Yellow-eyed Penguin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Yellow-eyed Penguin
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Aves
Order:
Sphenisciformes
Family:
Spheniscidae
Genus:
Megadyptes
Milne-Edwards, 1880
Species:
M. antipodes
Binomial name
Megadyptes antipodes
(Hombron
& Jacquinot, 1841)
The Yellow-eyed Penguin
(Megadyptes antipodes) or Hoiho is a penguin found in New Zealand,
on the south-east coast of South Island, Foveaux Strait and Stewart
Island/Rakiura, and Auckland and Campbell Islands.
This is a medium-sized
penguin with pale yellow eyes, growing to approximately 65 cm (26 in.) The
average weight for an adult is 5 to 6 kilograms. It has a pale yellow head with
black feather shafts. There is a band of bright yellow running from its eyes
around the back of the head. The juvenile has a greyer head with no band and
their eyes have a grey iris.
This penguin usually nests
in forest or scrub. It feeds mainly on blue cod, red cod, opalfish, sprat and squid.
The current status of this
penguin is endangered, with an estimated population of 4,000. It is considered
one of the world's rarest penguin species. The main threats include habitat
degradation, introduced predators as well as environmental changes. It is
thought to be the most ancient of all living penguins[citation needed].
In spring 2004, a
previously undescribed disease killed off 60% of Yellow-eyed penguin chicks on
the Otago peninsula and in North Otago. The disease has been linked to an infection
of corynebacterium, a family of bacteria that also causes diphtheria in humans.
It has recently been described as diphtheritic stomatitis. However, it seems as
if this is just a secondary infection. The primary pathogen remains unknown.
Several mainland colonies
have hides and are relatively easily accessible for those wishing to watch the
birds come ashore. These include colonies at Oamaru, Moeraki light-house, a
number of beaches near Dunedin, and The Catlins.
In
culture
The Hoiho appears on the New
Zealand five dollar note.
References
- BirdLife International (2005). Megadyptes
antipodes. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006.
Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and
justification for why this species is endangered
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yellow-eyed_Penguin&action=history
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Megadyptes antipodes |
The Yellow-eyed Penguin
(Megadyptes antipodes) or Hoiho is a penguin found in New Zealand,
on the south-east coast of South Island, Foveaux Strait and Stewart
Island/Rakiura, and Auckland and Campbell Islands.
This is a medium-sized
penguin with pale yellow eyes, growing to approximately 65 cm (26 in.) The
average weight for an adult is 5 to 6 kilograms. It has a pale yellow head with
black feather shafts. There is a band of bright yellow running from its eyes
around the back of the head. The juvenile has a greyer head with no band and
their eyes have a grey iris.
This penguin usually nests
in forest or scrub. It feeds mainly on blue cod, red cod, opalfish, sprat and squid.
The current status of this
penguin is endangered, with an estimated population of 4,000. It is considered
one of the world's rarest penguin species. The main threats include habitat
degradation, introduced predators as well as environmental changes. It is
thought to be the most ancient of all living penguins[citation needed].
In spring 2004, a
previously undescribed disease killed off 60% of Yellow-eyed penguin chicks on
the Otago peninsula and in North Otago. The disease has been linked to an infection
of corynebacterium, a family of bacteria that also causes diphtheria in humans.
It has recently been described as diphtheritic stomatitis. However, it seems as
if this is just a secondary infection. The primary pathogen remains unknown.
Several mainland colonies
have hides and are relatively easily accessible for those wishing to watch the
birds come ashore. These include colonies at Oamaru, Moeraki light-house, a
number of beaches near Dunedin, and The Catlins.
In
culture
The Hoiho appears on the New
Zealand five dollar note.
References
- BirdLife International (2005). Megadyptes
antipodes. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006.
Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and
justification for why this species is endangered
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Yellow-eyed_Penguin&action=history