Penguin Species Profile
Snares Penguin
Eudyptes robustus
Bold crested penguins found only on New Zealand’s Snares Islands.
Conservation Status
Vulnerable
Population Trend
Stable
Species Facts
Essential profile data
Scientific name
Eudyptes robustus
Name origin
These penguins live on Snares Island
Estimated population
23,000-30,000 breeding pairs
Colony size
3-1300 breeding pairs
Average lifespan
15-20 years
Weight range
2.5-4kg
Maximum height
73cm
Diet
Crustaceans, cephalopods and small fish
Predators
Hooker’s sea lions, leopard seals, New Zealand fur seals, sharks and orcas, subantarctic skuas, giant petrels and red-billed gulls
Adaptations
Their modified corneas and irises (red eyes) make them more sensitive to the dim light of the deep ocean, which allows them to see better
Geographic breeding range
Snares Island
Appearance
Chick and adult comparison
Chick Appearance
Face, backside and flippers are brown, while belly is white. Feet are pale pink and beak is black. Eyes are brown.
Adult Appearance
Bright yellow crest begins from nostrils on either side of the face, like extended eyebrows. Beak is brown-orange in colour. Feet remain pale pink, while eyes become reddish-brown once adulthood is reached. The face, backside and flippers are black, while belly is white.
Fun Fact
Generations of waddling feet carve deep paths in the muddy forest ground, creating permanent walking tracks used by the entire colony.