Fun Penguin Facts

New Species Puts Newport Aquarium in Rare Company

Macaroni Penguins Become 5th Species in ‘Penguin Palooza' Exhibit

Newport, KY (PRWEB) June 30, 2011

Newport Aquarium announced today the addition of 11 new Macaroni penguins to its recently opened Penguin Palooza exhibit. The new species is the fifth penguin species on display in the exhibit, making Newport Aquarium's gallery the second most diverse collection of cold-weather penguins in the country.

The Macaroni penguins join the King, Gentoo, Chinstrap and Rockhopper penguins in Penguin Palooza. Only Moody Gardens Aquarium in Galveston, Texas can claim more penguin diversity in a single exhibit with six species. Newport Aquarium ties Sea World San Diego with its five species.

“Penguins have always been one of our star animals,” said Ric Urban, Curator of Birds and Mammals. “With the addition of the Macs, we've made a great exhibit even better and we've made Newport Aquarium one of the top two places in the country to see penguin diversity.”

Opened in March, Penguin Palooza – sponsored by Kroger – features new species, a new habitat for the birds and new interactive opportunities for guests. Visitors can sit right next to the 8,000-gallon tank in the new seating area and come face-to-face with the penguins as they swim and play. There's an activity area to learn more about penguin habitats and conservation, and guests can take their picture next to life-size penguin sculptures. Penguin Palooza also features the Aquarium's newest live show with a presenter who will entertain guests with penguin facts and interact with several animated penguin characters on a new high definition video board, all made exclusively for the new Penguin Palooza Exhibit.

The Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) is a species of penguin found from the Subantarctic to the Antarctic Peninsula. One of six species of crested penguin, it bears a distinctive yellow crest just above its eyes and prominent bill. Adults weigh about 12 lbs. and are about 28 inches tall. The male and female are similar in appearance although the male is slightly larger with a relatively larger bill. Like all penguins, it is flightless, with a streamlined body and wings stiffened and flattened into flippers for a marine lifestyle.

With about 18 million individuals, the Macaroni penguin is the most numerous penguin species. However, widespread decline in populations have been recorded since the mid 1970s. These factors result in their conservation status being reclassified as vulnerable.

Penguin Facts – Animal fun facts for children « Dino Lingo

DINOLINGO PenIf you’re the kind of person who likes to get close to animals in the wild, penguins are a great chance for you to do just that! Since penguins have no land predators, they are very comfortable with people, and a lot of times they will walk right up to people, hardly getting nervous at all until they get very close! Of course, there is one problem with this plan: If you want to run into penguins, you’ll have to go pretty far south! Most penguins live down near Antarctica, on the bottom of the world. Even though penguins are birds, they do not fly. While most birds have “hollow bones” that make them lighter for flight, penguins have solid bones. These solid bones are important, as penguins do most of their hunting in the ocean! Penguins feed on fish, and while they might look silly waddling around on land, penguins are sleek and graceful in the water. Some penguins can hold their breath for up to 20 minutes, and when they swim they appear to “fly” in the water. Of course, penguins are in danger of predators when they swim, because seals and killer whales find them to be a tasty snack. But if you run into them on land, you’re likely to have a brand new friend!

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