Why are rockhopper penguins special?
Like other penguin species, rockhoppers appear to be wearing a tuxedo. They have a dark black back and a white belly. This is a form of two-tone countershading camouflage. When viewed from above, their black backs blend into the depths of the ocean, and when viewed from below, their white bellies blend into the sunlit water.
Rockhopper penguins belong to the genus Eudyptes, commonly known as the crested penguins. Southern rockhoppers are the smallest of the rockhopper penguins, reaching a height of between 48 and 52 cm, weighing between 2 and 3.8 kg, with males being slightly heavier than females.
What sets rockhoppers apart from the crowd are their very distinctive, broad yellow and black head feathers. If that wasn’t striking enough, they also have an orange beak, red eyes, and pink webbed feet.
Rockhopper penguins are sometimes confused with their close relative, the macaroni penguin, because they both belong to the same genus, Eudiptus, and share the same striking crests. However, there are some key differences to look for. Macaroni penguins are slightly larger, with golden-orange feathers that start just above the beak and extend in front of the eyes. Rockhopper penguins, in contrast, have bold yellow crests that resemble eyebrows, starting above the eyes and extending outward around the sides of the head.
We all love penguins, don’t we? These cuties have a unique ability to win our hearts without doing much. Rockhopper penguins are the epitome of that. So, now that we can all agree that these animals are the cutest around, let’s get to know them beyond their super-cute exteriors.
Rockhopper penguins live on inaccessible beaches in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. As a result of the harsh rocky environment in which they live, they are unable to glide on their bellies like most penguins. Thus, rockhopper penguins have developed an incredible jumping ability that helps them get from one place to another.
Rockhoppers lay two eggs and guard them aggressively. The parents take turns incubating the eggs, of which only one is usually hatched. For 26 days after the chick hatches, the male guards it while the female brings food and food for the chick.
The diet of a typical rockhopper penguin consists of small crustaceans, which may include lobsters, crabs, shrimp, or shrimp. However, the most common item on the rockhopper penguin menu is krill, which they eat more than fish. The diet of these animals changes during migration or depending on the season. Rockhopper penguins can stay at sea for long periods of time while hunting - sometimes for several days. They can dive to depths of up to 100 meters for minutes while searching for prey.
Thanks to the Two Oceans Aquarium Penguin Experience, visitors can join our bird friends for an informative, fun, and exciting face-to-face experience with our bird keepers. During this time, visitors will learn how the penguins are cared for at Two Oceans Aquarium, discover their stories, and have the opportunity to meet the penguins behind the scenes.
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