Eudyptes chrysocome, (Forster, 1781)
The western rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) is a species of rockhopper penguin. It occurs in subantarctic waters around the southern coast of South America and nearby islands.
The western rockhopper penguin was formerly considered to be conspecific with the eastern rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes filholi) of the western Pacific and Indian Oceans, with the combined species then known as southern rockhopper penguin. These two taxa together had previously also been considered conspecific with the northern rockhopper penguin (E. moseleyi).
This is the smallest of the yellow-crested, black-and-white penguins in the genus Eudyptes. It reaches a length of 45–58 cm (18–23 in) and typically weighs 2–3.4 kg (4.4–7.5 lb), although there are records of exceptionally large rockhoppers weighing 4.5 kg (9.9 lb). It has slate-grey upper parts and has straight, bright yellow eyebrows ending in long yellowish plumes projecting sideways behind a red eye.
The western rockhopper penguin group has a global population of roughly 1 million pairs. It breeds on the Falkland Islands and on islands off Patagonia. Outside the breeding season, western rockhopper penguins can be found roaming the waters offshore from their colonies.
These penguins feed on krill, squid, octopus, lantern fish, mollusks, plankton, cuttlefish, and mainly crustaceans.
A rockhopper penguin named 'Rocky' in Bergen Aquarium in Norway lived to 29 years 4 months. It died in October 2003. This stands as the age record for rockhopper penguins, and possibly it was the oldest penguin known.
The western rockhopper penguin group is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. Its population has declined by about one-third in the last thirty years.
This decline has earned them the classification of a vulnerable species by the IUCN. Threats to their population include commercial fishing and oil spills.
With the approval of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), Drusillas Park in East Sussex holds the studbook for rockhopper penguins in Europe. Zoo manager Sue Woodgate has specialist knowledge of the species, so the zoo is responsible for co-ordinating the movements of penguins among zoos in Europe to take part in breeding programmes and offer their advice and information about the species.
No dive sites list Rockhopper Penguin yet. Explore the map to find sites near you.
