Join our zoo community
Chlidonias

penguins at the International Antarctic Centre

White-flippered penguins in the middle, flanked by little blue penguins. The white-flippered penguin is found only in Canterbury (in NZ) and has variously been treated as just a colour morph of the little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor), as a subspecies (Eudyptula minor albosignata), and as a full species (Eudyptula albosignata). They are actually very distinctive, being larger and paler with whiter faces and of course having the broad white edge to the flippers, but DNA studies have had differing results (depending on the leanings of the researcher one suspects) - either results show they are totally distinct from little blues, or conversely indistinguishable genetically. The whole taxonomy is way up in the air. There are seven white-flippered penguins at the International Antarctic Centre (all rehab birds) and seventeen little blue penguins (also all rehab birds, from the Napier Marineland), so its a very convenient place to see both forms in one spot and compare :) March 2011

penguins at the International Antarctic Centre
Chlidonias, 30 Mar 2011
    • Chlidonias
      White-flippered penguins in the middle, flanked by little blue penguins.

      The white-flippered penguin is found only in Canterbury (in NZ) and has variously been treated as just a colour morph of the little blue penguin (Eudyptula minor), as a subspecies (Eudyptula minor albosignata), and as a full species (Eudyptula albosignata). They are actually very distinctive, being larger and paler with whiter faces and of course having the broad white edge to the flippers, but DNA studies have had differing results (depending on the leanings of the researcher one suspects) - either results show they are totally distinct from little blues, or conversely indistinguishable genetically. The whole taxonomy is way up in the air.

      There are seven white-flippered penguins at the International Antarctic Centre (all rehab birds) and seventeen little blue penguins (also all rehab birds, from the Napier Marineland), so its a very convenient place to see both forms in one spot and compare :)

      March 2011
      30 Mar 2011
    There are no comments to display.
  • Category:
    International Antarctic Centre
    Uploaded By:
    Chlidonias
    Date:
    30 Mar 2011
    View Count:
    1,549
    Comment Count:
    1

    EXIF Data

    File Size:
    193.3 KB
    Mime Type:
    image/jpeg
    Width:
    1600px
    Height:
    1064px
    Make:
    PENTAX Corporation
    Model:
    PENTAX *ist DL
    Date / Time:
    2011:03:30 11:03:33
    Exposure Time:
    1/350 sec
    ISO Speed Rating:
    ISO 400
    Focal Length:
    0 mm
     

    Note: EXIF data is stored on valid file types when a photo is uploaded. The photo may have been manipulated since upload (rotated, flipped, cropped etc).