Erect-crested Penguin

Taxobox
name = Erect-crested Penguin
status = EN | status_system = IUCN3.1


trend = down
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Sphenisciformes
familia = Spheniscidae
genus = "Eudyptes"
species = "E. sclateri"
binomial = "Eudyptes sclateri"
binomial_authority = Buller, 1888

The Erect-crested Penguin ("Eudyptes sclateri") is a penguin from New Zealand. It breeds on the Bounty and Antipodes Islands.

This is a medium-small, yellow-crested, black-and-white penguin, at 50-70 cm (20-28 in) and weighing 2.7-5.2 kg (5.9-11.5 lbs). [http://www.penguinworld.com/types/erect.html] [http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/Penguins/appendix.html] It has bluish-black to jet black upperparts and white underparts, and a broad, bright yellow eyebrow-stripe which extends over the eye to form a short, erect crest.

Its biology is poorly studied and only little information about the species has emerged in the past decades. Erect-crested Penguins nest in large colonies on rocky terrain. It presumably feeds on mainly krill like other crested penguin species.

The current status of this penguin is endangered due to population decline and a small breeding range restricted to two locations. The current population is estimated at 154,000.

The binomial commemorates the English zoologist Philip Lutley Sclater.

The mascot character of the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion is an erect-crested penguin named Pen Pen.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is endangered

External links

*ARKive - [http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Eudyptes_sclateri/ images and movies of the erect-crested penguin "(Eudyptes sclateri)"]
* [http://www.penguin.net.nz/species/ecp/index.html Erect-crested penguins @ Penguins in New Zealand]
* [http://www.penguins.cl/erect-penguins.htm Erect-crested penguins from the International Penguin Conservation Web Site]
* [http://www.pinguins.info www.pinguins.info : information about all species of penguins]
* [http://www.penguinworld.com/types/erect.html Penguin World: Erect-crested penguin]