We are “pasta”tively excited to announce the arrival of four new macaroni penguins, two boys and two girls! They will live alongside our resident gentoo penguins in the Mountain America Credit Union Penguin Research Station.
They can be differentiated from our gentoo penguins by the yellow crest on their heads, and despite what you may think, they aren’t named after the popular pasta dish. The origin of their name comes from the resemblance of their crest to the feather on hats worn by men in the 18th century who were called “Macaronis”, like in the song “Yankee Doodle.”
Their scientific name, Eudyptes chrysolophus, comes from Greek words meaning good diver and golden crest. While this species doesn’t have gentoo penguins beat in terms of speed or depth, they still dive and swim very well. These black, white, and yellow birds also prefer to travel by hopping or jumping around, rather than waddling. They also possess large, red eyes on the sides of their head.
Macaroni penguins are also a bit smaller than gentoo penguins, standing anywhere from 20 to 28 inches as opposed to gentoos, which can reach up to 30 inches tall. Macaroni penguins inhabit the Sub-Antarctic regions and the Antarctic Peninsula, areas also home to gentoo penguins. This shared environment allows both species to coexist in the same habitat. Their diet is similar to that of other penguin species, which consists of fish, krill, and squid. But their appetite is much greater, as they eat more than any other seabird.
Macaroni penguins are part of a program called the Species Survival Plan (SSP) to combat population decline due to climate change and overfishing. These plans are designed to ensure the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically stable population for the long-term future. Plans for our four macaroni penguins here at the Aquarium will include breeding them in the near future as part of the SSP. If you want to see our new gang in person, stop by the Mountain America Credit Union Penguin Research Station on your next visit to the Aquarium. Or head over to our social media to see these penguins being introduced to the rest of our colony and taking their first steps in their new habitat.
