bellies. The yellow crest begins at the base of the bill extending to the eye and drooping behind the head.
World Range & Habitat
Snares penguins, Eudyptes robustus, are named for the Snares Islands, where they breed, which are covered in tree daisies. Snares penguins nest in the vegetation in dense colonies, moving to "fresh" sites while the vegetation of old sites recovers from the breeding and nesting activities.
Feeding Behavior (Ecology)
Snares penguins, Eudyptes robustus, feed on crustaceans, cephalopods and small fishes.
Adults are preyed upon by sea lions and leopard seals (above); eggs and chicks are preyed on by skuas and petrels.
Life History
Snares penguins, Eudyptes robustus, reach sexual maturity at about 6 years of age and begin the breeding season in August when the males return to the colony, followed by the females a short time later. Females lay 2 eggs in late September; the 2nd is often larger and the egg that survives incubation. Parents share brooding the newly hatched chick for about 3 weeks, with the male guarding while the female forages and feeds. This phase is followed by a period when both parents forage and feed while the chick forms crèches with other chicks nearby. Chicks fledge around 11 weeks.
Conservation Status/Additional Comments
Snares penguins, Eudyptes robustus, are listed as Vulnerable (VU D2) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species:
VULNERABLE (VU)
A taxon is Vulnerable when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Vulnerable (see Section V), and it is therefore considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
References & Further Research
BioOne ~ CITES ~ Discover Life ~ GBIF ~ Google Scholar ~ ITIS ~ IUCN RedList ~ MarineBio Network ~ NCBI ~ SCIRIS ~ SIRIS ~ Tree of Life Web Project ~ Wikipedia
Center for Biological Diversity: Penguins
Snares Crested Penguin, Eudyptes robustus - International Penguin Conservation Working Group
New Zealand Penguins, by Dave Houston
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