Western rockhopper penguin
Smallest crested penguin, known for hopping over rocks.
The western rockhopper penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) is a species of rockhopper penguin found in subantarctic waters around the southern coast of South America and nearby islands. It is the smallest of the yellow-crested, black-and-white penguins in the genus Eudyptes, known for its straight, bright yellow eyebrows and red eyes. Formerly considered conspecific with the eastern rockhopper penguin, it was recognized as a separate species based on a 2021 molecular phylogenetic study.
- Scientific name
- Eudyptes chrysocome
- Length
- 45–58 cm (18–23 in)
- Weight
- 2–3.4 kg (4.4–7.5 lb), up to 4.5 kg (9.9 lb)
- Population
- Roughly 1 million pairs
- Conservation status
- Vulnerable (IUCN)
- Known for
- Hopping over boulders and cracks; smallest crested penguin
Lore & Background
The western rockhopper penguin was first illustrated and described in 1743 by English naturalist George Edwards in A Natural History of Uncommon Birds, based on a preserved specimen owned by Peter Collinson. Carl Linnaeus later placed it in the genus Phaethon in 1758, but his binomial name was not adopted. The species was formally described in 1781 by Johann Reinhold Forster under the name Aptenodytes chrysocome, and is now placed in the genus Eudyptes, introduced by Louis Pierre Vieillot in 1816. The specific epithet chrysocome means 'golden-haired' in Ancient Greek.
This penguin breeds on the Falkland Islands and islands off Patagonia, with a global population of roughly 1 million pairs. Its breeding season runs from September to November; two eggs are laid but only one is usually incubated, with incubation lasting 35 days and chicks brooded for 26 days. Outside breeding season, they roam waters offshore from their colonies. A rockhopper penguin named 'Rocky' at Bergen Aquarium in Norway lived to 29 years 4 months, dying in October 2003, the oldest known rockhopper and possibly the oldest penguin.
Reader's Guide
The western rockhopper penguin is significant as a distinct species within the crested penguin group, separated from the eastern rockhopper penguin by a 2021 molecular phylogenetic study. Its common name derives from its characteristic hopping over boulders and cracks, a behavior first noted in this species due to its proximity to early explorers and whalers. The species exhibits complex foraging behavior, employing both pelagic and benthic dives, with benthic dives reaching depths up to 100 meters and showing stronger correlation to full stomachs. Foraging is influenced by sea ice, prey availability, breeding stage, and seasonality; females during brooding follow fixed schedules, while non-breeding females have more variable trips. The species is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN, with population decline of about one-third in the last thirty years, threatened by commercial fishing and oil spills. Interbreeding with macaroni penguins has been reported at Heard and Marion Islands, with three hybrids recorded by a 1987–88 Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition.
Did You Know?
- The western rockhopper penguin was first illustrated in 1743 by English naturalist George Edwards.
- A rockhopper penguin named 'Rocky' at Bergen Aquarium in Norway lived to 29 years 4 months, the oldest known rockhopper and possibly the oldest penguin.
- Interbreeding with macaroni penguins has been reported at Heard and Marion Islands, with three hybrids recorded by a 1987–88 Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition.
- The species' specific epithet chrysocome means 'golden-haired' in Ancient Greek.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Western rockhopper penguin?
It is a small crested penguin (Eudyptes chrysocome) that inhabits subantarctic waters off the southern coast of South America and nearby islands. At 45–58 cm and 2–3.4 kg, it is the smallest member of the yellow-crested Eudyptes genus.
What makes the Western rockhopper penguin stand out?
Its most eye-catching traits are the straight, vivid yellow eyebrows set above striking red eyes on an otherwise black-and-white body. It is also well known for its acrobatic habit of leaping over boulders and cracks in rocky terrain.
Where does the Western rockhopper penguin live and breed?
It is found in subantarctic waters along the southern coast of South America and on nearby islands. This range is separate from that of the eastern rockhopper penguin, which occupies different island groups further east.
Why is the Western rockhopper penguin considered important to conservation?
The IUCN lists it as Vulnerable, with a population of roughly one million breeding pairs. Its formal recognition as a distinct species in a 2021 molecular phylogenetic study underscored the need for targeted, species-specific protection efforts.
How is the Western rockhopper penguin different from the eastern rockhopper penguin?
For decades the two were treated as a single species, but a 2021 genetic study confirmed they are separate lineages. The western form is also the smallest of all crested penguins in the genus Eudyptes.
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