Blue Penguins (Eudyptula minor)

The Blue Penguin or Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) is the smallest penguin in the world!

Maria Elizabeth Jasso Species Report -- Geog 2 T.A. Brody Lab 1D

Throughout the page click on the links for useful and extended information, pictures or summaries.

Eudyptula minor is the smallest penguin in the world.  At maturity a penguin can measure as little as 25-40 cm in height and 1 kilogram in weight.  The penguin is nocturnal and can only be found about on shore at night.  During the day these penguins live in underground burrows.  And although they are abundant in New Zealand and Southern Australia, they are rarely noticed because of their small size and nocturnal feeding habits (Blue Penguin). The only time they receive active public attention is during the nightly Penguin Parade, when the penguins come ashore en masse in the early hours after feeding.  The Parade has become a great tourist attraction for both New Zealand and Australia.

Classification (Scientific Taxonomy): Kingdom--Animalia; Phylum--Chordata; Class--Aves; Order--Sphenisciformes; Family--Spheniscidae; Genus--Eudyptula; Species--Eudyptula minor (Eudyptula minor)  Eudyptula minor is the only species in its genus (Reilly 107).

Physical Characteristics: The Blue Penguin is an extremely small bird.  However, despite its tiny size, it is still flightless as are all penguins. It has a blue or silver/black "dorsum" that runs from its head to tail.  The feathers covering its stomach and inner wings are white.  It also has white feet that have black webbed bottoms.  There are five to six sub-species of Eudyptula minor.  Each has slightly different colorations, including one that has entirely white wings.  The sub-species are separated by geographical location; however, are still interbreedable (Eudyptula Minor).

Now that I've told you some basics about Eudyptula minor, click on the links below to learn more specialized information.

Habitat and environmental controls on distribution Niche Life history--the pattern of a single penguin life Biogeographical-evolutionary history Current Species Status Impact of humans/Use by humans Current efforts and Conservation Suggestions to preserve the penguins from exinction Bibliography