Little Penguin - Eudyptula Minor
|
Distinguishing features
|
Smallest of all the penguins with blue grey backs and white fronts. |
| Alternative names |
There is a lot of disagreement, even amongst biologists, as to the
proper name for Little penguins. Common names are: "Little Blue penguin",
"Fairy penguin" and "Blue penguin". The Maori name for the Little
penguin is "Korora". |
Sub-species
|
Six sub-species are recognised. However, the Little penguins are more
often divided into two sub-species - Little, or Fairy penguins and the
White-flippered penguin. White-flippered penguins are identified by a white
stripe around the edges of the flippers and are found in New Zealand. |
Height
|
Little penguins stand 35 to 40cm high. |
Weight
|
Little penguins weigh typically around 1 kg with annual variations
of up to 200g. |
Breeding locations
|
 |
Little penguins breed on the coast of Southern Australia and Tasmania
as well as in New Zealand and several sub-Antarctic Islands south of New
Zealand. The total breeding population is uncertain but is estimated to
be less than 500,000 pairs
On the map, the main breeding areas of the six sub-species are marked
in different colours. The yellow dot marks the White-flippered penguins
(E. m. albosignata) on the Banks Peninsula; the pale blue dots on
the South coast of Australia and Tasmania represent the breeding grounds
of the Little Penguin (E. m. novaehollandiae); while the brown dot
at the Chatham Islands to the East of New Zealand represents the Chatham
Islands Little Penguin (E. m. chathamensis). The remaining three
sub-species are E. m. minor, pink dots on the South of New Zealand;
E. m. variabilis dark blue dots and (E. m. iredalei) purple
dots around the North of New Zealand. |
|
| Nesting behaviour |
Little penguins dig out long (0.5 m) burrows to use as nests. Two eggs
are normally laid and often two chicks are raised. Incubation takes 33
to 39 days with both parents sharing in shifts of 1 to 3 days. Chicks are
guarded by one parent while the other is collecting food for up to 30 days.
Creches are unusual. The chicks moult and go to sea when 50 to 65 days
old. |
| Principal diet |
Little penguins eat mainly fish and squid. |
