How big are Adélie penguins? What do they eat? Learn all about these charismatic birds in our expert guide
Learn all about Adélie penguins, probably the second most numerous of all penguin species
What do Adélie penguins look like?
Adélie penguins are famous for their tuxedo-look. They have a black back and head and a white chest and belly, just like a man in a unbuttoned tuxedo! There are also white rings around their eyes.
How big are Adélie penguins?
They are around 70cm tall and weigh about 3-6 kg
Where do Adélie penguins live?
Adélie penguins are found and breed right around the coast of Antarctica and on a very few sub-Antarctic islands, with the biggest colonies being in the Ross Sea, East Antarctica and on the Antarctic Peninsula.
- Why are there no penguins in the Arctic?
- King penguin guide: species facts and where they live
- Emperor penguin guide: where they live, how they breed and how they survive the cold
What do Adélie penguins eat?
They feed almost exclusively on Antarctic krill, 6cm-long crustaceans believed to be the most abundant animal species on the planet in terms of their biomass, and occasionally Antarctic silverfish. In addition, research carried out suggests jellyfish may play a not insignificant part in their diet as well.
What threats do the Adélie penguins face?
Climate change is the biggest threat, because it could reduce the availability of their main prey items.
Why are the called Adélie?
Adélie penguins are named after the French Antarctic explorer, Jules Dumont d’Urville who discovered the birds in 1840.