Perhaps it’s time to learn some of the most interesting Gentoo penguin facts for kids. The Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) is the closest cousin of adelie penguin and chinstrap penguin. Gentoo penguins have a range of loud calls. It is also known as long-tailed Gentoo.
Gentoo Penguin Facts for Kids
Gentoo penguins stand 51 to 90 cm tall. Gentoos are the third largest penguins in the world. Emperor and king penguins are the only penguins that are taller than gentoos.
Adult males weigh 11 – 19 pounds. Females have a maximum weight of 18 pounds.
Diet: Gentoo penguins eat crustaceans, fish, krill, squat lobsters, and squid. Most of the gentoo’s diet consists of fish and krill.
Habitat: Gentoos make colonies on rocky, ice-free areas. They live in Falkland Islands, Kerguelen Islands, Heard Islands, South Georgia, Macquarie Island, South Shetland Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Speed: Gentoo penguins a
re the fastest swimmers of all penguins. They can reach the speed of 22 miles per hour or 36 kilometers per hour.
Reproduction: The female lays 2 eggs weighing 130 grams. Chicks begin to forage after 80 – 100 days age.
Habitat: Gentoo penguins can live 15 – 20 years in the natural habitat.
Predators: Predators of Gentoo penguins are killer whales, leopard seals, and sea lions. Skuas mostly eat Gentoo’s eggs.
Population: The overall population size of Gentoo penguins consist of 300,000 breeding pairs worldwide.
